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  • Charlotte Catholic, East Chapel Hill split top honors in 6A state swim finals

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    Charlotte Catholic’s swim team won the NCHSAA 6A state title on Friday, February 13, 2026.

    Charlotte Catholic’s swim team won the NCHSAA 6A state title on Friday, February 13, 2026.


    NCHSAA

    Charlotte Catholic and East Chapel Hill split the state championship honors on Friday in the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Class 6A swimming and diving championships.

    The Charlotte Catholic girls beat East Chapel Hill 394-286 for the state title — the 19th in school history.

    But the Wildcats ran away with the 6A boys’ title, piling up a 506-271.5 margin over runner-up Charlotte Catholic.

    Earlier Friday at the Cary Aquatic Center, South Brunswick swept the boys’ and girls’ 5A swim and diving state titles.

    The NCHSAA championships conclude Saturday, with the 1A/2A/3A meet in the morning, followed by the Class 8A meet.

    Charlotte Catholic’s girls won six events, with Kathryn Kern (50-yard freestyle), Madi Hertzig (100 butterfly), C.J. Bernardo (100 freestyle) and Reagan Leckner (diving) joining the victorious 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams.

    While the Cougar girls have a long history of domination in the sport, this was the program’s first state championship in five years.

    East Chapel Hill’s boys snapped an even longer streak, winning a state title for the first time in 21 years. The Wildcats have nine boys’ state championships all-time.

    Colton Chaires of East Chapel Hill was named Outstanding Performer in the boys’ meet. He won the two most grueling events — the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle. Chaires also swam on two victorious relay teams.

    East Chapel Hill also had the Outstanding Performer in the girls’ meet, in Isabel Wolk. She won the 200 and 500 freestyle events.

    Class 6A meet

    BOYS

    TEAM STANDINGS

    1. East Chapel Hill 506; 2. Charlotte Catholic 271.5; 3. Northern Guilford 213.5; 4. T.C. Roberson 127; 5. Middle Creek 122.

    18. Central Cabarrus; 19. Berry Academy.

    EVENT WINNERS

    (with top-five finishers from Charlotte and Raleigh areas)

    200 Medley Relay

    1. East Chapel Hill (Chuanqi John Zhuang, Mike Wolk, Cody Shannon, Alex nelson), 1 minute, 33.14 seconds; 2. Charlotte Catholic; 4. Middle Creek.

    200 Freestyle

    1. Max Halpern (East Chapel Hill), 1:40.70; 2. Chuanxi William Zhuang (East Chapel Hill); 3. Julian Malecki (Charlotte Catholic).

    200 Individual Medley

    1. Colton Chaires (East Chapel Hill), 1:00.04; 2. Chuanqi John Zhuang (East Chapel Hill); 3. Scott Williams (Charlotte Catholic).

    50 Freestyle

    1. Logan Kelly (St. Stephens), 20.72; 2. Alex Nelson (East Chapel Hill); 3. Max Wolk (East Chapel Hill).

    100 Butterfly

    1. Alex Nelson (East Chapel Hill), 49.50; 4. Jake Dunaway (Middle Creek).

    500 Freestyle

    1. Colton Chaires (East Chapel Hill), 4:26.31; 3. Chuanxi William Zhuang (East Chapel Hill).

    100 Freestyle

    1. Logan Kelly (St. Stephens), 46.71; 2. Max Halpern (East Chapel Hill); 3. Jack Wellman (East Chapel Hill).

    200 Freestyle Relay

    1. East Chapel Hill (Max Halpern, Colton Chaires, Alex Nelson, Max Wolk), 1:24.15.

    100 Backstroke

    1. Chuanqi John Zhuang (East Chapel Hill), 49.79; 4. Gavin Phillips (Middle Creek); 5. Julian Malecki (Charlotte Catholic).

    100 Breaststroke

    1. Oliver Marrujo (Felton Grove), 56.94; 4. Scott Williams (Charlotte Catholic); 5. Max Wolk (East Chapel Hill).

    400 Freestyle Relay

    1. East Chapel Hill (Chuanqui John Chang, Chuanxi William Chang, Colton Chaires, Max Halpern), 3:07.25; 3. Charlotte Catholic; 4. Middle Creek.

    Diving

    1. Jacob Pollina (Northern Guilford), 527.60 points; 2. Macon Kramer (Charlotte Catholic); 3. Silas Theede (Middle Creek); 4. Graham Hagler (East Chapel Hill).

