Meet The Observer’s 2022

Today, we are introducing the winners of the 2022-23 Charlotte Observer-area readers’ choice awards for boys sports.

For girls winners, game of the year and athletic directors of the year, click here

Schools in the newspaper's coverage zone nominated players and coaches for the awards and readers were allowed to vote.

Note: The Observer will announce the winners of its annual awards later in June.

Hickory Grove's Anthony Hawkins, a a sophomore football running back, rushed for 1,700 yards rushing and 17 rushing touchdowns. He also scored 130 points. In the spring, he won three state championships in track: shot put, discus and as a member of the winning 1,600-meter relay team.

Cannon School football and lacrosse player Brayson Wilson won the Charlotte Lacrosse "Rising Star" award and carries a 3.91 weighted GPA. A UNC commit, he is ranked top-35 nationally by Inside Lacrosse. This season, Wilson led Cannon to a 20-3 record and a win vs. Providence Day in the NCISAA state finals. He was on the all-state team for the second straight season.

North Mecklenburg senior track star Avey Pullum is ranked No. 1 academically in his class and carries a 4.64 GPA. He will attend UNC in the fall after being awarded The Gates Scholarship, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Pullum ran on North Mecklenburg's 800-meter relay team that posted a top-10 finish in the NCHSAA 4A state championships.

North Iredell High's Phillip Riddle, a cross-country and track star, was a state qualifier in cross-country as a senior. He carries a 4.51 GPA and is the school's student body president.

Butler High's Ryan Benson was hired last July. This spring, he led the Bulldogs to a 14-12 record with an a 11-1 finish in the Southwestern 4A conference. Butler won the league title, finishing a game ahead of national power and 2022 N.C. 4A state champion Providence.

Pine Lake Prep boys and girls soccer coach Paul Ebenhoeh led the girls team to a 20-2-2 record and a league title in his first year. The girls team reached the N.C. Western Regional finals. The boys team finished 18-4 and was second in league play. It also advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Hickory Grove's football team finished 9-2, and set a record for the most wins in school history. Along the way, the team had a seven-game win streak, which set another school record. For the season, the Lions averaged 36.5 points per game.

Cannon School's lacrosse team finished 20-3 and won the N.C. Independent Schools state championship for the second straight season. The Cougars were the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs and finished the season on a seven-game win streak. Cannon, which did not lose to a N.C. Independent team all season, won its playoff games by a combined score of 54-10.

Marvin Ridge swimmer Colin Mumford, (on right in photo), tore his ACL two years ago, and returned to play soccer last fall. He was named captain and earned all-conference. In his first season as a member of the swim/dive team, he was named Union County diver of the year. He also also qualified for the 4A Western Regionals in the 50-meter free and the 200 free relay in addition to qualifying as a diver.