Vote for the Charlotte Observer boys high school athlete of the week (05.20.22)

Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer’s boys athlete of the week. Vote as often as you want through Friday.

Blaise Atkinson, Lake Norman Charter track: The Knights’ senior ran a personal-best 13.87 to win the 110-meter hurdles at the 3A Midwest Regional at Davie County High May 13.

Atkinson also won the 300-meter hurdles in 38.98 and finished third-place in the 100-meter dash in 11.23 at the 3A Midwest Regional the same day.

The Lake Norman Charter boys’ track team finished in fifth-place at the regional championships.

Kenneth Byrd, East Burke track: The Cavaliers’ sophomore won all four events he competed in at the 2A West Regional on his home track, including the 110-meter hurdles (15.33), the high jump (6-4), the long jump (20-10) and the pole vault (15-0).

Byrd’s efforts helped the East Burke boys’ track team to a 2A West Regional runner-up finish.

Jaylen Currence, Northwest Cabarrus track: The Trojans’ senior won the 400-meter dash in a personal-best 48.78 at the 3A Midwest Regional at Davie County High May 13.

Currence also won the 800-meter run (2:03.72) and the 4 X 800-meter relay, while finishing third-place in the 4 X 400-meter relay at the 3A Midwest Regional.

The Northwest Cabarrus boys’ track team finished sixth-place as a team at the regional meet.

Heath Fry, Pine Lake Prep tennis: The Pride sophomore won his singles’ match 6-1, 6-3 to help Pine Lake Prep to a 5-1 win at Burns in the 2A state quarterfinals May 9.

Fry had a comeback victory, winning 3-6, 6-4 (10-5 in a third-set tiebreaker) to lead Pine Lake Prep to a 5-2 win at Lincoln Charter in the 2A state semifinals, May 11. Fry also teamed with Felix Kritzinger to win his doubles’ match in the same victory.

North Carolina School of Science and Math (11-0) beat Pine Lake Prep, 5-2, in the 2A state championship match at Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center in Greensboro May 14.

Fry is 11-2 in singles’ play for Pine Lake Prep (12-2).

Will Hartman, Charlotte Catholic golf: The Cougars’ freshman shot a final round 1-under-par 71 to win the 4A state, individual golf championship, while also leading the Charlotte Catholic boys’ golf team to their fourth straight state title (three of them came in class 3A) at Pinehurst No. 8 May 9-10.

Hartman shot an even par 72 with four birdies on day one, while also carding four birdies on day two to shoot 71, the only round under par in the two-day event.

Hartman became the first individual from Mecklenburg County to win the 4A state title since Hough’s Patrick Cover won it all in 2014.

Hartman is the top ranked from in the state and No. 2 ranked freshman in the nation, according to the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) Rolex Junior Golf Rankings.

Carson Hegele, Cuthbertson track: The Cavaliers’ senior won the 4A Midwest Regional title in the pole vault, jumping a personal and school record 14-0 at Davie County High May 14.

Hegele’s efforts also helped the Cuthbertson boys’ track team to a 4A Midwest Regional title by just 0.83 points over Mount Tabor.

Nick Norman, Forestview golf: The Jaguars’ senior shot a 1-over-par 73 (17 pars, one bogey) to take the first round lead at the NCHSAA 3A state championships at Pinehurst No. 6, May 9.

Norman also shot a 4-over-par 76, in round two to tie five other players before finishing as 3A state runner-up for the second straight year, losing on the second hole of a playoff.

Norman is a Belmont Abbey College commit.

Aiden Ray, Providence Day track: The Chargers’ freshman won the 300-meter hurdles (in personal-best 39.20), the triple jump (43-6.5) and helped the 4 X 400-meter relay to victory at the CISAA Conference Championships at Providence Day, May 13.

Ray, the CISAA Conference Championships’ Athlete of the Meet, also finished as runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles at the same event in 15.38.

Jack Wieler, Marvin Ridge golf: The Mavericks’ junior shot 76 on day one and 72 on day two to finish as the 4A state runner-up at Pinehurst No. 8, May 9-10.

Wilder, the Southern Carolinas’ conference champion and 4A West Regional runner-up this year, had five birdies in the two-day state tournament to help his Marvin Ridge boys’ golf team finish in eighth-place overall.

** Information published today includes statistics through May 14.

Want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information

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