    GIRLS

    TEAM STANDINGS

    1. Charlotte Catholic 394; 2. East Chapel Hill 286; 3. Mount Tabor 264; 4. J.H. Rose 184; 5. Watauga 181.

    7. Middle Creek; 13. Central Cabarrus.

    EVENT WINNERS

    (with top-five finishers from Charlotte and Raleigh areas)

    200 Medley Relay

    1. J.H. Rose, 1:50.12; 4. Middle Creek.

    200 Freestyle

    1. Isabel Wolk (East Chapel Hill), 1:48; 2. Madi Hertzig (Charlotte Catholic); 3. Olivia Jacobsen (Charlotte Catholic); 4. Rosario Gutierrez (East Chapel Hill); 5. Shea Cleary (Charlotte Catholic).

    200 Individual Medley

    1. Peyton James (East Chapel Hill), 2:03.75; 2. Ellie Druhan (Charlotte Catholic).

    50 Freestyle

    1. Kathryn Kern (Charlotte Catholic), 23.57.

    100 Butterfly

    1. Madi Hertzig (Charlotte Catholic), 55.30; 3. Savannah Nelson (Middle Creek).

    500 Freestyle

    1. Isabel Wolk (East Chapel Hill), 4:54.58; 2. Olivia Jacobsen (Charlotte Catholic); 3. Shea Cleary (Charlotte Catholic); 4. Kallie Rendon (Middle Creek); 5. Caroline Meehan (Charlotte Catholic).

    100 Freestyle

    1. C.J. Bernardo (Charlotte Catholic), 51.66; 3. Rosario Gutierrez (East Chapel Hill).

    200 Freestyle Relay

    1. Charlotte Catholic (Kathryn Kern, Ella Druhan, Olivia Jacobsen, Madi Hertzig), 1:37.64; 2. East Chapel Hill.

    100 Backstroke

    1. Delaney Schwab (Asheville), 50.53; 2. Kallie Rendon (Middle Creek); 4. C.J. Bernardo (Charlotte Catholic); 5. Savannah Nelson (Middle Creek).

    100 Breaststroke

    1. Hadleigh Kulas (J.H. Rose), 1:01.36; 2. Peyton James (East Chapel Hill); 3. Ellie Druhan (Charlotte Catholic); 4. Kathryn Kern (Charlotte Catholic).

    400 Freestyle Relay

    1. Charlotte Catholic (C.J. Bernardo, Carolina Meehan, Olivia Jacobsen, Madi Hertzig), 3:31.46; 2. East Chapel Hill; 5. Middle Creek.

    Diving

    1. Reagan Leckner (Charlotte Catholic), 469.60; 2. Laila Kwong (East Chapel Hill).

    Class 5A meet

    Nine Charlotte-area swimmers and teams and two from the Raleigh area won events, but South Brunswick swept the team championships in the Class 5A meet.

    In the boys’ competition, South Brunswick scored 254 points, with Concord (202) and North Lincoln (178) right behind.

    The South Brunswick girls outdistanced runner-up Seaforth 232-170.

    Two Charlotte-area swimmers won Outstanding Performer awards.

    Concord’s Lily Herman won the 50 and 100 freestyle and was named girls’ Outstanding Performer.

    North Lincoln’s Jackson Kroh won the award for the boys, after winning the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

    CLASS 5A

    BOYS

    TEAM STANDINGS

    1. South Brunswick 254; 2. Concord 202; 3. North Lincoln 178; 4. Seaforth 154; 5. West Carteret 133.

    7. Jay M. Robinson; 8. Cedar Ridge; 9. Northwest Cabarrus; 12. Forestview; 18. Orange; 20. Durham School of Arts.

    EVENT WINNERS

    (with top-five finishers from Charlotte and Raleigh areas)

