Vote: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (9/4/2023)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff.
Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced the following week. If you would like to nominate an athlete in the future, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE MISSOURI ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Jordan Arthur, Houston football
Arthur had an 18-yard touchdown run, a 2-point conversion catch and returned an interception 74 yards in the Tigers’ 55-6 win over Fayette.
Aaron Ashley, Nixa boys cross country
The junior ran almost 40 seconds faster this year at the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational in Bolivar and brought home first place on Saturday, running 15:31.15. He helped Nixa win the team title too.
Austin Bergmann, DuBourg boys soccer
Bergmann had a big week with eight goals and three assists in wins over St. Pius X (Festus), Valley Park and Affton. He had the game-winning goal in each victory. A senior, Bergmann recorded 22 goals and six assists a year ago.
Sam Boydston, Parkway North football
A junior, Boydston completed 12 of 15 passes for 194 yards and four touchdowns in the first half of a 52-0 win against McCluer North on Friday.
Taylor Brown, Washington softball
The Texas A&M commit threw a one-hit shutout, while going 3-for-3 with a single, double and home run against Fort Zumwalt West on Aug. 28. She added an 11-strikeout, 1-hit effort and a 2-for-4 showing against Liberty (Wentzville) later in the week.
Parker Bryant, Oran baseball
The right-handed pitcher improved to 2-0 on the young fall baseball season with a 10-strikeout, two-hit shutout over Advance on Tuesday. Oran improved to 4-0.
Matilyn Carpenter, Republic girls tennis
The sophomore picked up a pair of wins in a 9-0 victory over Neosho on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference clash, winning 8-1 in singles and joining Lily Carlo in an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles.
Maddy Colin, College Heights Christian volleyball
She dished out 31 assists and added 7 kills to help the Cougars open the season with a 3-1 win over Lockwood on the road on Aug. 29.
Delton Davis, Maryville football
The senior ran for a 31-yard touchdown, caught a 22-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in a 50-12 win over Harrisonville.
Kenzleigh Goans, California girls cross country
A returning Class 3 all-state honoree, Goans took first place at the Jim Marshall Cross Country Invitational in Jefferson City on Sept. 2, running 21:40.96 — a 12-second winning margin.
Andrew Hauser, Rock Bridge boys cross country
The senior picked up first place at the Memphis Twilight XC Classic on Saturday, running 15:16.95 to open his 2023 season. It was his eighth career win in a cross country race during the MSHSAA-sanctioned season.
Kady Hunt, Carl Junction softball
The Lady Bulldogs are off to their best start since 2009 sitting at 5-1 following a 17-0 win over Springfield Hillcrest on Aug. 30. The freshman was 3-for-4 with a home run, scored twice and drove in 5 runs.
Porter Johnson, Perryville boys cross country
The Pirates picked up the program’s first-ever win in the program’s 7th year with a win at the St. Vincent Invitational on Wednesday. The junior led the way by placing fifth, one of four Pirates in the top 10.
Ben Long, Lutheran South football
A junior, Long ran for three touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a score in the Lancers' 76-42 loss at St. James on Friday night. He ran six times for 133 yards, caught two passes for 54 yards and completed a 44-yard pass. Long also added 103 yards on three kickoff returns, giving him 334 all-purpose yards.
Cole McKey, Christian Brothers football
McKey, a senior, completed 21 of 34 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the Cadets' 45-31 loss at Bryant (Ark.) on Friday night.
Kayden Minner, New Madrid County Central football
Minner scored four touchdowns and ran for 199 yards to help the Eagles rally for a win over East Prairie. The returning all-state selection had touchdown runs of 19, 41, 6 and 5 yards and also added two 2-point conversions as his team scored 36 straight points to win 58-32.
Bailey Owens, Joplin girls volleyball
The outsider hitter/middle blocker had 18 kills, 13 digs, six aces and blocked two shots to help the Eagles beat PEMBROKE HILL, 3-2, on Tuesday.
Lucas Randle, Kennett boys soccer
The senior captain scored on a header that gave the Indians a 2-1 win over St. Paul Lutheran (Farmington) on Aug. 31. It was the first win in 14 years for the program that was revived this year after shutting down in 2009.
Olivia Rebstock, Kennett girls tennis
Down by one, 6-5, the freshman rallied for an 8-6 win and helped the Indians pick up a 5-4 victory over Jackson. That helped Kennett extend its dual winning streak to almost 3 years. The last regular-season dual loss was Oct. 6, 2020.
Olivia Ritterbusch, Highland softball
The senior outfielder had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs in an 11-4 win over Bowling Green on Aug. 29. She added a home run against Marceline on Aug. 31 and another against Westminster Christian on Sept. 2.
Ava Rogers, Pleasant Hill girls golf
The junior shot a new school record with a 1-under 36 during a triangular meet held on Thursday against conference foes Harrisonville, Oak Grove and Kansas City Center.
Aidan Ryan, Rockhurst football
A returning 1,000-yard rusher, Ryan helped the Hawklets roll to a 47-10 win over Blue Springs South with four touchdown runs. He finished with 169 yards on 15 carries.
Mazzy Whitesell, William Chrisman girls tennis
The senior picked up singles and doubles wins in victories against Minnetonka and Excelsior Springs and then took second place in doubles at the William Chrisman Invitational on Friday.
Welle Welle, Carthage boys soccer
The senior helped the Tigers open the season with a pair of wins against Republic and College Heights Christian by scoring two goals in each of them.
Tristan Wiggins, Sikeston boys soccer
Wiggins had a pair of goals and assisted on three others to help the Bulldogs beat Marion (Ill.) 7-3 on Aug. 31. It was the first time in six years the Bulldogs scored seven goals in a game.
Brock Williamson, St. Joseph Central football
He had touchdown catches of 1, 20, 40 and 44 yards from quarterback Caleb Aguilar in a 54-6 win over St. Joseph Benton.
St. Pius X (Festus) girls volleyball player Elena Ruble voted SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (August 21-27)
Congratulations to St. Pius X (Festus) girls volleyball player Elena Ruble, who was voted the SBLive Missouri high school Athlete of the Week for August 21-27. He received more than 42 percent of the votes.
Competing at the MICDS Tournament, Ruble had nine aces and finished with 92 assists, including 28 in a game against Mater Dei Catholic.
Orchard Farm football player Jackson Carruthers finished second in the voting after receiving more than 21 percent of the votes.
View the rest of the nominees here: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (August 21-27)?
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