Piedmont’s Lillian Broadway is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week
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- Sara Baker recorded 120 assists over three matches to lead Union Academy to wins.
- Tina Garofoli scored five goals in one game to bring her season tally to 15.
- Sam Vanderhave claimed victory in Wilmington with a 19:08.79 5K run for Country Day.
Piedmont’s Lillian Broadway is The Charlotte Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week.
The Panthers’ junior won the Ashbrook Invitational in her first ever competitive 5K race in 21 minutes, 24 seconds on Sept. 2
Broadway, who won the race by 1 minute, 50 seconds, also led Piedmont to a third-place finish in the eight-team field.
Last week’s other finalists
Sara Baker, Union Academy volleyball: The Cardinals’ senior setter had 39 assists, 25 digs and three kills in a 3-2 win over North Stanly on Sept. 2.
The next day, Baker had 49 assists, 10 digs, two aces and two kills in a 3-1 victory at Lincoln Charter.
Baker finished off the week with 32 assists, seven digs and two kills in a 3-0 win over Albemarle.
Baker has 313 assists, 107 digs, 18 kills and 12 aces for Union Academy (9-1) this season.
Brooklyn Brownfield, Ballantyne Ridge cross-country: The Wolves’ freshman ran a 22:44.50 to finish 27th in the Girls’ Open race at the Friday Night Lights’ Cross-Country Festival at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Sept. 5.
Brownfield’s efforts also helped Ballantyne Ridge to a runner-up finish in the same event.
Abbie Carson, Forestview volleyball: The Jaguars’ freshman setter sparked Forestview to a 3-0 win at Hunter Huss with eight assists and five aces in her varsity debut on Sept. 4.
Carson’s efforts helped Forestview (1-5) to its first win of the season.
Tina Garofoli, Providence Day field hockey: The Chargers’ senior forward scored both goals in a 3-2 loss at rival Charlotte Latin on Sept. 2.
Garofoli also scored three goals in a 6-0 win over St. Mary’s on Sept. 5.
Garofoli finished off the week with five goals in a 5-1 win over Durham Academy on Sept. 6.
Garofoli, a University of Miami (OH) commit, has 15 goals and one assist for Providence Day (4-3-1) this season.
Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson cross-country: The Cavaliers’ sophomore ran a personal-best 17:42.80 to finish fifth in the Girls’ Championship race at the Friday Night Lights’ Cross Country Festival at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Sept. 5.
McCollum, whose time was also the second fastest in school history, led Cuthbertson to its fifth straight Friday Night Lights’ Cross Country Festival team title.
Sanaa Mohammed, Charlotte Country Day volleyball: The Buccaneers’ junior outside hitter had 11 kills, 10 digs, one ace and one kill in a 3-0 win over Carmel Christian on Sept. 3.
Mohammed also had 10 kills, seven digs and three aces in 3-0 loss to North Raleigh Christian on Sept. 5.
Mohammed had 26 kills, 18 digs and four aces in 3-2 win over Durham Academy on Sept. 6.
The same day, Mohammed had 15 kills, nine digs, two aces and one assist in a 3-0 win over Cary Academy.
Mohammed has 150 kills, 122 digs, 20 aces and six blocks for Charlotte Country Day (5-5) this season.
Kailey Riffle, A.L. Brown volleyball: The Wonders’ junior libero had 14 digs, two kills, three aces and one assist in a 3-0 win at Olympic on Sept. 2.
The next day, Riffle had 12 digs, one kill and one ace in 3-0 loss to Watauga.
Riffle finished off the week with 17 digs, three kills, one ace and two assists in a 3-0 victory at Central Cabarrus on Sept. 4.
Riffle has 117 digs, 36 kills, 16 aces and 16 assists for A.L. Brown (6-4) this season.
Ryane Sarjeant, South Mecklenburg field hockey: The Sabres’ junior scored three goals and had two assists in a 9-0 win at Ballantyne Ridge on Sept. 3.
Sarjeant also had two assists in a 5-0 victory at Hough on Sept. 2.
Sarjeant has four goals and eight assists for South Mecklenburg (4-0) this season.
Gracie Song, Cuthbertson golf: The Cavaliers’ senior shot a 2-under-par 34, with three birdies in her round, to finish second individually while leading Cuthbertson to a fourth-place finish at the Southern Carolinas conference match at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe on Sept. 3.
Song is now a cumulative 5-under-par in conference play this season.
Sam Vanderhave, Charlotte Country Day cross-country: The Buccaneers’ senior ran a 19:08.79 to win the Girls’ Championship race at the Wilmington Beach Blast at Ashley High’s course on Sept. 6.
Vanderhave, who won by nearly 10 seconds, also led Charlotte Country to victory at the same event.
Mollie Wells, Ardrey Kell cross-country: The Knights’ freshman ran a 20:20.80 to finish 80th in a 293-runner field atthe Girls’ Championship race at the Friday Night Lights’ Cross-Country Festival at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Sept. 5.
Wells’ efforts also led Ardrey Kell to a 25th-place finish at the same event.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through September 6.
Previous winners
Week 1: Gia Lowe, Mooresville
Week 2: Salah Dellinger, Ambassador Christian
Week 3: Juliana Andrea Castellanos Trujillo, Ballantyne Ridge
Week 4: Lillian Broadway, Piedmont
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Piedmont’s Lillian Broadway is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week."