    200 Medley Relay

    1. North Lincoln (Jackson Kroh, Aiden Deluca, Trentyn Shanahan, Danny DePasquale), 1:39.68; 3. Concord; 5. Forestview.

    200 Freestyle

    1. Sam Johnson (West Carteret), 1:42.01; 4. Eddie Lawson (Concord); 5. J.E. Sandor (Cedar Ridge).

    200 Individual Medley

    1. Aiden Deluca (North Lincoln), 1:54.17; 5. Andrew Velazquez (Concord).

    50 Freestyle

    1. Vincent Battaglini (Durham School of Arts), 21.68; 3. Michael Spokas (Jay M. Robinson).

    100 Butterfly

    1. Jackson Kroh (North Lincoln), 48.70; 4. Andrew Willis (Concord).

    500 Freestyle

    1. Colton Roberts (Seaforth), 4:44.27; 3. J.E. Sandor (Cedar Ridge); 4. Jason Spey (Orange).

    100 Freestyle

    1. Vincent Battaglini (Durham School of Arts), 47.14; 3. Christopher Seawell (Cedar Ridge); 4. Eddie Lawson (Concord).

    200 Freestyle Relay

    1. South Brunswick, 1:29.98; 5. South Point.

    100 Backstroke

    1. Jackson Kroh (North Lincoln), 58.46; 4. Christopher Seawell (Cedar Ridge); 5. Andrew Velazquez (Concord).

    100 Breaststroke

    1. Aiden Deluca (North Lincoln), 58.84; 2. Michael Spokas (Jay M. Robinson); 5. Kirkland Niebor (Forestview).

    400 Freestyle Relay

    1. North Lincoln (Jackson Kroh, Trentlyn Shanahan, Danny DePasquale, Aiden Deluca), 3:22.58; 2. Concord; 4. Northwest Cabarrus.

    Diving

    1. Jonah Brant (Franklin), 295.50.

    GIRLS

    TEAM STANDINGS

    1. South Brunswick 232; 2. Atkins 170; 3. Seaforth 155; 4. Cedar Ridge 150; 5. Orange 129.

    6. Concord; 8. Jay M. Robinson; 9. South Point; 10. Durham School of Arts; 11. North Lincoln; 17. East Lincoln 18. Northwest Cabarrus.

    EVENT WINNERS

    (with top-five finishers from Charlotte and Raleigh areas)

    200 Medley Relay

    1. Jay M. Robinson (Peyton Letteck, Reagan Sherwood, Kara King, Callie Copeland), 1:57.39; 3. Concord; 5. Orange.

    200 Freestyle

    1. Peyton Stegman (South Brunswick), 1:55.59; 2. Piper White (Orange); 3. Caylee Hollar (North Lincoln); 4. Margaret Payton (Cedar Ridge).

    200 Individual Medley

    1. Sydney Burleigh (Seaforth), 2:05.74; 5. Jocelyn Ritchey (Durham School of Arts).

    50 Freestyle

    1. Lily Herman (Concord), 23.69; 2. Ila Turner (South Point); 3. Piper White (Orange); 4. Kara King (Jay M. Robinson); 5. Wren Brand (Cedar Ridge).

    100 Butterfly

    1. Sydney Burleigh (Seaforth), 56.15; 2. Wren Brand (Cedar Ridge); 3. Kara King (Jay M. Robinson).

    500 Freestyle

    1. Ella Lechene (Croatan), 5:18.56; 3. Mare Payton (Cedar Ridge).

    100 Freestyle

    1. Lily Herman (Concord), 51.47; 5. Callie Copeland (Jay M. Robinson).

    200 Freestyle Relay

    1. South Brunswick, 1:44.30; 2. Cedar Ridge; 3. Concord; 4. Orange.

    100 Backstroke

    1. Lily Shelley (North Buncombe), 1:02.19.

    100 Breaststroke

    1. Ray Chambers Stevens (Atkins), 1:03.82; 2. Caylee Hollar (North Lincoln); 4. Callie Corland (Jay M. Robinson); 5. Tommi Poland (Concord).

    400 Freestyle Relay

    1. South Brunswick, 3:50.12; 2. Cedar Ridge.

    Diving

    1. Michaela Bentley (Western Alamance), 390.85

    Langston Wertz Jr.

    The Charlotte Observer

    Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz — a West Charlotte High and UNC grad — is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.”
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  • Charlotte Catholic beats Middle Creek to win its eighth NCHSAA soccer title

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    GREENSBORO

    Eighty minutes wasn’t enough to decide a winner between the Charlotte Catholic and Middle Creek boys’ soccer teams in the NCHSAA 6A state championship Saturday night at Guilford College, as the Cougars and Mustangs were deadlocked at one apiece through two halves.

    Two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods and a pair of 5-minute sudden death sessions followed, which sent the title game to PKs.

    Tied at three penalties apiece with a chance to win it, Charlotte Catholic junior Emmett Drensek stepped into the box, placed the ball on the stripe and took a deep breath. To the tune of the official’s whistle, Drensek sprinted up to the ball and blasted it by the diving Middle Creek keeper Connor Leitch and into the net.

    Drensek’s score gave the Cougars a 4-3 advantage in PKs, cementing Charlotte Catholic as the 2025 6A champs under the lights at Appenzeller Field. It was Catholic’s first state title in 17 years.

    “This group bonded real quickly,” Cougars head coach Gary Hoilett said. “We found our style, found our rhythm and found how we wanted to play real quickly in the season. It’s not like we went through the season and change our lineup a couple of games to figure it out. It started clicking real early. Not just on the field, our personalities and everything came together.”

