[ad_1]
In a vote that ended Sept. 25 and 26, readers of The Gaston Gazette and The Shelby Star selected the area’s fifth Athlete of the Week nominees. The group included a pair of the week’s top high school football players, as well as a boys and girls athlete from fall sports including volleyball, boys soccer, boys and girls cross country, as well as girls golf and tennis.
Each week, area high school coaches can submit a list of standout performers for their team from the previous week’s games. If your child’s name – or anyone from your child’s team – does not appear on the list, please encourage your coach to email their submissions to jhughes@gastongazette.com.
All-22: Vote for Week 6’s top performers in Gazette + Star high school football
Honor roll: Vote for last week’s top fall sports athletes in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln
Offensive Football Player of the Week
Aiden Cloninger, East Gaston
Supporters of the East Gaston football standout stuffed the ballot box this past week, Cloninger earning more than 6,900 votes en route to being named Offensive Player of the Week.
The first time he has been selected for the award, Cloninger caught seven passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns in his team’s 35-26 win over Cherokee in Week 5. He followed that performance with two catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in East Gaston’s 50-14 win over Cherryville.
Defensive Player of the Week
Justin Hill, East Gaston
In a competitive vote, the East Gaston football standout earned 3,004 votes, just enough to outlast Forestview’s Jaycob Neely and Easton Dellinger of Lincolnton for the award.
Though he rushed for 127 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, he made a bigger statement on the defensive side of the football. He led the Warriors with 15 tackles and three sacks in a 35-26 win over Cherokee.
Hill was back at it last week for East Gaston, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown in a 50-14 win over Cherryville.
Boys Athlete of the Week
Dylan Platt, Kings Mountain
For the second time this season, the Kings Mountain boys soccer standout has been voted area boys athlete of the week.
Platt did so by receiving 55% of last week’s vote, outpacing East Gaston’s Yahir Gonzalez and a host of other worthy competitors. Platt was nominated following a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over North Gaston on Sept. 15.
He leads the Mountaineers with six goals this season.
Girls Athlete of the Week
Kaela Bryson, Piedmont Community Charter
Fans of Kaela Bryson and Piedmont Community Charter volleyball showed their support this past week, earning 1,043 votes and running away with girls Athlete of the Week honors.
During the week of Sept. 13-18, her effort led the Patriots to three key conference wins.
Bryson had 13 aces, five assists and one kill in her team’s win over Cabarrus Charter. She followed that effort with 17 aces, nine assists and three blocks in her team’s win over Apprentice Academy, before dishing out 40 assists and earning 11 digs, a block and two aces in a five-set win over Bradford Prep.
For the season, Bryson has 313 assists, 80 digs, 59 aces and 12 kills. Piedmont Community Charter is 11-2 thus far, 8-0 in Metro Eight 1A volleyball.
[ad_2]
Source link