Charlotte Aviators Season Preview: No More Gliding—Time to Soar

Author: Brandon Borges

Last Season:
The Charlotte Aviators got off to a rockier start in 2024 than the franchise probably anticipated. Integrating new talent like Caleb Brooks into the rotation naturally came with growing pains, and things were further complicated by a major blow: a serious injury to Team USA beater Celine Richard, disrupting Charlotte’s plans for beater lines. The result was a tough opening series against the Boston Forge where Charlotte walked away without a win, and without presenting a competitive game.

A few weeks later, the Aviators traveled to the nation’s capital for a Super Series against the Ottawa Black Bears and the Washington Admirals. Despite missing key players, including Ryan Davis, they managed to sweep the Black Bears 3–0. While they were swept in turn by the Admirals, the matches grew more competitive with each outing, culminating in a nail-biter third game settled by a flag pull.

Charlotte closed their regular season against the eventual champions, the New York Titans. Though swept again, they showed flashes of the defensive resilience they’re known for, keeping the Titans’ scoring in check more than most. A 3-9 record secured the Aviators a spot in the MLQ Championship play-ins, where they kept up their dominance against Canadian-based teams with a win over the Toronto Raiders in their first game. The team ran into a massive wall, however, when the New Orleans Curse defeated them in convincing fashion. In their last game of the season, they faced their regular season rivals, the Washington Admirals, in an absolute nail-biter, eventually losing only by two goals.

While a 3–9 record may suggest a mediocre season, raw wins and losses belies the full story. Zachary Thompson followed up a strong 2023 campaign with a standout statline of 24 goals and 18 stops, while beaters like Lauren Hirsch and Wren Morgan logged valuable minutes that could help elevate Charlotte’s performance in seasons to come. For a still-developing squad, the Aviators showed clear signs of progress, and laid the groundwork for a stronger future.

Returning Players:

Allison Slominski (Carolina Reapers)

Austin Cruz (ASU)

Bonnie Hernandez (Triangle United)

Braxton Hale (Carolina Reapers)

Burl Womack (New York Slice)

Caleb Brooks (Carolina Reapers)

Carynne White (Triangle United)

Celine Richard (Carolina Reapers)

Jordi Sancho (Triangle United)

Josh Peck (Carolina Reapers)

Kody LaBauve (Carolina Reapers)

Lauren Hirsch (Triangle United)

Leonardo Bonilla (Carolina Reapers)

Melissa Ross (Carolina Reapers)

Micki Haralson (Carolina Reapers)

Mohamed-Yahia Monawar (Triangle United)

Nicholas Thompson

Oliver Hodge (Carolina Reapers)

Ryan Davis (The Warriors)

Stephanie Peck (Carolina Reapers)

Tony Bonadio (Carolina Reapers)

Wilson Brockway (Carolina Reapers)

Wren Morgan (Carolina Reapers)

Zachary Thompson (Carolina Reapers)

New Additions:

Austin Wayman (AHO Rugby)

Cole Tibbs (Harvard Horntails)

Jack Weinard (Triangle United)

John Keyser (Triangle United)

Matthew Shaw

Hanna Reese (The Warriors)

Notable Losses:

Will Forinash

Jared Woodard

Grace Tomasini

The Season Ahead

Much like last year, Charlotte will open their season against the Forge. Historically, Boston has held an edge over the Aviators, frequently winning on the strength of their disciplined beating and sharp transition play. This time, however, Charlotte has a real opportunity to turn the tide. The Forge has infused their roster with a wave of young talent, who may need time to find their rhythm. Meanwhile, Charlotte benefits from both home-field advantage and roster continuity, having retained much of last year’s lineup. With a full month in May to rebuild chemistry and refine their strategies, the Aviators are well-positioned to challenge Boston more effectively. Expect a much tighter series this time around, as both squads look to kick off the season with momentum and an early series win.

Charlotte will have a full month to prepare for their next challenge: a series against regular-season rival, the Washington Admirals. While the margins have been much tighter than in their Boston matchups, Washington has historically had the upper hand against the Aviators. This year, however, the Admirals are fielding a younger roster eager to make an impact against Charlotte. The clash in styles will be a highlight, with Washington’s deliberate, methodical approach contrasting sharply with Charlotte’s faster-paced game. As always, momentum swings will likely shape the series. With the return of Celine Richard bolstering Charlotte’s beater corps, expect fierce beater battles and physical defense in what promises to be another captivating chapter in this rivalry.

