Ballantyne Ridge’s Reese Jones is The Observer’s girls’ athlete of the week

By Jay Edwards

Updated October 12, 2025 9:46 PM

Ballantyne Ridge field hockey player Reese Jones is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week.

The Wolves’ senior goalkeeper had five saves to help lead Ballantyne Ridge to a 3-2 win over Ambassador Christian, earning its first win of the season on Sept. 29. Jones also notched her 100th save of the season in the victory.

Jones also had 12 saves in a 10-0 loss to Charlotte Catholic on Oct. 1.

Jones had 116 saves for Ballantyne Ridge (1-10) in its first 11 games.

Last week’s finalists

Scarlett Black, Charlotte Latin volleyball: The Hawks’ senior right side hitter had nine kills, one ace and one block in a 3-0 win over Carmel Christian on Sept. 29.

The next day, Black added eight more kills and two blocks in 3-0 victory at Cannon School.

Black has 189 kills and 25 aces for Charlotte (25-1) this season.

Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman cross-country: The Wildcats’ senior won the Wildcat Invitational in 18 minutes, 13.23 seconds — 34 seconds ahead of her closest competitor — at the Statesville Soccer Complex on Oct. 1.

Dingman’s efforts also helped the Lake Norman girls’ cross-country team to a Wildcat Invitational title the same day.

Dingman, a Virginia Tech commit, also ran a 17:48.30 to finish 29th at the Great American Cross Country Festival at Wake Med Soccer Complex in Cary on Oct. 4.

Devin Gilroy, Hough tennis: The Huskies’ senior beat reigning Charlotte Observer tennis player of the year, Myers Park’s Teagan Reilly, 6-3, 6-4 in a match with Myers Park on Oct. 1.

Hough (8-2) also won 8-1 at Hopewell on Sept. 30.

Gilroy is 7-1 in singles and 5-1 in doubles’ play this season.

Avery Houseton, Covenant Day volleyball: The Lions’ senior libero had 20 digs, six assists and two aces in 3-1 win over Charlotte Christian on Sept. 30.

Houseton also had 23 digs, two assists and three aces in a 3-0 loss at Charlotte Christian on Oct. 2.

Houseton will be honored for achieving 1,000-plus digs in her career at the Charlotte Country Day game on Oct. 7. She has 1,121 digs in her Covenant Day career.

Houseton, a Charlotte 49ers’ softball commit, has 376 digs, 72 assists and 28 aces for Covenant Day (8-10) this season.

Caitlin Kasten, Marvin Ridge cross-country: The Mavericks’ junior ran a personal-best and school-record time of 17:24.80 to finish 15th at the Great American Cross Country Festival at Wake Med Soccer Complex in Cary on Oct. 4.

Kasten helped Marvin Ridge to an eighth-place finish at the same event.

Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson cross-country: The Cavaliers’ sophomore ran a 17:56 to finish as runner-up at the Wendys’ Invitational at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 4.

McCollum’s run also helped the Cuthbertson cross-country team to a 15th-place finish at the same event.

Fiona McDonald, Mallard Creek volleyball: The Mavericks’ sophomore outside hitter had 10 kills, six digs, three aces, one assist and five service receptions in a 3-0 win at West Charlotte on Sept. 29.

The next day, McDonald had eight kills, 17 digs, two aces, one assist and 15 service receptions in a 3-0 loss to Independence.

McDonald has a conference-best 129 kills , 168 digs, 41 aces, 20 assists and 300 service receptions for Mallard Creek (4-19) this season.

Claire Page, Providence cross-country: The Panthers’ junior ran a 19:24.20 to finish 11th-place in the Girls’ Open Varsity Blue Race at the Great American Cross Country Festival at Wake Med Soccer Complex in Cary on Oct. 4.

Page’s run also helped the Providence to an 11th-place finish.

Gracie Song, Cuthbertson golf: The Cavaliers’ senior shot a 2-under-par 34 to earn medalist honors while leading Cuthbertson to a runner-up finish in a tri-match with Piedmont and Union Day at Charlotte National Golf Club on Oct. 1.

Song also shot a 1-over-par 73 to finish tied for seventh-place at the HV3 Invitational at Gaston Country Club on Sept. 30. Song earned second-team all-tournament honors for her efforts.

Song is averaging a 33.5 per nine holes in Southern Carolinas’ conference play this season.

Charlotte Spencer, West Cabarrus tennis: The Wolverines’ senior won 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 (tiebreaker) at No. 1 singles’ and 9-8 (7-4 in tiebreaker) at No. 1 doubles to help West Cabarrus to an 8-1 win over Central Cabarrus on Sept. 30.

Spencer also won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1 singles, and 8-3 at No. 1 doubles in another 8-1 victory at A.L. Brown on Oct. 2.

Spencer is 6-10 in singles and 7-8 in doubles’ play for West Cabarrus (8-9) this season.

Olivia Thorne, Ambassador Christian volleyball: The Lions’ senior outside hitter had 15 kills, 13 digs and an ace in 3-1 loss at Davidson Day on Sept. 30.

Thorne also had four kills, 19 digs and an ace in 3-0 win over Carmel Christian on Oct. 2.

Thorne finished off the week with nine kills and 16 digs in a 3-2 victory over Mooresville on Oct. 4.

Thorne had 189 kills, 140 digs and 18 aces for Ambassador Christian (22-6) this season. Thorne finishes her high school career with 928 career kills.

Note: Information published today includes statistics through October 4.