Winner of The News Tribune’s Athlete of the Week (April 17 to 22)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Athlete of the Week (April 17 to 22) in baseball, softball, soccer and track and field. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winner is:
Kaylee Gresko, Orting softball
Gresko tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout, allowing two hits while striking out nine in a win over Fife, and allowed one earned run across three innings while striking out six in a win over Washington. Gresko also hit 7-for-8 with three runs scored, two doubles and five RBI in the two victories.
The poll is located at the bottom of the story. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporters Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Lauren Smith (lsmith@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter (@manley_tnt or @smithlm12) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cassandra Atkins, Federal Way track and field — Won the triple jump (personal-best 40-1) at Oregon Relays, which leads the state this spring. Placed second in the long jump (18-10 3/4), and continues to lead the state in the event. Also ran a leg of Federal Way’s sixth-place 4x100 relay, which set the state’s top time this spring in the prelims at 48.97.
Cole Bailey, Stadium soccer — Had the go-ahead goal and two assists in 3-1 win over Lincoln on Thursday at Stadium Bowl.
Laina Baker, Bonney Lake softball — Hit 8-for-9 with two runs scored, five doubles and four RBI in wins over Spanaway Lake and Lincoln.
Aidan Balabat, Lakes baseball — Went 6-for-7 with two doubles and six RBI in two wins against Lincoln.
Landon Breidenbach, Enumclaw soccer — Scored two goals in 4-3 loss to Fife on Monday.
Jacob Bresnahan, Sumner baseball — Oregon commit threw complete-game shutout against Olympia on Tuesday, allowing just one hit and striking out 19 of the 23 batters he faced. Also drove in the game’s only runs on a two run home run in 2-0 win. Also had two hits and two RBI in 11-1 win over South Kitsap on Friday.
Isaac Briggs, Rogers track and field — Ran a season-best 1:54.87 in the 800 at Oregon Relays to place ninth. The time ranks third in the state this spring.
Hudson Brown, Emerald Ridge baseball — Went 2-for-3 with a walk and drove in a run in 5-4 win over Sumner on Saturday.
Alex Conner, Kentridge track and field — Won both the 110 hurdles (personal-best 14.66) and 300 hurdles (personal-best 38.85) at the GearUp Eason Invitational. The 110 hurdles time ranks fifth in the state this spring, and the 300 hurdles time second.
Nico Coope, Stadium soccer — Scored two goals in 3-1 win over Lincoln in 3A PCL contest at Stadium Bowl on Thursday.
Kyla Cross, Bonney Lake softball — Hit 4-for-7 with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run, eight RBI and a stolen base in wins over Spanaway Lake and Lincoln.
Jediah Darrell, Lincoln track and field — Won the discus (personal-best 171-8) at the Lil’ Norway Invitational, which is the top distance in the state this spring.
Alissa Hermansen, Bonney Lake softball — Tossed a six-inning complete game, allowing one run while striking out eight in a win over Lincoln. Hit 4-for-7 with two runs scored, a double, home run and two RBI in wins over Spanaway Lake and Lincoln.
Jonathan Frazier, Lincoln track and field — Won the 300 hurdles (personal-best 39.47) at the Lil’ Norway Invitational, which ranks third in the state this spring. Also won the 110 hurdles (14.96), and continues to hold the state’s top time in the event from a previous race earlier this spring.
Mikayla Gardley, Emerald Ridge track and field — Ran a personal-best 46.08 in the 300 hurdles at Oregon Relays to place eighth. The time ranks fourth in the state this spring.
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, Emerald Ridge track and field — Won the high jump (season-best 5-11 3/4) at Oregon Relays, which is the best jump in the state this spring. Also placed second in the 100 hurdles (14.59). Also won the 100 hurdles, shot put (personal-best 42-2 1/2, which ranks fourth in the state this spring), javelin and long jump in a meet against Olympia. Continues to lead the state in the 100 hurdles, javelin and high jump.
Hunter Grasser, Puyallup baseball — Pitched a complete-game shutout in 1-0 win over Emerald Ridge on Tuesday, tossing seven innings, allowing eight hits, no runs and four strikeouts.
Kaylee Gresko, Orting softball — Tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout, allowing two hits while striking out nine in a win over Fife. Allowed one earned run across three innings while striking out six in a win over Washington. Hit 7-for-8 with three runs scored, two doubles and five RBI in the two victories.
Conrad Henkel, Tahoma baseball — Went 5-for-13 with six RBI, a walk and a home run in two wins against Federal Way and two wins against Kennedy Catholic.
