Vote now: Who should be the WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week (11/20/23)?
Here are the candidates for the WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week for Nov. 13-Nov. 18 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 Monday, Nov. 27th. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivewa.
THIS WEEK’S WAFD BANK WASHINGTON 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.
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WASHINGTON NOMINEES
Brady Ackerman, Nooksack Valley football: The story of this game was the Pioneers' early red-zone defense - and then Ackerman's defensive touchdown. The junior defensive lineman followed a fumbled snap into the end zone and recovered it for a third-quarter score to get the Pioneers going on a 47-14 win over Lynden Christian.
Antone Araujo, O'Dea football: He wasn't even the starting quarterback at the start of the season - but now he is one of the team leaders. Araujo passed for two touchdowns (5, 23 yards), rushed for a pair of scores (49, 4 yards) and registered an interception on defense in a Class 3A quarterfinal victory over Garfield.
Ava Jo Berry, Wenatchee girls volleyball: The reigning 4A CBBN player of the year was the tone-setter catalyst for the Panthers' first title run in 40 years. The setter had a tournament-high 161 assists, including a week-best 53 assists in the five-set win over North Creek in the Class 4A title match in Yakima.
Andrea Cummings, Roosevelt girls soccer: Provided the scoring fuel behind the Roughriders' unlikely run through the WIAA playoffs as a No. 14 seed. Cummings scored four goals in the tournament - half coming in a 4-1 title-match victory over Shorecrest in Puyallup.
Peyton Davis, Tumwater football: Thunderbirds' Wing-T attack keeps chewing up defenses. On Saturday, it produced 350 yards and five first-half touchdowns - spearheaded by this sophomore, who led the team with 174 yards and three touchdowns, including scores of 49 and 56 yards.
Alex Hitchings, North Kitsap football: For whatever reason, the cornerback dominates big playoff games. Hitchings had two interceptions against two-time defending state champion Lynden, including the game-winner in overtime in their 34-28 win. He also had three picks in last year's quarterfinal win against Anacortes.
Kolton Matson, Lake Stevens football: In a rematch of the Class 4A title game, Matson and the Vikings were unstoppable. Matson completed 16 of 19 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns - all in one half - in a 44-21 state quarterfinal win. Lake Stevens led at halftime, 44-0.
Kayden Mozingo, Onalaska football: Quarterback set a single-game school rushing record with 451 yards on 29 carries, scoring five touchdowns as the Loggers beat 2B Central rival Kalama in the state quarterfinals. All five of his scores were 35 yards or longer, including 71 and 74 yards.
Ashley Roni, Skyline girls soccer: A day after scoring in the Class 4A semifinals, the Alabama signee tallied the Spartans' lone goal in regulation, and then scored on a penalty kick as Skyline defend its crown with an overtime win over Woodinville. She finished her senior season with 29 goals.
Ryker Ruelas, Seton Catholic football: In a wild Class 1A quarterfinal win at Cashmere, Ruelas scored on an 84-yard first-quarter kickoff return, caught two touchdown passes, including the game-tying 31-yarder, and clinched the win with his last-minute interception on defense.
Gabriela Semlick, Ridgefield girls soccer: A day after blanking 2A GSHL rival Columbia River in goal for the team's 14th shutout of the season in the WIAA semifinals, Semlick made two key saves in the title-match overtime shootout against No. 1 West Valley of Spokane as the Spudders won their first state title.
Brielle Wilson, Mead girls volleyball: The all-Greater Spokane League setter had a delicious Class 3A tournament in leading the Panthers to the WIAA title - 153 assists (11.0 assists per set), 37 digs, 13 blocks and eight aces. In the three-set sweep title match against Lake Washington, she totaled 36 assists.
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