Two weeks later, Charlotte will finish their regular season with an away series against the New York Titans. The Titans tout a torrent of talent, truly a treacherous and tough task for the team tied to the Triangle. Luckily for the Aviators, they face this daunting team last, and should come into this series with a set strategy and expectations. This will be a fast-paced series, both teams thriving off of pressure at the half turning into fast break opportunities, though Charlotte will have to look to better defend against New York’s stellar ball movement if they want to score any wins.

Season Potentials:

Due to circumstances beyond the world of quadball, the Ottawa Black Bears have forfeited their series against the Charlotte Aviators, granting Charlotte three default wins before the season even begins. In all likelihood, this all but secures the Aviators a ticket to Buffalo for this year’s Benepe Cup. With that safety net in place, Charlotte should be aiming even higher this regular season.

Both Boston and Washington have introduced a wave of new talent and will need time to rebuild chemistry. Charlotte, meanwhile, has kept a consistent roster from last season, a crucial asset for any team wishing to make a deep push at Champs. With this stability, the Aviators have a golden opportunity to chase something more ambitious: the second seed in the division, which would allow them to bypass the play-in tournament that’s derailed their past seasons.

Can they pull it off? Can the Charlotte Aviators, for the first time in franchise history, rise to claim a top seed in one of MLQ’s toughest divisions?

Why They Won’t:

Last season revealed a key weakness in Charlotte’s offensive system: a lack of consistent playmaking. When other teams forced the Aviators to slow down and string together passes or initiate movement up top, Charlotte would struggle, either chancing very risky passes across the field or settling for audacious shots well outside of keeper zone. Evidence of this can be seen in their series against Boston, as the Forge were able to stop a number of Charlotte offenses and quickly turn around in transition to score points in bunches. This trend was also showcased in the Aviators’ play-in game against the Curse, who implemented an effective hoop zone that Charlotte was unable to break. As no major additions have been made to the Aviators roster, this lack of playmaking in the halfcourt remains a question mark. With as many offensive tools as Charlotte has, it will be on new head coach Allison Slominksi to develop the set offense into one that takes advantage of the talent on the field.

It’s also worth considering whether Charlotte has already reached its ceiling over the past few seasons. With little new talent joining the roster, any forward progress will need to come from developing the players who have been with the team for multiple years, a challenge that now falls to a new head coach. The path forward raises difficult questions: should the Aviators double down on last season’s strategies to preserve chemistry? Or should they introduce bold new concepts that might disrupt the current balance, but offer greater long-term growth? How can younger players like Austin Cruz and those coming from Triangle United be elevated without stepping on the toes of established stars like Ryan Davis and Zachary Thompson? Navigating these challenges would be a tall order for any coach, and Charlotte’s trajectory this season hinge on how successfully these dynamics are managed.

Why They Will:

With the return of Celine Richard, Charlotte’s beater corps returns to form, anchored by the controlled chaos that has long defined their success. Richard, alongside longtime partner Kody LaBauve, has tormented countless opposing beaters and offenses. LaBauve, in particular, is coming off a dominant 2024 season, leading the league with 34 defensive stops. Richard’s absence last year created valuable opportunities for rising talents like Hirsch, who will look to turn that experience into a breakout campaign. She’ll be joined by veteran Tony Bonadio, who contributed 13 stops of his own in 2024 and brings a steady presence to the unit. For a team that thrives in fast-paced transition Quadball, elite beater play is essential, and Charlotte’s depth at the position suggests they’re more than ready to meet that standard.

Equally vital to their transition game is their point defense, a long-standing trademark of the Aviators. Oliver Hodge and Braxton Hale provide a formidable presence at the top of the defense, regularly converting stops into scoring opportunities. Hodge, in particular, excels in transition and was responsible for a large share of Charlotte’s 20 assists last season, using sharp vision and timing on the run to connect with dynamic cutters like Melanie Ross and Allison Slominski. Meanwhile, Brooks and Cruz continue to develop into offensive threats and are expected to be foundational in Charlotte’s effort to build a more structured and effective set offense.

Of course, no mention of the Aviators’ core would be complete without Davis and Thompson. Davis is a true utility player, capable of contributing in every phase of the game, and is world-renowned for their seeking prowess, an invaluable asset in a division where mid-tier parity could mean more games coming down to flag runner play. When paired with the dominant beater duo of Richard and LaBauve, Davis is often good for a reliable 35 points, a margin that could make all the difference this season. Thompson, meanwhile, remains Charlotte’s offensive engine, armed with one of the league’s strongest shots and a willingness to strike from anywhere on the field.

Together, these elements form the core identity of the Charlotte Aviators: a team built on physical defense, elite beating, and explosive transition play. With key contributors returning and rising talent coming into form, Charlotte looks ready to soar in the East Division this season.