Vote for The Charlotte Observer boys’ athlete of the week: Feb. 23

Below are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer high school athlete of the week.

The poll closes Friday.

You may vote as often as you like.

Note: Poll results may not always be shown.

This week’s nominees

Santi Alzate-Celin, Charlotte Country Day swimming: The Buccaneers’ sophomore swam a state meet record and school record time of 4:20.62 to win the NCISAA Division I state title in the 500 freestyle at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Feb. 13.

Alzate-Celin also swam a school-record 1:38.02 to finish as state runner-up in the 200 freestyle the same day.

Alzate-Celin also helped both the 200 medley relay (1:34.18/state runner-up) and 400 freestyle relay (3:08.37/third-place) to school record times at the state championship meet.

The Charlotte Country Day boys’ swim team finished third at the NCISAA Division I state championship.

Jaylen Claggett, Cannon School basketball: The 6-foot-3 junior scored 17 points, had six assists, four steals and three rebounds in a 103-75 win over Cary Academy in the NCISAA 4A state quarterfinals on Feb. 17.

Claggett is averaging 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals per game for a Cannon School team (25-9) that is in the final four for the seventh time in the last nine years.

Davis Dunham, Providence Day swimming: The Chargers’ senior swam a personal and school-record 57.87 to finish as NCISAA Division I state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke at Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on Feb. 13.

Dunham also swam the third leg of the 200 freestyle relay team that won state title in a state meet record time of 1:25.27.

Dunham, a Georgetown University commit, helped the Providence Day boys’ swim team to a fifth-place finish at the NCISAA Division I state championship.

Nolan Ericson, Mooresville basketball: The 5-10 sophomore scored 21 points as Mooresville upset rival Lake Norman, 73-71, on the road on Feb. 16.

Ericson also scored 15 points in a 72-37 win over A.L. Brown on Feb. 13.

Aidan Gatewood, Sugar Creek Charter basketball: The 6-2 junior scored 27 points, had 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in an 80-51 win over Charlotte Lab School on Feb. 13.

Gatewood also scored 26 points to go with seven rebounds, and three assists in a 67-51 victory over Valor Prep on Feb. 16.

Gatewood is averaging 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block per game for Sugar Creek Charter (17-10).

Aidan Hill, Charlotte Latin swimming: The Hawks’ senior repeated as NCISAA Division I state champion in the 100 butterfly, breaking his own school record with a time of 48.26.

Hill also won the state title in the 100 backstroke in another new school record, a time of 48.74 seconds.

Hill also helped both 200 medley relay (1:31.25) and 400 freestyle relay (3:02.34) to state titles in school and state meet record times the same day.

Hill’s efforts also helped lead the Charlotte Latin boys’ swim team to a state title in dominant fashion, beating the field by 196 points.

Jeremiah Howard, Concord basketball: The 6-7 senior scored 14 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and had three blocks in a 63-55 win over Jay M. Robinson on Feb. 13.

Howard also scored 24 points, had 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in an 80-34 victory at East Rowan on Feb. 16.

Howard is averaging 15.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for Concord (15-9).

Miles Leaks, Piedmont basketball: The 6-foot junior scored 16 points and had six rebounds to help Piedmont to a 48-47 win over Parkwood to clinch the Rocky River conference title on Feb. 13.

Leaks also scored 29 points and had nine rebounds in a 71-42 victory at West Stanly on Feb. 16.

Leaks is averaging 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Piedmont (16-8).

Douglas Quarles, III Corvian Charter basketball: The 6-5 junior scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and had two blocks in a 72-55 win at Bradford Prep to clinch the Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference title on Feb. 16.

Quarles III also received a football scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky to play defensive end the same day.

Quarles III is averaging 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for Corvian Charter (19-3).

Aiden Ray, Providence Day indoor track: The Chargers’ junior won NCISAA Division I state titles in the 55-meter hurdles (7.75) and triple jump (45-05) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Feb. 13.

Ray showed his versatility also finishing as state runner-up in both the 300-meter dash (personal best, 35.97) and the long jump (personal-best, 21-09).

Ray also helped the Providence Day boys’ indoor track team to a NCISAA 4A state title the same day.

Gavin Ulrich, Metrolina Christian wrestling: The Warriors’ sophomore won his third straight NCISAA state title, taking the 132-pound championship at Charlotte Country Day on Feb. 16.

Ulrich, who is ranked No. 18 in the country by National Preps Wrestling, will compete at the Nation Preps’ Tournament at Lehigh University this week.

Maddox Watson, SouthLake Christian Basketball: The 6-foot-4 senior scored 22 points, including five three-pointers, in a 97-48 win over Thales Academy Apex in the first round of the NCISAA 3A state playoffs on Feb. 13.

Watson also scored his 1,500th career points in the same game.

Watson scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds in a 65-62 loss at Calvary Day School in the second round of the playoffs on Feb. 15.

Watson averaged 18.5 points and five rebounds, while shooting 42 percent from the three-point line for SouthLake Christian (18-16) this season.

** Information published today includes statistics through February 17.

If you 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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