The Observer’s fall prep sports preview: Myers Park’s Teagan Reilly eyes title
It was pouring rain in and around uptown Charlotte on Tuesday morning, but Myers Park High tennis star Teagan Reilly wasn’t thinking about taking a day off.
“No,” she said, “I’m hitting indoors at noon.”
Reilly, 17, is the best returning girls’ high school tennis player in the Charlotte region, and she is not going to let Mother Nature get in the way on her training.
She started playing when she was 5, introduced to tennis by her father, Tom, who played at Purdue in the mid ‘80s. And Reilly rarely takes a day off.
“I’m on the court five days a week, usually 6,” she said. “I do take Sundays off.”
Do you just rest on Sunday?
“No, I usually go on long runs,” Reilly said. “But I just feel different not being on court after one or two days.”
And make no mistake, Reilly’s schedule is working.
In three years at Myers Park, Reilly has never lost a conference match. She is 73-4 overall, with three straight N.C. 4A Western Regional championships. She played in the state semifinals as a freshman and sophomore. She reached the state championship match as a junior.
“She’s willing to hit as long as it takes, ball after ball after ball,” Myers Park coach Ed Flynn said. “She does that better than most. And I think that’s part of the key to her success: her mentality and her ability to change what needs to change mid-match and execute it.”
Reilly has the look and build of a college athlete and is planning visits to schools soon. Flynn said her powerful ground strokes don’t look like much during warmups, but the pace of them — and the frequency — is more than most high school kids can deal with once play begins.
“I’m trying to think of a conference match or a regional match that’s given her trouble,” Flynn said, eyes looking up to the sky. “And I just can’t.”
Reilly was 25-1 last year as a junior when she won her second straight Charlotte Observer player of the year award. That’s when she reached the state individual finals. In 2023, as a sophomore, Reilly won at No. 1 singles in the dual team state championship match, leading Myers Park to its third dual-team championship in school history.
“High school has been the best thing for me,” Reilly said. “It helped me grow as a tennis player and helped me grow as a person. At Myers Park, the team is a big family and it has been a great experience, and so I’m so glad for the people I’ve met and the coach we’ve had. Being part of a good team culture, it’s easy to be successful.”
Girls’ tennis
Here are girls’ tennis players to watch during the fall 2025 season (listed alphabetically):
Mallory Aull, Pine Lake Prep, sophomore: Aull made a statewide statement last fall, winning the 2A state singles championship as a freshman. She was 16-0 in the regular season and, with senior Madison Utz, will make the Pride a team to watch.
Caroline Cerminara, Davidson Day, freshman: Cerminara is poised to dominate the tennis scene for several seasons. She was a second-team all-Observer player last fall as an eighth-grader. Coach Kyle Cerminara, her father, said Caroline spent the summer competing in several U.S. Tennis Association tournaments..
Luci Falls, Lake Norman Charter, senior: Falls has been the Knights’ No. 1 singles player for three straight years. She was a 3A state tournament semifinalist two years ago and in doubles last fall. She is three-time conference player of the year. With senior Eleina Moon and junior Kate Champion, coach Kim Schild has a potential powerhouse this season.
Sally Farnham, Charlotte Country Day, senior: Farnham was 13-1 in No. 2 singles last year on a team that won the NCISAA Division 1 state championship. She and senior Isla Smith lead coach Calvin Davis Jr.’s powerhouse this season.
Emilee Ibsen, Gaston Day, senior: Gaston Day has won three straight NCISAA Division 2 state championships, and Ibsen has been a part of that. She was 13-1 last season and leads a group of four returning starters for this tennis powerhouse — Avery Shaffer (13-0 in No. 2 singles), Yulia Stakh (12-0 in No. 3), and Margaux Nelli (10-0 in No. 4).
Teagan Reilly, Myers Park, senior: Reilly is two-time Observer Player of the Year and compiled a 25-1 record in singles last season, winning the 4A West regional championship and finishing second in the state tournament. She has a career record of 84-4.
Natalya Wallace, Providence, sophomore: Wallace was 19-1 as a freshman in No. 2 singles last season. She and Vivian Wu, who was 19-1 in No. 3 singles, were keys to the Panthers’ 4A team tennis state championship. Both are back this season.
