Charlotte Latin’s Jack Lilly is The Observer’s boys’ athlete of the week
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- Highlight: multiple conference champions and a MAC record anchor the list of nominees.
Charlotte Latin’s Jack Lilly is The Charlotte Observer’s high school boys’ athlete of the week.
Lilly is a sophomore midfielder for the Hawks’ soccer team. He had one goal and one assist in 2-0 second round victory over Providence Day on Oct. 14.
Lilly also had a goal in regulation and a penalty kick in an extra session loss against Covenant Day on Oct. 16.
Lilly finished the season with 20 goals and six assists for Charlotte Latin (15-7).
Last week’s finalists
Grady Anderson, Hickory Ridge cross-country: The Ragin’ Bulls’ junior ran a personal-best time of 16 minutes, 8.45 seconds to win the Greater Metro Athletic 6A/7A conference title at Frank Liske Park in Concord on Oct. 16.
Anderson, the Greater Metro conference runner of the year, also led Hickory Ridge to its second straight league title.
Ibrahim Bathily, Rocky River soccer: The Ravens’ junior scored one goal and had one assist in a 3-0 win at West Mecklenburg on Oct. 14. The win was the first victory of the season for Rocky River.
Bathily also scored a goal in an 11-2 loss to Ardrey Kell on Oct. 16.
Bathily has three goals and one assist for Rocky River (1-15-1) this season.
Bryce Cooke, Parkwood cross-country: The Wolfpack junior ran 16:46.08 to win the Rocky River 4A/5A conference title at Oakboro Park on Oct. 14.
Cooke, the Rocky River conference runner of the year, helped Parkwood to a runner-up finish at the same meet.
Price Fee, Metrolina Christian cross-country: The Warriors’ senior ran 16:05.07, the fastest time in the 26-year history of the Metrolina Athletic conference championship, to win at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 13. Fee broke the MAC meet record by 13 seconds.
Fee also led Metrolina Christian to its third straight team title.
Jack Freace, Covenant Day soccer: The Lions’ sophomore defender scored the game-tying goal and made the game-winning penalty kick to help Covenant Day beat Charlotte Latin in the NCISAA 4A state quarterfinals on Oct. 16.
Freace has two goals and one assist for Covenant Day (14-4-1) this season.
Nedal Lagdas, Weddington soccer: The Warriors’ senior scored all four goals in a 4-0 win over Sun Valley on Oct. 15.
Elias Nojaim, Davidson Day soccer: The Patriots’ senior center back had four goals in three games as Davidson Day won two playoff games, before losing in the NCISAA 3A state quarterfinals.
Davidson Day (8-13) beat Carolina Day, 2-1, in double overtime in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 14, and also won, 2-1, over Asheville Christian in the second roundon Oct. 16.
The Patriots’ season ended in a 3-2 overtime loss at Trinity Academy in the state quarterfinals on Oct. 18.
Christopher O’Connor, Christ the King: The Crusaders’ junior ran 16:27.94 to win the Catawba Shores’ 2A/3A/4A conference championship at Frank Liske Park in Concord on Oct. 15.
O’Connor’s run also helped Christ the King to a conference title at the same meet, beating Corvian Charter by three points.
Matthew Perrone, Providence cross-country: The Panthers’ senior ran 16:26.90 to win the Southwestern 7A/8A conference title by nearly 33 seconds at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 15.
Perrone, who earned Southwestern 7A/8A conference runner of the year, helped Providence to a conference title the same day, winning by just two points over rival Ardrey Kell.
Ephraim Staley, Independence cross-country: The Patriots’ senior ran a personal-best 16:46.70 to win the Meck Power Six conference title by nearly 23 seconds at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 15.
Staley, who earned Meck Power Six conference runner of the year, helped Independence to a third-place finish.
Jacob Wheelock, Porter Ridge soccer: The Pirates’ senior midfielder helped the Porter Ridge defense “lock down the midfield in two shutout wins,” according to Coach Ron Ladimir.
Wheelock helped Porter Ridge (15-3-2) to a 1-0 win over Cuthbertson on Oct. 13, and then another 1-0 victory over Charlotte Catholic on Oct. 15.
Wheelock has five goals and seven assists for Porter Ridge this season.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through Oct. 18.
Past winners
Week 1: Jason Thankachan, Ambassador Christian
Week 2: John Lilly, Charlotte Latin
Week 3: Louis Markin, Charlotte Latin
Week 4: Ryan Ladimir, Porter Ridge
Week 5: Jack Totten, Charlotte Latin
Week 6: Rex Bumgardner, Charlotte Catholic
Week 7: Cesar Ramirez, Cuthbertson
Week 8: Cole Sheets, Pine Lake Prep
Week 9: Zach Ortiz, Weddington
Week 10: Jack Lilly, Charlotte Latin
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Charlotte Latin’s Jack Lilly is The Observer’s boys’ athlete of the week."
