State championship MVPs headline 2026 Charlotte Observer lacrosse all-star teams

A pair of state championship MVPs and two state championship coaches headline the 2026 Charlotte Observer all-star lacrosse teams.

Ardrey Kell’s Cole Stankavage is the boys’ player of the year.

Stankavage, a senior forward, led Ardrey Kell to an emotional 12-11 win over Wilmington Hoggard in the N.C. 8A state championship game last month.

Stankavage scored a game-tying goal with 38 seconds left to force overtime. In the extra period, he scored the winner with just more than three minutes left. It was Ardrey Kell’s first state title.

A 5-star recruit headed to UNC, Stankavage is a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American who set three single-season school records — 97 goals, 49 assists and 156 points.

Charlotte Catholic’s Sophie Tan is the girls’ player of the year.

Tan scored six goals in the Cougars’ 9-8 overtime win over Chapel Hill in the 1A-6A state championship game last month.

With her team down, 8-7, with just more than four minutes left in regulation, Tan tied the game. In sudden-death overtime, she scored the winner.

Tan finished the season with 53 goals, 10 assists, 21 ground balls, 63 draw controls and 13 caused turnovers. Like Stankavage, she was an all-region and all-state selection.

Ardrey Kell’s Tim Price and Charlotte Catholic’s Dee Bier are the boys’ and girls’ coaches of the year.

Price, who won his 300th game this season, led the Knights to a 20-3 record and a state title.

Bier led the Cougars to a 16-7 record and Catholic won the state title after finishing third in the conference. The Cougars ended the season on an eight-game win streak.

All-Observer boys’ lacrosse

FIRST TEAM

ATTACK

Grady Cinotti, Hough, Jr.

Jack Hofert, Community School of Davidson, Sr.

Jason Leonard, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

Eljay Schellenberg, Lake Norman, Sr.

Cole Stankavage, Ardrey Kell, Sr.

MIDFIELD

Wyatt Baker, Community School of Davidson, Jr.

Emmett Drensek, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

Kayden Robles, Lake Norman, Sr.

Cooper Show, Hough, Jr.

Henry Urban, Ardrey Kell, Sr.

Crandall Wilkins, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD

Sam Bloom, Community School of Davidson, Sr.

Caden Graham, Lake Norman, Jr.

James Pawlowski, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

Drew Weber, Hough, Sr.

FACEOFF SPECIALIST

Alex Gregoloff, Hough, Sr.

James Hedley, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

Connor Mumford, Lake Norman, Sr.

DEFENSE

Bryson Armstrong, Hough, Sr.

Carter Martin, Providence Day, Sr.

Jack Reilly, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.

Shea Souto, Lake Norman, Jr.

Gates Westmoreland, Community School of Davidson, Soph.

LONG STICK MIDFIELD

Michael Resnick, Weddington

Evan Stahl, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

GOALIE

Decian Feeney, Weddington

Chubs Slater, Hough, Jr.

Owen Timperman, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.

Holden Waligowski, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

All-Observer girls’ lacrosse

OFFENSE

Ella Braun, Marvin Ridge, Sr.

Piper Brawley, Charlotte Country Day, Fr.

Sam Colantonio, Lake Norman Charter, Soph.

Juliet Coscia, Lake Norman, Sr.

Reese Grandelli, Mooresville, Fr.

Audrey Huddle, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.

Delaney Krak, Pine Lake Prep, Soph.

Hayden Krombolz, Lake Norman Charter, Jr.

Addison Maynor, Cannon School, Sr.

Bea Serfontein, Marvin Ridge, Jr.

Sophie Tan, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.

Abbey Testa, Weddington, Sr.

Jane Updyke, Providence Day, Sr.

Grace Webb, Weddington, Jr.

Kate Wood, Lake Norman, Soph.

DEFENSE

Meah Boulio, Christ The King, Soph.

Tessah Cichon, Lake Norman, Sr.

Marley LeBlanc, Myers Park

Ragan Giddins, Weddington

Grace Hart, Lake Norman Charter, Soph.

Hadley Lineberger, Myers Park

Maddie Matera, Christ The King, Sr.

Katie Pilon, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.

Mary Sofianos, Myers Park

GOALIE

Kate Lindner, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.

Emma Lyberg, South Mecklenburg, Sr.

Rachel Wood, Lake Norman, Soph.