Girls’ golf
Here are girls’ golfers to watch during the fall 2025 season (listed alphabetically)
Paisley Freda, Pine Lake Prep, junior: Pine Lake Prep has won two straight state championships and will have a strong shot at a third title this fall. Freda, fourth in the 1A/2A state tournament last year, leads the way. She’s joined by sophomore Celina Ahn (15th in the state tournament) and junior Taylor Pike.
Caitlyn Frisch, Lake Norman Charter, junior: Frisch was the South Piedmont 3A Player of the Year last fall and then led the Knights to a second-place team finish in the 3A state tournament. She and sophomore Seehe Veera make Lake Norman Charter a golf power again this year.
Elizabeth Guthrie, Charlotte Catholic, sophomore: Guthrie capped her freshman year by winning the conference tournament title and then finishing tied for 10th in the 4A state championship.. The Cougars should be strong this fall, with players like Guthrie and junior Maya Claffey.
Landry Hamm, Jackson Day, junior: Hamm earned Jackson Day its first-ever NCHSAA state championship last year, winning the 1A/2A state tournament by three strokes.
Xinyan Li, Marvin Ridge, senior: The Mavericks finished third in last year’s 4A state tournament and look like a state power this fall,. with Li (eighth individually in the state tournament), senior Alicia Fang (16th) and sophomore Audrey Liu (20th).
Madison Pruden, South Point, senior: Pruden, who finished fifth individually in the 3A state tournament last fall, leads a Raiders’ squad that won the 3A team title in 2024.
Field hockey
Here are girls’ golfers to watch during the fall 2025 season (listed alphabetically)
Taylor Barto, Covenant Day, freshman: The Lions’ midfielder earned all-state honors as an eighth-grader (four goals, two assists) and will play a key role again alongside junior midfielder Anna Randolph Bryan (six goals, five assists) and freshman defender Callie Welsh (three goals).
Marion DuBose, Charlotte Latin, senior: The Hawks’ all-state forward (12 goals, 15 assists) returns to lead a potent offense with all-state sophomore midfielder Margaret Piasecki (12 goals, 19 assists) and sophomore midfielder Anna Grace Fahrney (13 goals, four assists). The Hawks advanced to the NCISAA state semifinals last season.
Libby Castle, Marvin Ridge, senior: The Mavericks’ all-state midfielder, a Swarthmore College commit, led Marvin Ridge with 16 goals and 14 assists last season.
Tina Garofoli, Providence Day, senior: The Chargers’ all-state senior, a University of Miami (Ohio) commit, led her team with 18 goals and four assists last season. Garofoli and senior all-state midfielder/defender Cate Brinley (three assists, two defensive saves) will lead a Providence Day squad that was a NCISAA state semifinalist last year.
Anna Pedroli, Ballantyne Ridge, sophomore.: The Wolves’ star led the junior varsity team with four goals and three assists last season, and now looks to be improved as Ballantyne Ridge returns all 11 starters for their first varsity season. Pedroli’s primary sport is lacrosse, where she scored 95 goals for the Wolves as a freshman last year.
Lucy Pigg, Providence, senior: The Panthers’ all-state goalkeeper, a Yale University commit, had 268 saves for Providence last season.
Ada Savage, Myers Park, senior: The Mustangs’ all-conference midfielder (seven goals, four assists) is back to lead an experienced Myers Park team. The Mustangs return 11 players returning from an NCFHA state semifinalist team. Also back are senior defender Blake Catron and midfielder Addie Bullard.
Avery Steele, Ardrey Kell, junior.: The Knights’ all-conference junior had 242 saves last year. She has 447 career saves.
Meg Tebben, Charlotte Catholic, senior: The Cougars’ three-time all-state performer is the reigning Charlotte Observer player of the year. A University of Iowa commit, Tbben poured in 40 goals to go along wth 15 assists for the NCFHA state runner-up. She’ll lead a team that returns 10 starters and will feature senior defender Avery Palmer, senior midfielder Caroline Winters and junior goalkeeper Madison Schwartz.