    The dramatic win definitely didn’t come easy for Charlotte Catholic. For the first time all tournament, it trailed at halftime.

    With just under two minutes to go in the first half, Middle Creek midfielder Evan Chestnutt handled the ball 15 yards outside the box. He put a move on his defender and launched a shot toward the goal. Cougars goalie Aiden Turton dived to slap it away, but it ricocheted right to Mustangs forward Holden Adams, who booted in the game’s first goal.

    Middle Creek stayed in front all the way inside 10 minutes remaining in the second half, but a foul on the Mustangs that was called in the box awarded Charlotte Catholic a penalty kick. Junior captain Braden Mathis stepped up and converted to tie it up.

    Both teams continued to test each other’s mental and physical fortitude as the game went the distance.

    In PKs, Middle Creek shot first. Brady Flanigan, Chestnutt and Sterling McGregor cashed in their attempts for the Mustangs; Sean Lynds, Mathis and Brady Benton scored for Charlotte Catholic. Turton denied Adams on the Mustangs’ fifth and final attempt.

    That set the stage for Drensek, who calmly delivered his clutch kick through the piercing screams of the Middle Creek faithful.

    “I had full confidence in him,” Mathis said. “I have full confidence in every single one of my teammates. No matter who it was, I believe they would score. We’ve been practicing PKs, that builds up confidence every time. So he stepped up and he put it away.

    “And Aiden’s save, he’s been a great keeper throughout the year. He had injury problems at the beginning of the year, but he bounced back for playoffs, and he’s really helped take us to where we are. That save just shows how important he is to us.”

    Under head coach Steve Lindsay, who took over three years ago, Middle Creek has continued to ascend as a premier program in North Carolina. This season, the Mustangs won a remarkable 24 games and went a perfect 10-0 in the Triangle Six Conference.

    Despite Saturday’s loss, this season was yet another stepping stone for Lindsay and his staff for what they’re building at Middle Creek.

    “It was a hard-fought match,” Lindsay said. “We will certainly tip our cap to [Charlotte Catholic]. But I just couldn’t be any more proud of the young men that have given so much to this program at Middle Creek really over the last three years, but certainly this year.

    “[We had] a team that was loaded with seniors that really came together as a family, unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed in all my years of sports. I couldn’t love these kids any more. … To see them hurting is hard.”

    Three who made a difference

    Braden Mathis, Charlotte Catholic — Three shots on goal, several crossbars hit and success on each of his two penalty kicks was plenty for the Cougars junior to earn MVP of the state final. Mathis buried the equalizer from the PK stripe with just under 10 minutes to go in regulation before coming through again as Charlotte Catholic’s third penalty taker in PKs.

    Aiden Turton, Charlotte Catholic — Middle Creek certainly had its chances in each of the four overtime sessions, but Turton closed the door on all of them. He made a handful of lunging saves throughout the game, none bigger than his stop in PKs against the Mustangs’ Holden Adams to set up Emmett Drensek’s winner.

    Sterling McGregor, Middle Creek — The senior midfielder played the entirety of Saturday’s 110-minute marathon. McGregor put forth five shots (two on goal) while constantly generating positive plays both offensively and defensively for the Mustangs. He also converted his PK to put Middle Creek ahead 3-2 at the time.

    They said it

    It didn’t take much time for Charlotte Catholic head coach Gary Hoilett to let his players know what he expected from them this season. Way back in August he told his team that 2025 was state championship or bust.

    The Cougars understood what that meant — that Hoilett believed they had enough talent and chemistry to win it all — and used that as motivation throughout every practice and game during the year. It all paid off Saturday.

    “One thing I preached the entire year was about sacrifices that need to be made,” Hoilett said. “I’m going to be honest, I did not hide behind it this year. I laid it out to them and said, ‘This team needs to be in the state finals. This team needs to win.’

    “And it was a constant. We were building for it in training sessions and in games. This is what [we] were being built for. This group of boys absolutely bought into how we needed to be individually and collectively in order to be successful.”

    SCORING SUMMARY

    CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 0 1 (4) — 1

    MIDDLE CREEK 1 0 (3) — 1

    First Half

    MC—Holden Adams from Evan Chestnutt, 39th minute

    Second Half

    CC—Braden Mathis (PK), 71st minute

    Penalty Kicks

    MC—Brady Flanigan

    MC—Evan Chestnutt

    CC—Sean Lynds

    CC—Braden Mathis

    MC—Sterling McGregor

    CC—Brady Benton

    CC—Emmett Drensek (GW)

    This story was originally published November 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM.

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    Garrett Cote

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