North Carolina schools shine in spring sports championships

This collection of stories features North Carolina high schools winning spring sports championships.

North Lincoln High captured The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 baseball title by rallying after a difficult season start, finishing strong in the state championship series. Ardrey Kell secured its second girls’ soccer title, scoring early and holding off Ashley in the 4A title game.

Cardinal Gibbons’ girls’ lacrosse team seized its fourth straight 4A state championship, dominating after halftime to defeat Weddington. Pine Lake Prep claimed its first state girls’ soccer title with a late goal against Franklin Academy, while Mountain Island Charter earned their first NCHSAA girls’ soccer championship by overpowering Wake Prep in the 1A finals.

Read the stories below.

South Point Lucy Rodenberger (left) and Charlotte Smith (right) walk off the field full of emotion after taking a heartbreaking loss to Western Alamance in the NCHSAA 3A girls soccer state championship game on May 30th, 2025 at the Sportsplex in Matthew, NC By Kelly Hood Special to the Observer

NO. 1: SOUTH POINT SOCCER FALLS TO WESTERN ALAMANCE IN NCHSAA 3A GIRLS’ SOCCER FINAL

Belmont’s South Point High School girls’ soccer team reached its third straight state final, but lost to unbeaten Western Alamance in Friday’s 3A girls’ soccer state championship. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Richard Walker Langston Wertz Jr.

Players from Mountain Island Charter’s girls’ soccer team celebrate after the Raptors took a 4-0 second half lead over Wake Prep in Saturday’s NCHSAA 1A state championship game in Matthews, NC, on May 31, 2025 By Kelly Hood Special to the Observer

NO. 2: MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHARTER ROUTS WAKE PREP, WINS FIRST NCHSAA GIRLS’ SOCCER TITLE

Mountain Island Charter’s girls’ soccer team won its first NC state championship Saturday at the Matthews Sportsplex, beating Wake Prep in the NCHSAA 1A final. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Langston Wertz Jr. Steve Lyttle

Lake Norman Charter’s Tristan English (10) reacts after missing a shot on goal against Croatan late in the first half. The Lake Norman Charter Knights and the Croatan Cougars met in the NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A Boys Lacrosse Championship in Durham, N.C on May 30, 2025. By Steven Worthy

NO. 3: CROATAN DENIES LAKE NORMAN CHARTER FOURTH STRAIGHT LACROSSE STATE TITLE

Croatan ended Lake Norman Charter’s three-year reign as N.C. lacrosse state champions in Durham on Friday. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Lyttle

Cardinal Gibbons’ Chloe Tupis (3) celebrates her first-half goal against Weddington with Jane Bailey Ward in the NCHSAA 4A lacrosse championship game in Durham, N.C. on May 31, 2025. By Steven Worthy

NO. 4: CARDINAL GIBBONS GIRLS DOWN WEDDINGTON FOR 4A LACROSSE TITLE

Cardinal Gibbons, from Raleigh, routed Weddington in Saturday’s NCHSAA 4A girls’ lacrosse championship, scoring 11 goals in the second half. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Lyttle Langston Wertz Jr.

Pine Lake Prep’s Sadie Peterson passes the ball to a teammate during Saturday’s NCHSAA 2A girls’ soccer state championship game in Matthews, NC, on May 31, 2025 By Kelly Hood Special to the Observer

NO. 5: PINE LAKE PREP EDGES FRANKLIN ACADEMY, WINS ITS FIRST NC STATE GIRLS’ SOCCER TITLE

The school in Mooresville looked to stop unbeaten Franklin Academy in the 2A girls’ soccer state championship. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shane Connuck

Ardrey Kell’s girls’ soccer team won the NCHSAA 4A girls’ soccer state championship at the Matthews Sportsplex on Saturday. By Kelly Hood

NO. 6: ARDREY KELL TAKES DOWN ASHLEY AGAIN, WINS SECOND NC GIRLS’ SOCCER TITLE

The nationally-ranked North Carolina powers met as No. 12 seeds in the 2025 4A state championship. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shane Connuck

Cardinal Gibbons’ Brown Parker (20) congratulates Zach Kerner (30) on his goal against Lake Norman during the first half. The Lake Norman Wildcats and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders met in the Boys NCHSAA 4A Lacrosse Championship Game in Durham, N.C. on May 31, 2025. By Steven Worthy

NO. 7: LAKE NORMAN FALLS TO CARDINAL GIBBONS IN BOYS’ 4A LACROSSE FINALS

Cardinal Gibbons scored three straight goals in the third quarter Saturday and downed Lake Norman 10-8 for the boys’ 4A lacrosse state championship. | Published May 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Lyttle

Catawba Ridge’s Britton Nash strikes out as Berkeley catcher Akanni Owodunni throws the ball back home Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the state finals in Fort Mill, S.C. By TRACY KIMBALL

NO. 8: BERKELEY DOWNS CATAWBA RIDGE 9-4, GRABS 5A/DIVISION 2 BASEBALL TITLE

Catawba Ridge’s hopes of a state baseball championship ended Saturday night with a 9-4 loss to visiting Berkeley in the Class 5A/Division 2 final. | Published June 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Lyttle

North Lincoln High School won the NCHSAA 3A state championship on Saturday, May 31, 2025

NO. 9: NORTH LINCOLN HIGH WINS THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER’S SWEET 16 BASEBALL TITLE

After winning the NC High School Athletic Assocation’s 3A state championship, North Lincoln High School wins The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 baseball title. | Published June 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Langston Wertz Jr.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.