Sophia Terry, South Mecklenburg, senior: The Sabres’ all-state goalkeeper had 148 saves and three shutouts last season.
Holland Wilkins, Charlotte Country Day, senior: The Buccaneers’ two-time all-state midfielder (eight goals, 13 assists, multiple Division I offers) is back to lead an 2024 NCISAA state runner-up team that returns eight starters. Among them is all-state senior defender Molly Brown, a Washington & Lee University soccer commit.
Boys’ cross-country
Here are boys’ cross-country runners to watch during the fall 2025 season (listed alphabetically)
Erik and Henry Anglemyer, Charlotte Latin, juniors: The Hawks’ twin brothers return to lead the defending CISAA conference champions. Erik ran a personal-best 16:31.10 last season, which included a fifth-place finish at the CISAA confernece championships and a top 20 at NCISAA states. Henry had a personal-best 16:38.50 at the CISAA conference championships, where he finished eighth and was 21st at states.
Hunter Bates, Weddington, senior: The Warriors’ star ran a personal-best 15:43 to finish third at the Union County championships, and he finished ninth at the 4A Midwest Regional. Bates also won a 4A state title in the 800-meter run outdoors last spring (2025).
Connor Ballard, Mount Pleasant, junior: The Tigers’ star ran a personal-best 18;17.06 to finish sixth at the Yadkin Valley 1A/2A conference championships and he finished 20th at 2A Midwest Regional. This year, Ballard will team with senior, Hampton Garrido — who finished 10th at the conference championships and 19th at regionals — to give Mount Pleasant two potential state qualifiers.
Ahmn Byrd, Mooresville, junior: Byrd finished ninth at the Greater Metro 4A conference championships, and he also ran a personal-best 17:14.31 at the 4A Midwest Regionals. He’s had a great summer, running low 16-minute times and is on track to be in the mid 15s this season, according to Mooresville coach Jay Clark.
Chris Burns, Myers Park, junior: Burns ran a personal-best 15:59.80 at the Adidas Challenge last fall, and he also finished seventh at the SoMeck 4A conference championships, fifth at the 4A West Regional and 26th at the 4A state championships. Burns will team with classmate James Freeman, the SoMeck 4A conference runner-up, to give Myers Park two of the top runners in new 8A West Region.
Bryce Cooke, Parkwood, junior: The Wolfpack star emerged as one of the fastest sophomores in the state last year, running a personal-best 15:41.30 to earn Union County runner-up honors. He also won the Rocky River conference title and finished third at the 3A Midwest Regional.
Ben Efland, Metrolina Christian, senior: The Warriors’ star, a three-time, all-MAC performer, ran a school-record 16:14.20 at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional last season. He’s part of a loaded, Metrolina Christian lineup with sophomore John Capps and seniors Price Fee, Josh Koos, Tyler McClure, who look to improve on their third-place team finish at the NCISAA 4A state championships last year.
Adam Haggart, Charlotte Country Day, Sophomore.: Haggart looks to build on a breakout freshman season, when he was the CISAA conference runner-up in a personal-best 16:23.80. Haggart also finished 33rd at the NCISAA state championships.
Josh Palmer, Cuthbertson, sophomore: The Cavaliers’ star had a breakout freshman season, running a personal-best 15:45.80 to finish fourth at the Southern Carolinas’ conference championship. He finished eighth at the 4A Midwest Regional and 25th at 4A state championships. He also set an N.C. freshman record in the 1,600-meter run outdoors (4:16.58).
Jay Olin, Butler, senior: Olin made a drastic improvement last season going from a personal-best 17:11.30 in 2023 to 16:36.89 in 2024 to finish 11th at the 4A West Regional. He also placed sixth at the Southwestern 4A conference championships. Olin is also the No. 1 returning runner in the new Meck Power 6 conference this season.
Michael Rivlin, Marvin Ridge, senior: Rivlin is the top returning runner from the 4A state champion. Last year, he ran a personal best 15:37.70 at the Virginia Showcase and also finished 13th at the 4A state championships in 15:49.84.
