Charlotte female athletes won big during the fall sport season. From cross country, golf, tennis and volleyball, take a look at how they performed at state competition. Then take a look at winter’s signature sport, basketball.
Cross Country
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 4A
Ardrey Kell’s ninth-place finish at state competition, which took place on Nov. 9 in Kernersville at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex, proved the best among Charlotte schools. Myers Park finished 12th. Providence came in 13th. Lake Norman finished 15th, and Hough came in 17th.
Hough sophomore Lilly Waters finished second at states. Lake Norman freshman Madeline Stolberg came in ninth. Below are remaining Charlotte area competitors by school:
South Mecklenburg
No. 27 Maggie Houpt, freshman; No. 113 Larrabee Hoelscher, sophomore
Ardrey Kell
No. 30 Giselle Russi, junior; No. 43 Caitlin Peck, sophomore; No. 48 Taylor Fenton, freshman; No. 59 Jenna Thornton, junior; No. 107 Anna Scott, senior; No. 112 Julia Van Dine, sophomore; No. 118 Paige Harvey, sophomore
Myers Park
No. 33 Molly Jahn, sophomore; No. 76 Sarah Holshouser, junior; No. 79 Clara Richards, senior; No. 83 Megan Merritt, junior; No. 87 Brenda Gray senior; No. 88 Claire Hargrove, junior; No. 90 Lily Pareso, sophomore
Providence
No. 40 Keely Bradle, freshman; No. 56 Bennett Key, freshman; No. 74 Krysta Glova, sophomore; No. 86 Tate Arrington, sophomore; No. 120 Anne Dancausse, sophomore; No. 124 Blair Taylor, freshman
Lake Norman
No. 44 Kaleigh Stolberg, senior; No. 123 Elizabeth Galla, senior; No. 131 Mary Loring, sophomore; No. 133 Sydney Cook, senior; No. 135 Ashley Bienstock, junior; No. 139 Mae-Bea Dempstor, sophomore
Hough
No. 78 Anna Gardner, junior; No. 126 Lauren Padgett, freshman; No. 129 Leah Ritchey, sophomore; No. 132 Lauren Evans, junior; No. 136, Layne Gibson, junior; No. 138 Sydney Rink, senior
East Mecklenburg
No. 99 Jasmine Donohue, senior
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 3A
Charlotte Catholic’s Jet Francis, a freshman, and Franny Tocco, a junior, finished 41st and 66th respectively.
North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association | 4A
Charlotte Country Day’s Sophie Spada had a senior season to remember, securing the state championship. Teammate Harper Shaw, a sophomore, finished eighth. Sophomores from several Charlotte schools had a strong season. Charlotte Latin’s Mary Schleusner finished sixth. Olivia Jones of Charlotte Christian claimed seventh. Providence Day’s Ashley Horwitz came in 11th.
Field Hockey
North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association | 4A
Charlotte Country Day hosted Providence Day in the state championship. They took the game to overtime, but the crown belongs to Country Day, who won 3-2.
Golf
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 4A
Ardrey Kell had the best performance, taking fourth as a team. However, Hough senior Chloe Pittman had a standout individual showing, coming in seventh, the same spot she secured as a junior. Ardrey Kell freshman Nicole Nash tied for 17th, and teammate Hannah Lindemann tied for 22nd, followed by sophomore Shea Smith tying for 26th, and senior Emily Mardjanov tying for 59th. Myers Park freshman Ellen Prittchard tied for 30th. Providence senior Erica Boyd tied for 38th, along with teammate Sophie Marijono, a junior who tied for 46th. South Mecklenburg also produced a pair of placements. Sophomores Maggie Magner and Ann Jones finished tied for 55th and 69th respectively.
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 3A
The Charlotte Catholic Cougars claimed third at states. Senior Kallie Pavlish tied for eighth, followed by junior Madi Brensinger, who tied for 13th, and freshman Kate Dann tying for 29th.
Tennis
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 4A
Jenna Thompson did it again. The South Mecklenburg won the singles state competition as a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and you guess it, as a senior. Look for her at the collegiate level next year with Clemson.
Hough’s Oriana Espinoza and Jessica Brannon won the doubles state championship.
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 3A
Charlotte Catholic continues to dominate. The Cougars won their third consecutive state championship. Rose Kenny won her third consecutive singles championship. Teammates Maggie Gehrig and Ava Tan emerged victorious in doubles competition as well.
North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association | 4A
Charlotte Latin won its first state title since 2005. The Hawks beat defending champions Durham Academy 5-4, securing revenge on their regular season loss to the Cavaliers.
Volleyball
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 4A
Ardrey Kell’s impressive season came up short in the state championship, losing to Green Hope. Star players for the Knights during the final: Alexis Shelton, Mya Duggan, and Sania McCoy. The Knights finished 25-6, claiming the 4A Western Regional title for the third time in history.
Basketball
North Carolina High School Athletic Association | 4A
Dates to remember
Feb. 17-21 conference; Feb. 22 seeding; round 1 Feb. 25; round 2 Feb. 27; round 3 Feb. 29; round 4 March 3; regionals March 7; states March 14.
Butler won the West, but fell to eventual state champions West Forsyth.
North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association | 4A
Dates to remember:
Feb. 21 semifinals; Feb. 22 finals
Last season:
Providence Day advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament last season, but lost to eventual state champion North Raleigh Christian 55-42.
Charlotte Latin won the CISAA, their first outright conference championship since 1997.
