Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas High School Athlete of the Week? (9/11/2023)
Texas fall high school sports seasons are well underway for 2023-24.
Each week throughout the year, SBLive will take a look at the top high school athletes across the Lone Star State by researching the entire state, gathering the top performers and putting the best of the best up for reader vote.
We're splitting our Athlete of the Week process into two polls: a football player of the week and non-football athlete of the week. Those will publish on www.highschool.si.com/texas every Monday.
Here are SBLive's Texas Athlete of the Week nominees for Sept. 4-11. Now, we want to hear from you. Scroll down to read about this week's nominees and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting remains open until Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
WHO SHOULD BE SBLIVE'S TEXAS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK?
Caroline Adams, Friendswood, volleyball
The sophomore had three aces and 41 assists in a 3-0 win over Ball on Friday night. She has 608 assists on the season and reached the 1,000-assist mark in her young career in the District 18-5A showdown.
Gabriel Aguilar, Goliad, boys cross country
Competing at the St. Joseph Invitational on Saturday in Victoria, the sophomore won a close race to take first place. His time of 17:14.68 set a new personal record for a 5K.
Sophia Bendet, Randolph, girls cross country
The junior won her second race of the season and picked up this win at the Runnin Rattler Invitational on Saturday at Texas State in San Marcos. She had a winning margin of more than a minute in the 5K race.
James Butler, Del Valle, boys cross country
Competing in his fourth race of the year and the second 5K, Butler picked up a win on Friday at the Pflugerville ISD Invitational. He was near his personal best for this season with a 15:49.9. The victory was his second of the season.
Presley Collins, Haslet V.R. Eaton, girls cross country
Racing at the Northwest Invitational in Justin on Saturday, the junior ran the 3-mile race in 18:28.90 to win her second race of the season.
Cacy Cornwell, Wildorado, volleyball
The outside hitter had 13 kills and seven blocks to help the Lady Mustangs pick up a 3-0 victory over Vega on Tuesday, improving her squad to 12-4.
Erica Dellesky, Katy Tompkins, volleyball
On Tuesday night, the senior became the program’s all-time leader in assists in a 3-0 win over Katy Taylor. She contributed 18 assists on the night and had a season-high 9 kills as well. She’s committed to play for Virginia Tech.
Sarah Garcia, Mission Veteran Memorial, girls water polo
The senior tallied five goals — the fourth time this season — and added an assist to help the Patriot beat Mission, 17-3, on Saturday.
Adrianno Gonzalez, Weslaco East, boys cross country
The junior beat teammate Octavian De La Serna, for first place at the Brownsville ISD Invitational on Saturday by running 17.07.40.
Carson Gooch, Round Rock Cedar Ridge, boys water polo
The junior chipped in with 11 goals in two games on Saturday, Sept. 9. He tallied a season-high 9 in a 22-10 win over Buda Hays. He added three assists, which is also a season-high mark.
Aliana Juarez, San Antonio Brennan, girls water polo
The senior had four goals and added an assist as Brennan picked up a 12-10 win against Harlan on Saturday. She now has 34 goals on the season.
Stoya Laydevant, The Woodlands, girls cross country
The junior took first place on Saturday at the Strake Jesuit XC Invitational in Houston, posting an 18-second margin of victory. She’s won all three of the races she’s entered this season.
M.J. McCurdy, Frisco Liberty, volleyball
The Texas State commit had 38 kills, 31 digs and two blocks against Frisco Reedy and then had 28 kills and 32 digs in a win over Denton Braswell on Friday.
Roisin Owen, Weatherford, volleyball
The 5-foot-9 junior had 21 assists and 11 digs to help the Lady Roos beat Euless Trinity, 3-1, in a District 3-6A game on Friday. She surpassed 1,000 career assists in the contest.
Nadia Pena, El Paso Coronado, volleyball
In a 3-0 win over El Paso Eastwood, the senior had 11 kills, 26 assists, 13 digs, one service ace and two blocks.
Caroline Prihoda, The Woodlands College Park, volleyball
The sophomore had 22 assists in a 3-0 win over Caney Creek on Tuesday, helping the Cavaliers win a fourth straight game.
Emilee Prochaska, Frisco Lone Star, volleyball
She had 15 digs in a 3-1 loss to Frisco Liberty on Tuesday but in the process, she surpassed 1,000 career digs for the Rangers. She’s signed to play softball at Houston next school year.
Zoey Richardson, Texarkana Texas, girls cross country
The sophomore picked up her first high school win in cross country by taking first at the Texas A&M-Texarkansas High School Invitational on Saturday, running a 23:11.
Hannah Ross, Frisco Lebanon Trail, volleyball
In a win over Frisco Lone Star, Ross recorded 49 assists, 22 digs and three blocks and in a loss to Frisco Wakeland, the senior had 27 assists, 11 digs and four kids. She also surpassed the 1,000 career assist mark.
Lexee Salas, El Paso Americas, volleyball
The junior, and three-year varsity played, recorded 14 digs, 22 assists and 9 kills in a 3-1 win over Pebble Hill on Wednesday
Jesus Sanchez, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, boys water polo
In a 20-9 victory over Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial, Sanchez continued his quest to 100 goals by tallying 8 and contributing 3 assists as well in a 20-9 win for the Bears. Sanchez now has 81 goals on the season.
Jack Sterrett, Waco Midway, boys cross country
Racing in the Hewitt Kiwanis Invitational on Thursday in Waco, the senior beat his teammate Jack Reinhardt for first place, running the 3-mile event in 15:12.30.
Halle Thompson, Spring Grand Oaks, volleyball
The sophomore had 19 kills, 12 service pitons and two blocks in a win against Oak Ridge and then had 15 kills in a win over the Woodlands. Grand Oaks improved to 31-1 overall and 4-0 in District 13-6A play.
Averie Threet, Peaster, volleyball
The UTEP committee broke the program record for career digs which stood at 1,537. That came after 30 in a 3-2 win against No. 13-ranked Boyd on Sept. 5.
Brayden Turner, Forney, boys water polo
In a high-scoring contest, the Jackrabbits beat Nacogdoches, 18-15, on Saturday night. Turner, a junior, scored a season-high 6 goals, while adding two assists.
Kaci Wade, Chisholm Trail, volleyball
In a win against North Crowley on Friday, Wade had 41 assists, 15 digs, 4 blocks, 5 kills and 2 assists. Earlier in the week, she had 37 assists and 7 digs in a sweep over Alvarado
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.