Girls’ cross-country
Here are girls’ cross-country runners to watch during the fall 2025 season (listed alphabetically)
Aimery Coffey, Lake Norman Charter, sophomore: The Knights’ star burst onto the scene as a freshman, running a personal-best 19 minutes, 47.31 seconds to finish 17th at the 3A state championships. Coffey also was South Piedmont conference runner-up and fourth at the 3A Midwest Regionals last season. Lake Norman Charter returns six of its top seven runners from a team that finished fifth at the 3A state championships.
Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman, senior: The Wildcats’ senior, a Virginia Tech commit and reigning Charlotte Observer girls’ cross country runner of the year, ran a personal-best 17:15.70 at the Virginia Showcase, was Greater Metro 4A conference and 4A Midwest Regional champion, before finishing seventh at the 4A championships. Dingman will pair with sophomore Claire Zimmerman, who ran a personal-best 18:26.50 to finish third at the conference championships, to give Lake Norman one of the top duos in Class 7A.
Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln, senior: The Knights’ senior, a Furman University commit, ran a personal-best 18:06.63 at the N.C. Runners’ Elite Invitational. She also finished third at the 3A state championships leading North Lincoln to its fifth straight state title. Sophomore Ella Myers will also play a key role in quest for a six-peat.
Savannah Gentille, Marvin Ridge, sophomore: The Mavericks’ star had a breakout year in her first high school season, running a personal-best 18:07.50 to finish fourth in the Union County championships, she was fifth at the 4A Midwest Regional and 19th at the 4A state championships.
Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day, Jr.: The Lions’ junior won the NCISAA 4A state title by nearly 27 seconds. She also won CISAA conference title and ran a personal-best 17:29.36 at Nike Cross Nationals’ Southeast Regional. Kasten also won the NCISAA Division I state title in the 1,600-meter run in outdoor track last spring.
Hadley Martin, Metrolina Christian, senior: The Warriors’ star was Metrolina Athletic conference runner-up, and ran a personal-best 19:13.40 to finish 14th at the Union County championships. She will team with freshman Ridley Rutherford to try and win the schools’ 11th straight conference championship.
Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson, sophomore: Already a three-time national champion (most recently in the one-mile race at the New Balance Nationals), McCollum proved to be amongst the state’s best as a freshman, finishing fifth at the 4A state championships, third at the 4A Midwest Regional and third at the Union championships in a personal-best 18:04.50. Cuthbertson also boasts one of area’s fastest seniors in Josie Schihl, who was Union County runner-up in a personal-best 17:58.90 and eighth at the 4A Midwest Regionals.
Kristen Nohr, SouthLake Christian, sophomore: The Eagles’ star, who has a personal-best 19:33, also finished 13th at the NCISAA 3A state championship and fourth at the MAC championships as a freshman. Nohr is also a guard on the SouthLake Christian girls’ basketball team.
Sam Vanderhave, Charlotte Country Day, senior.: The Buccaneers’ star was CISAA conference runner-up and finished13th at the NCISAA 4A state championships.
Elizabeth Weltz, South Mecklenburg, senior.: Weltz was SoMeck 4A conference runner-up and finished sixth at 4A West Regionals. She was 14th at the 4A state championships and ran a personal-best 18:09.13 at Nike Cross Nationals’ Southeast Regional last season.
Kate Willette, Myers Park, senior: The Mustangs boast a rare trio of cross-country standouts with seniors Willette, Molly Barber and junior Alaina Zabel, all amongst the top returners in the new 8A West Region. Willette (personal-time of 18:27.37 at Carolinas’ Kickoff) placed third in the SoMeck 4A conference championships, eighth at the 4A West Regional and 11th at the 4A state championships. Barber (personal best of 18:28.31 in 2023) placed fourth in the conference, fifth at regionals and 22nd at states. Zabel, who ran a personal-best 18:12.82 to win the SoMeck 4A conference title, also finished fourth-place at regionals and 20th overall at states.
Elise Wrenholt, Cannon School, senior: The Cougars’ senior, who ran a personal-best 18:34, is amongst the state’s best distance runners. She finished third in the CISAA conference championships, and 10th overall at the NCISAA 4A state championships last season.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
