Lake Norman Charter’s Luci Falls is The Observer’s girls high school athlete of the week
Lake Norman Charter tennis player Luci Falls is The Charlotte Observer/Deer Park Water girls high school athlete of the week.
The Knights’ sophomore won her No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles matches to help her team to a 5-4 win over Terry Sanford High in the 3A state championship at Burlington Tennis Center last week.
Falls, who was 28-1 overall in singles play, was the 3A state championship’s most valuable player after helping her team finish 24-0.
Falls also won the 3A Midwest Regional and South Piedmont conference singles titles earlier this season.
Last week’s other nominees
Nicole Alfers, Christ the King cross-country: The Crusaders’ junior ran a time of 18:37.21 to win the 1A state championship by 32 seconds over the field at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 4. Alfers’ run also led the Christ the King girls’ cross-country team to a third-place finish at states.
Morgan Bleakney, Myers Park field hockey: The Mustangs’ junior forward scored three goals in a 5-0 win over Grimsley in the NCFHA state quarterfinals on Nov. 2. Bleakney also had two goals in a 7-0 first round win over South Mecklenburg on Oct. 30. Bleakney has 12 goals and four assists for a Myers Park team (15-3) that has won 12 straight games.
Bella Cardozo, Catawba Ridge cross-country: The Copperheads’ sophomore ran a personal-best 19:55.90 to finish fifth at the S.C. 4A state qualifier at Newberry College Nov. 3. Cardozo’s run helped the Catawba Ridge girls’ cross-country team to a fourth-place finish.
Mary Bonner Dalton, Myers Park cross-country: The Mustangs’ senior broke a 27-year old state meet record, running a 16:54.06 to win the 4A state championship at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 4. Dalton’s time was 29 seconds faster than the previous state meet record time. Dalton is a Notre Dame commit.
Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln cross-country: The Knights’ sophomore ran a personal-best 18:33.49 to finish in third at the 3A state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 4. Ferraro’s efforts also led North Lincoln to a 3A state championship by eight points.
Paisley Freda, Pine Lake Prep golf: The Pride freshman shot a 79-77 (156) to finish as 1A/2A state runner-up at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe on Oct. 30-31. Freda’s play also helped lead the Pine Lake Prep girls’ golf team to a 1A/2A state championship by 16 shots.
Caitlyn Frisch, Lake Norman Charter golf: The Knights’ freshman shot a 82-85 (167) to finish tied for ninth at the 3A state championships at Fox Fire Resort (Red Course) in Pinehurst on Oct. 30-31. Frisch’s play also helped the Lake Norman Charter girls’ golf team to a fifth place finish at states
Grace Hanson, Weddington cross-country: The Warriors’ senior ran a time of 17:46.85 to finish third at the 4A state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 4.
Malerie Lague, Christ the King golf: The Crusaders’ junior shot a 72-75 (147) to win the 1A/2A state championship by nine shots at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe on Oct. 30-31. Lague was the 1A/2A state runner-up last year.
Teagan Reilly, Myers Park tennis: The Mustangs’ sophomore set the tone with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles to lead Myers Park to a 5-4 win over New Hanover to win 4A state dual team sstate championship at the Burlington Tennis Center Nov. 4. Reilly, the 4A state championship’s MVP, was SoMeck 4A conference and 4A West Regional champion, and also advanced to the 4A state semifinals in the individual state championships. She was 28-1 this season.
** Information published today includes statistics through Nov. 4.
If you want to nominate an athlete: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 11:15 AM.