Layah Hicks, Yelm softball — Hit 5-for-8 with five runs scored, two home runs and five RBI in a win over River Ridge and loss to Gig Harbor.
Drew Hobson, Silas baseball — Went 5-for-5 with two home runs, a double and nine RBI in two wins over Mount Tahoma.
LeRoy Horton, Curtis track and field — Placed third in the 100 (10.67) and second in the 200 (season-best 21.41, which ranks fourth in the state this spring) at Oregon Relays. Also ran a leg of Curtis’ record-breaking 4x100 relay (41.29), which leads the state this spring.
Logan Judish, Stadium baseball — Collected a pair of hits and four RBI in two wins over Bonney Lake.
Alli Kimball, Peninsula softball — Hit 3-for-3 with two runs scored, a three-run home run and three RBI in a win over rival Gig Harbor.
Lauryn Krick, Puyallup softball — Tossed a five-inning complete game, and did not allow an earned run while striking out 10 in a win over Curtis. Hit 3-for-6 with three runs scored, a home run and four RBI in wins over Bellarmine Prep and Curtis.
Javier Luevanos, Curtis soccer — Scored a goal and had an assist in 3-0 win over Bellarmine Prep on Thursday. Also had an assist in 1-1 draw with Sumner on Tuesday.
Cooper Markham, Enumclaw baseball — Pitched five shutouts innings in 10-0 win over Steilacoom on Friday, walking two and striking out five.
Marcel Mercado, Stadium baseball — Pitched six innings, allowing three hits, one run, five walks and striking out eight in 6-1 win over Bonney Lake on Tuesday.
Jonathan Miles, Gig Harbor track and field — Ran a personal-best 4:12.66 in 1,600 at Oregon Relays to place seventh. The time ranks third in the state this spring.
Hana Moll, Capital track and field — Won the pole vault (14-7 1/4) at Oregon Relays. Continues to lead the state in the event this spring after a record-setting 15-0 clearance earlier this month.
Yusuf Mousa, Silas soccer — Scored two goals and had two assists in 7-1 win over Spanaway Lake on Thursday.
Joe Nichols, Silas soccer — Scored two goals and had three assists in wins over Lakes and Spanaway Lake.
Keagan Norfleet, Rogers softball — Tossed a seven-inning complete game, allowing three earned runs while striking out five in a win over Emerald Ridge, and did not allow an earned run in a 1-0 extra-innings loss to Olympia, completing 7 2/3 while striking out 12. Hit 3-for-7 with a run scored, two doubles, a home run and RBI in the two games.
Jasmyn Polanco, Timberline softball — Hit 5-for-8 with seven runs scored, a double, two home runs, eight RBI and a stolen base in wins over North Thurston and River Ridge. Also tossed a five-inning complete game against North Thurston and seven-inning complete game against River Ridge in the two wins.
Sami Potvin, Olympia softball — Tossed an eight-inning complete game shutout in a 1-0 win over Rogers, allowing three hits with no walks while striking out 19.
Gage Reeser, Timberline baseball — Went 5-for-7 with four doubles and a stolen base in two-game series sweep against Central Kitsap.
Roderick Schenk, Central Kitsap track and field — Won the javelin (personal-best 201-1) at Oregon Relays, which is the top distance in the state this spring.
Gavin Sheets, Peninsula baseball — In first full start since returning from injury, tossed a complete-game six innings, allowing one hit, no runs and striking out eight in 10-0 win over River Ridge.
Andrew Shirley, Curtis track and field — Won the pole vault (personal-best 15-11) at Oregon Relays, which leads the state this spring. Also ran a leg of Curtis’ record-breaking 4x100 relay (41.29), which leads the state this spring.
Trevontay Smith, Yelm track and field — Placed second in the triple jump (personal-best 48-5 1/2) at Oregon Relays, which is the best jump in the state this spring.
Taryn Takayoshi, Puyallup softball — Hit 6-for-8 with five runs scored, two doubles, a triple and nine RBI in wins over Bellarmine Prep and Curtis.
Giovanni Villeda-Campos, Lincoln soccer — Scored a then game-tying goal early in the second half in a 3-1 loss to Stadium on Thursday.
Geron White, Kennedy Catholic track and field — Won the high jump (personal-best 6-8) at the GearUp Eason Invitational, which ranks tied for the best jump in the state this spring.
This story was originally published April 24, 2023 at 1:06 PM.
