Vote for The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week (April 24, 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 girls’ 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
Morgan Banks, Charlotte Christian softball: The Knights’ senior tossed a complete game with 15 strikeouts, while not allowing an earned run, in a 6-1 win at Metrolina Christian on April 17. Banks also went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base in the same game.
Banks went 1-for-3 at the plate, while striking out six batters in seven innings of work on the mound in a 3-0 loss to Cannon School on April 14.
Banks went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored, while striking out seven batters in 6.2 innings of work on the mound in a 10-7 loss to Charlotte Latin on April 16.
Banks is batting .639 with 10 doubles, two triples, 13 RBIs, 13 runs scored and 12 stolen bases for Charlotte Christian (8-5) this season.
Banks is also 6-4 on the mound with 140 strikeouts in 83 innings of work on the mound with a 2.11 earned-run average (ERA) this season.
Banks now has over 600 strikeouts as a pitcher in her Charlotte Christian softball career.
Molly Brown, Davidson Day girls’ lacrosse: The Patriots’ senior scored eight goals, had one assist, two groundballs and three draw controls in a 14-8 win over St. Mary’s on April 16.
Brown also scored four goals to go with two groundballs in an 18-8 loss to Lake Norman Charter on April 14.
Davidson Day is 9-3 overall this season.
Zatie Carter, North Mecklenburg girls’ soccer: The Vikings’ freshman scored three goals and had one assist in a 9-0 win at West Charlotte on April 17.
Carter also scored a goal in a 2-1 loss at Garinger on April 13.
North Mecklenburg (4-10-1) also lost 5-0 to Independence on April 14.
Carter leads the Vikings with nine goals this season.
Anna Kirkwood, Cox Mill girls’ soccer: The Chargers’ junior midfielder had two goals and two assists in a 4-0 win over Central Cabarrus on April 17.
Kirkwood also had one assist in a 2-2 tie at Lake Norman on April 15.
Kirkwood has 13 goals and seven assists for Cox Mill (12-1-2) this season.
Marguerite McPhillips, Charlotte Catholic girls’ soccer: The Cougars’ senior forward scored a goal and had an assist in a 9-0 win at Sun Valley on April 14.
The next day, McPhillips scored three goals in 9-0 victory at Piedmont.
McPhillips finished off the week with two goals, including the game winner and an assist in 3-2 win at Marvin Ridge, on April 17.
McPhillips has 13 goals and eight assists for Charlotte Catholic (13-0-1) this season.
Abby Petty, Myers Park girls’ soccer: The Mustangs’ sophomore scored both goals in a 2-0 win at South Mecklenburg on April 17.
Myers Park (9-2-3) also lost 3-1 to Hough on April 14.
Petty has 10 goals and three assists for Myers Park this season.
Kelley Tarpley, Ardrey Kell girls’ soccer: The Knights’ senior forward scored one goal in a 3-1 win over East Mecklenburg on April 14.
The next day, Tarpley scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Hickory Ridge.
Tarpley also had the game’s first goal and drew a penalty kick to help seal the win in a 2-0 victory at Providence on April 17.
Tarpley has 12 goals and four assists for Ardrey Kell (11-3-3) this season.
Phoenix Scott, Providence softball: The Panthers’ sophomore centerfielder hit .643 with two home runs, two doubles, one triple, six RBIs and seven runs scored as Providence went 3-1 last week.
Scott helped Providence to a 3-1 win at Hough on April 15 plus two win over Palisades on April 17: 15-0 and 17-2. The Panthers (19-1) also lost to East Mecklenburg, 5-4, on April 14.
Scott is batting .569 with seven home runs, 15 doubles, four triples, 21 RBIs, 35 runs scored and 13 stolen bases for Providence this season.
Aly Stewart, East Lincoln girls’ soccer: The Mustangs’ freshman had four goals and one assist in 7-0 win over North Lincoln on April 14.
Stewart also had two goals in a 9-2 victory over West Iredell on April 16.
Stewart has 18 goals and eight assists for East Lincoln (15-1-1) this season.
Abbey Testa, Weddington girls’ lacrosse: The Warriors’ senior attacker had three goals and one assist in a 12-8 win over Charlotte Country Day on April 13.
Testa also scored five goals in a 17-8 victory at Cuthbertson on April 14.
Weddington (8-2) also lost 14-4 to Roswell (GA) on April 16.
Testa has 23 goals and five assists for Weddington this season.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through April 18.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Vote for The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week (April 24, 2026)."