Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas High School Athlete of the Week? (10/23/2023)
Who was the top high school athlete in Texas last week — not including those who play football?
Each week throughout the year, SBLive takes 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 three polls: two football player of the week and non-football athlete of the week. Those will publish on www.highschool.si.com/texas every Monday.
Congratulations to Alissa Villarreal, a Kyle Lehman water polo standout who had six goals in a game to push her season scoring tally over 100.
Kyle Lehman now sports back-to-back Athlete of the Week wins after Saul Gutierrez of Lehman's boys water polo program won the previous week.
Here are SBLive's Texas Athlete of the Week nominees for October 16-22. 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, October 29, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
Know of a performance worthy of recognition we may have missed? Let us know. Drop a note to andy@scorebooklive.com or @SBLiveTX on Twitter and Instagram and back it up with stats.
WHO SHOULD BE SBLIVE'S TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK?
Braden Belew, Midland Christian boys cross country
The sophomore won the TAPPS District 1-5A race on Saturday in Fort Worth, finishing the 5K race in 16:09.77. It was his second win of the season.
Caroline Boone, Dickinson volleyball
In a 3-0 win over Houston Clear Lake on Tuesday, she had 14 kills 10 digs and three aces for the Gators — who clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2008.
Diamond Bossier, Houston Davis volleyball
She had 12 kills, 17 digs and 6 blocks to help Davis pick up a 3-1 win over Spring Westfield on Friday in a District 14-6A win.
Tatum Busch, Deer Park volleyball
The senior moved within one kill of 300 on the season with 11 kills and eclipsed 300 digs this year (now 303) with 13 during a 3-0 win over Pasadena Sam Rayburn on Friday.
Mariana Chapa, Houston Village girls cross country
In the 2-mile race, the senior posted nearly a 30-second margin of win on Wednesday at the TAPPS Houston Area Championship in Webster.
McKinley Chase, Fort Worth Paschal volleyball
She had 21 digs and 53 assists in a 3-2 win over Chisholm Trail on Friday. Her 53 assists gave her 1,069 on the year, breaking the school single-season record of 1,021 set back in 2017 by Semira Blair.
Kaitlyn Collins, Splendora volleyball
The 6-foot-1 outshine hitter had 25 kills, 25 digs and three blocks in a 3-2 win over Hardin-Jefferson in a District 20-4A match on Tuesday.
Mia Cross, Texas A&M Consolidated volleyball
The sophomore was one of three players with 10 or more kills and her 13 led the team in a 3-2 win over Bryan Rudder on Friday. She added 10 digs and 8 service points as well.
Kristen Dillard, Carrollton Hebron girls water polo
The Hawks clinched a 12-6 playoff victory on Tuesday over Flower Mound. The senior had four shots on goal and all of them went in the net for Hebron.
Peyton Fadal, Barbers Hill volleyball
The Houston Christian commit had 44 assists in a four-set win over Baytown Sterling on Tuesday in District 17-5A. The Eagles — who locked up a sixth straight district title with the win — had two attackers with 15 or more kills.
Taryn Gilreath, Cypress Ranch volleyball
The 6-foot senior setter and East Carolina pledge reached the 1,000 assist mark in her career in a 3-0 win over Langham Creek on Friday.
Carson Glenn, Liberty Hill volleyball
She had 21 assists, 17 digs, 9 service points and two aces in Liberty HIll’s 3-2 win over Leander Rouse on Tuesday.
Kay Hopkins, El Paso Austin volleyball
She had double-doubles in both matches this week, recording 27 assists, 28 digs and 7 kills against Young Women’s Academy on Tuesday and then 25 assists and 11 digs in a loss to El Paso Irvin on Friday.
Hadi Housammy, League City Clear Creek boys water polo
In a playoff game on Tuesday, the Cougars got six goals and three assists from Housammy in an 18-6 win over Fort Bend Travis.
Lauryn ‘Lolo’ Lambert, Plano East volleyball
The future Arkansas Razorback had 20 kills and 11 digs to help the Panthers pick up a 3-0 win over Plano West on Tuesday in District 6-6A play.
Giselle Lopez, El Paso Del Valle volleyball
In a 3-1 win over Hanks on Tuesday, the senior had 31 digs and 13 kills for the Conquistadores.
MJ McCurdy, Frisco Liberty volleyball
The Redhawks got a pair of big games from the Texas State pledge with 19 kills and 19 digs against Frisco Memorial on Tuesday and then 28 kills and 28 digs against Frisco Centennial on Friday.
Taryn Morris, Denton Braswell volleyball
In a 3 -0 win over Little Elm on Friday, the junior had 18 kills, 17 digs and eight service points.
Summer Morrissey, Houston Lutheran North girls cross country
The freshmen won the TAPPS 5-3A District championship on Saturday in Houston, running 12:57.20.
Gerson Pineda, Houston Northland Christian boys cross country
Competing in the TAPPS 5-3A District meet, the freshman won by five-tenths of a second — ahead of teammate Grant Rodges — during the meet on Saturday in Houston.
Taylor Porter, Cypress Ranch volleyball
The Vanderbilt pledge surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-0 win over Langham Creek to claim the District 16-6A title on Friday.
Israel Quintana, El Paso Immanuel Christian boys cross country
The Warriors won the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship State Championship on Friday with 21 points, while Quintana took home first place by winning the title in 17:03.67 on the Haltom City course.
Travis Thames, Pearland Dawson boys water polo
In an 18-11 win over Strake Jesuit on Saturday, the senior had 9 goals and 5 assists, while having 4 goals and 3 assists in a 20-10 win over Clear Springs earlier in the day.
Emma Thoms, Plano West girls tennis
The Wolves made the final four with a win over Southlake Carroll on Friday with Thoms winning in singles play and doubles play.
Jade Washington, Waco Midway volleyball
The junior libero had a team-high 25 digs in a 3-2 win over Hutto on Tuesday in District 12-6A action as the Panthers improved to 10-0.
-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx
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.
