Cannon School’s Brayson Wilson headlines the All-Observer boys lacrosse team
A two-time state champion’s last line of defense and its head coach have captured top awards on this year’s All-Observer boys lacrosse team.
Brayson Wilson of Cannon School is this year’s boys lacrosse player of the year, and the Cougars’ Steve Schattner is coach of the year.
Cannon School (20-3) won its second straight N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 state championship, completing a rugged schedule that included public school 4A state runner-up Charlotte Catholic; public school 1A/2A/3A state champion Lake Norman Charter; and the public school state champions of Georgia and South Carolina.
It’s the second straight coach of the year honor for Schattner, who was a high school standout at West Genesee High, near Syracuse, New York, and then at UNC.
Schattner has been active in the growth of lacrosse in the Charlotte area for more than 20 years. He has been head coach of the boys program at Cannon School since 2010.
The Observer also recognizes the coaching work this season of Brian Barrett at Lake Norman Charter.
Barrett’s team compiled a 17-5 record in a rugged schedule that included big-school powerhouses like Charlotte Catholic, Cannon School, Lake Norman, Hough and Northern Guilford.
In the playoffs, Lake Norman Charter outscored its four opponents by a combined score of 73-24.
The player of the year — senior Brayson Wilson — will follow in the footsteps of his coach for college, as he has committed to North Carolina.
Wilson was ranked by several scouting services among the top three or four prep goalkeepers in the country and is a two-time all-America and four-time all-state choice.
He made 260 saves during the recent season, with a 67 percent save ratio, and was CISAA Player of the Year the past two seasons.
The National Lacrosse Federation listed Wilson as a five-star recruit and gave him a No. 16 ranking nationally for players of all positions.
▪ NOTE: Players had to be nominated by a coach to earn all-Observer honors.
All-Observer first team
ATTACKERS
Jack Dalton, Lake Norman Charter, junior: Dalton finished with 69 goals and 89 assists this season. His assist total was No. 1 nationally, and he was third in total points (158).
Brevin Wilson, Cannon School, junior: A North Carolina commit like his older brother Brayson, Brevin earned all-America honors and is a three-time all-state player. He finished with 64 goals and 46 assists, despite missing five games due to injury.
Alex Jessey, Providence Day, junior: Jessey became the school’s all-time career scoring leader in his junior year and earned all-America and all-state laurels. He had 79 goals and 72 assists this season.
MIDFIELD
Brooks Stankavage, Ardrey Kell, senior: He earned all-state honors after totaling 75 goals, 20 assists and 61 ground balls. Stankavage was the team’s and conference’s most valuable player.
Brandon DeBerardinis, Lake Norman, sophomore: DeBerardinis, an all-America and all-state selection, totaled 40 goals and 20 assists.
Will Crispino, Cannon School, senior: Crispino is a face-off specialist who will attend Middlebury College in Vermont. He totaled 54 goals and 26 assists and won 67 percent of his faceoffs (233 of 350). In the state finals, he won 14 of 17 draws.
DEFENSE
Karter Williams, Hough, senior: Williams led the tough Huskie defense, totaling 36 ground balls and 30 takeaways.
Anthony DiPierno, Providence, junior: He had 40 takeaways and 70 ground balls, leading the Panther defense.
Owen McAllister, Charlotte Catholic, senior: A long-stick specialist, McAllister is a Gettysburg commit. He led the state-finalist Cougars in takeaways and ground balls.
GOALKEEPER
Brayson Wilson, Cannon School, senior: Wilson made 260 saves this season, stopping 67 percent of opponents’ shots. He will play next year at North Carolina.
Second team
ATTACKERS
Jack Ranson, Charlotte Catholic, junior
Quinton Haines, Lake Norman, senior
Braedon Chayes, Providence, junior
MIDFIELD
Jake Rombough, Lake Norman Charter, senior
Reece Bocketti, Providence, junior
Cole Frood, Cannon School, junior
DEFENSE
Quinn Falasca, Cannon School, junior
Dylan Murphy, Lake Norman, junior
Kyle Van Dom, Providence Day, junior
GOALKEEPER
John Torpy, Lake Norman, sophomore
Third team
ATTACKERS
Tyler Price, Lake Norman Charter, sophomore
Ethan Miles, Providence, senior
Will Thompson, Providence Day, senior
MIDFIELD
Will Swartz, Cannon School, junior
Zach Braunstein, South Iredell, senior
Mason Adams, Myers Park, junior
DEFENSE
Kevin Flynn, Ardrey Kell, junior
Jonathan Law, Lake Norman, junior
Luke Thompson, Lake Norman Charter, senior
GOALKEEPER
Bryce Hoben, Charlotte Latin, senior
Honorable mention
Malcolm Meadows, attacker, Providence, senior
Caden Cinotti, midfield, Hough, junior
Ben Habel, midfield, Christ the King, sophomore
Ben Maynor, defender, Cannon School, junior
Mitch Kastel, defender, Lake Norman Charter, senior
Noah McGovern, goalkeeper, Lake Norman Charter, sophomore
Hayden Leslie, goalkeeper, Providence, junior
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
