Vote for The Observer’s athlete of the week (Feb. 27, 2026)
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Observer opens athlete-of-week voting; readers may vote freely until noon Friday.
- Eight nominees span swimming, indoor track and wrestling, with wins and records.
- Results and statistics compiled through Dec. 13; several athletes listed college commits.
Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer’s high school athlete of the week.
The poll closes at noon Friday. You may vote as often as you like.
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This week’s nominees
Grady Anderson, Hickory Ridge boys’ indoor track: The Ragin’ Bulls’ junior ran a time of 4 minutes, 21.58 seconds to win the 7A state title in the 1,600-meter run at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
Anderson also finished eighth in the 1,000 the same day.
Anderson set the school record running a 4:17.35 in the 1,600 earlier this season.
Dylan Belmont, Monroe boys’ wrestling: The Redhawks’ junior was the 5A state runner-up at 138 pounds at Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 21. Belmont was 54-5 overall this season.
Belmont, who was also the 5A West Regional runner-up at 138 pounds, is 129-27 in his high school career.
Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman girls’ indoor track: The Wildcats’ senior ran a 10:38.55 to win the 7A state title in the 3,200-meter run, beating the field by 11 seconds at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
Dingman, a Virginia Tech signee, also helped the Lake Norman girls to a 15th-place finish in the 7A finals.
Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln girls’ indoor track: The Knights’ senior won her fourth straight 1,600-meter state indoor championship, capping her career with the 5A state title at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
Ferraro had won the previous three 3A state indoor titles in the 1,600.
Ferraro also finished fourth in the 1,000, and as runner-up in the 4 X 400-meter relay at the 5A state indoor championship.
Ferraro, who accounted for 17 points at state indoor meet, led the North Lincoln to it first state title.
Mason Kelley, Mallard Creek boys’ indoor track: The Mavericks’ senior won 8A state championships in both the 55-meter dash (6.41) and 300-meter dash (33.88) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Feb. 19. Kelley’s times were both personal bests.
Kelley also helped the Mallard Creek indoor track team to an 8A state title the same day.
Michael Mauro, Bradford Prep boys’ wrestling: The Bears’ junior won the 1A/2A state title at 157 pounds, beating all of his opponents by tech fall (by 15 points or more) at Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 20-21.
Mauro was 42-1 overall this season.
Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson girls’ indoor track: The Cavaliers’ sophomore won the 7A state title in the 1600-meter run at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
McCollum also helped the Cavaliers’ 4 X 800-meter relay to a state title the same day.
McCollum also finished third in the 3,200, and fourth in the 1,000.
McCollum, who accounted for 24.5 points at the state meet, helped lead Cuthbertson to a 7A state championship.
Elijah Oakley, Piedmont boys’ wrestling: The Panthers’ senior won the 6A state title at 150 pounds to cap a 62-2 record this season at Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 21.
Oakley was named the 6A state championship meet’s most outstanding wrestler for his efforts.
Oakley also won the 6A West Regional title at 150 pounds earlier this month.
Bentley Sly, Stuart Cramer boys’ wrestling: The Storm senior became the 17th wrestler in state history to win four straight individual titles, capping his Stuart Cramer career by winning the 150-pound 4A state championship at Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 21.
Sly had won the previous three state championships in class 3A, winning the 144-pound championship in 2025, the 132-pound title in 2024 and the 120-pound crown in 2023.
Sly, the reigning co-Charlotte Observer wrestler of the year, finishes his high school career at 212-6 overall.
Josh Thomas, East Lincoln boys’ indoor track: The Mustangs’ senior jumped 22-2.5 to finish as 5A indoor state runner-up in the long jump at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
Thomas also finished sixth (43-2) at the 5A state indoor track championships the same day.
Cameron Tucker, Jay M. Robinson boys’ indoor track: The Bulldogs’ senior earned 5A state indoor championship’s most valuable player (MVP) award, winning state titles in all four events he competed in at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 18.
Tucker won the 5A state titles in the 55-meter dash in a personal-best 6.29, while also taking the 300 in a state meet record of 32.75.
Tucker also anchored both 4 X 200 and 4 X 400 relays to state titles, leading the Jay M. Robinson indoor track to a 5A state championship the same day.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through February 21.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Vote for The Observer’s athlete of the week (Feb. 27, 2026)."