Meet the 2025 All-Observer boys’ lacrosse team, the region’s top athletes

John Torpy and James Brugger played key roles in Lake Norman’s run to a second-place finish in the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s boys’ lacrosse playoffs this season.

And they have been honored as The Charlotte Observer’s Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Torpy, a senior, was goalkeeper for the Wildcats, who compiled a 21-5 record and lost to only one North Carolina opponent this season. Lake Norman dropped a 9-8 squeaker to Cardinal Gibbons in the regular season and 10-8 decision to the Crusaders in the 4A state championship.

Lake Norman’s other losses were to out-of-state teams.

Torpy had 567 saves and stopped 55.2 percent of shots in a schedule that included some of the top lacrosse teams in the Southeast.

Brugger, who has built Lake Norman into a boys’ lacrosse powerhouse, earned his 200th career victory at the school in late April.

Here is the 2025 All-Observer Boys’ Lacrosse team:

FIRST TEAM

ATTACKERS

Luke Fenderson, Christ the King, senior: Finished as the No. 1 career goal-scorer in North Carolina, with 316 goals. He had 85 goals this season

Statton Rehrer, Lake Norman, senior: A first-team all-state selection, he scored 42 goals this season for the 4A state runner-up.

Cole Stankavage, Ardrey Kell, sophomore: Had 43 goals and 27 assists in 10 games, earning USA Lacrosse all-America honors

MIDFIELDERS

Brandon DeBerardinis, Lake Norman, senior: DeBerardinis was a three-time USA Lacrosse all-America player and three-time all-stater. He is a Harvard commit.

Ben Habel, Christ the King, senior: His 134 ground balls rank No. 1 among midfielders in North Carolina this season, and he had 48 goals and 76 assists.

Phil Hullinger, Charlotte Latin, senior: An all-state player, he scored 46 goals and totaled 52 ground balls

DEFENDERS

Zac Bitton, Ardrey Kell, senior: Britton was the Knights’ best takeaway specialist and caused 13 turnovers.

Garrett Irby, Butler, senior: Irby totaled 63 ground balls and forced 24 turnovers.

Teagun Schenck, Lake Norman, senior: At 6-4, Schenck was an imposing part of the Lake Norman defense. He earned all-state honors.

SPECIALISTS

Faceoffs — Brady Knutson, Myers Park, senior: Knutson won 178 of his 246 faceoffs and totaled 180 ground balls. He’s a Lenoir-Rhyne commit.

Long stick — Bryson Armstrong, Lake Norman Charter, junior: With 127 ground balls and 93 forced turnovers, Armstrong was a key part of the Knights’ defense.

GOALKEEPER

John Torpy, Lake Norman, senior: A Loyola (Md.) commnit, Torpy earned all-state honors three straight years and was his team’s defensive player of the year.

SECOND TEAM

ATTACKERS

Brendan Leonard, Charlotte Catholic, senior: Leonard finished his career with more than 200 goals.

Dylan Mulligan, Charlotte Latin, junior: An all-state pick, he had 40 goals and 29 assists.

Tyler Price, Lake Norman Charter, senior: An Army West Point commit, Price had 75 goals and 82 assists for the Knights, state runners-up in the 1A/2A/3A playoffs. His 518 points rank No. 1 in career scoring all-time at the school.

MIDFIELDERS

Hayden Bracht, Cannon School, junior: A do-it-all player, Bracht scored 19 goals, forced 25 takeaways, and collected 58 ground balls.

Cannon Wigginton, Lake Norman, senior: Wigginton was named most valuable player on what was arguably the area’s best boys’ lacrosse team.

Crandall Wilkins, Community School of Davidson, junior: Wilkins scored 60 goals and had 73 ground balls, earning all-state honors.

DEFENDERS

Jack Hankins, Myers Park, junior: He caused 22 turnovers and grabbed 54 ground balls.

Hudson Higbea, Cannon School, sophomore: Higbea usually was assigned to the opponent’s top scorer and finished with 55 turnovers.

Kyle Mosley, Lake Norman, senior: A two-time all-state player, Mosley had six ground balls and three forced turnovers in a big state playoff victory over Ardrey Kell.

SPECIALISTS

Faceoffs — Devin Delfino, Ballantyne Ridge, freshman: A big part of the Wolverines’ future hopes, Delfino scored 17 goals, grabbed 43 ground balls, and won 70 percent of his faceoffs.

Long stick — Tucker Bryant, Myers Park, senior: Bryant had 72 ground balls and forced 35 turnovers.

GOALKEEPER

Noah McGovern, Lake Norman Charter, senior: A Queens commit, McGovern had 239 saves this season and 873 for his career.

This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM.