Winners of The News Tribune’s Athletes of the Week (Sept. 16 to 21)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Athletes of the Week for high school sports contests played Sept. 16 to 21. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winners are:
Sentoa Leapai, Lakes football and Caitlyn Riggs, Auburn Riverside soccer
Leapai rushed for 82 yards and had a catch on offense and on defense, had nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in an impressive non-league road win over 4A Curtis.
Riggs scored three goals in a 7-0 shutout of Auburn, notching her second hat trick of the young season.
The polls are located below. 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 reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) 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.
FOOTBALL
Tristan Baker, Lakes — Lancers WR took five receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in 14-10 win over Curtis on Friday night.
Rashard Boone, Rogers — Rams QB completed 19-of-23 passes for 352 yards and five touchdowns, adding five carries for 70 yards and two scores on the ground for a seven-touchdown performance in 76-27 win over Silas.
Peyton Davis, Tumwater — T-Birds’ leading rusher took 10 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in Thursday’s 38-27 win over 4A-Eastlake.
Felix Diaz, Mount Tahoma — Rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and had two catches for 38 yards in 21-17 win over Mount Si.
Cameron Downing, Olympia — Bears QB guided Olympia over Hazen in thrilling, 28-26 fashion, completing 19-of-27 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
Baylen Erdmann, Auburn — Trojans QB completed 12-of-18 passes for 200 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in Auburn’s 63-40 win over Kentridge.
Jacob Ford, Yelm — Hauled in 10 catches for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 52-48 shootout win over Kamiakin. Also rushed eight times for 32 yards.
Cole Fowler, Eatonville — QB completed 24-of-35 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns in 48-33 win over Clover Park.
Thomas Frei, South Kitsap — All-purpose receiver secured four receptions for 89 yards, took four carries for 37 yards, and scored two touchdowns in triple-overtime win over Central Kitsap, 36-35.
Harper Hejtmanek, Olympia — Cam Downing’s top target exploded for 207 yards and three touchdowns on 12 receptions in 28-26 win over Hazen.
Riley Hill, Eatonville — Cruisers wideout caught six balls for 134 yards and a score in Eatonville’s win over league-rival Clover Park.
Landen Kahai, Kennedy Catholic — RB/DB was all over the place in 42-0 win over Tahoma, rushing four times for 29 yards, tallying three tackles on defense, recovering and returning a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown and had a 46-yard pick six touchdown.
Jaden Kiblinger, Rogers — Rashard Boone’s top target took six receptions for 105 yards and three touchdowns in rout of Silas.
Sentoa Leapai, Lakes — Rushed for 82 yards and had a catch on offense and on defense, had nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in win over Curtis.
Antoine Lee, Kentwood — Conquerors RB piled 271 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns in a 36-20 win over Auburn Riverside. Rushed 27 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns and caught six passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Macdonald, Steilacoom — Had 240 yards passing and five touchdowns in comeback win over Washington. Also rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on ten carries.
Carson McCall, Orting — All-purpose playmaker secured four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown, adding nine carries for 71 yards on the ground in 20-19 win at Fife.
Parker Myers, Yelm — Completed 17-of-20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns and added 96 yards and three more scores on 18 carries in shootout win over visiting Kamiakin.
Ky Nation, Eatonville — Two-way perimeter standout hauled in three receptions for 40 yards and three touchdowns, adding a 54-yard pick-six in Eatonville’s 48-33 win over Clover Park.
Blake Ostrander, Capital — Cougars RB erupted for 175 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 16 carries in 51-0 win over Shelton.
Blake Pearson, Graham-Kapowsin — Eagles RB took 11 carries for 45 yards including the game-winning, five-yard touchdown run with 14 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Graham-Kapowsin over Emerald Ridge, 20-13.
Lucas Redman, Capital — Cougars QB completed 16-of-20 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns in runaway win over Shelton.
Mekhi Richardson, Tumwater — T-Birds DE tackled nine (2 TFL) with a sack in 38-27 win at Eastlake.
Ethan Rodriguez, Rochester — Junior running back had 10 carries for 114 yards and three touchdowns in 33-7 win over Aberdeen.
Tupu Saleaumua, Lakes — Lancers’ defensive end had four tackles, a sack and the game-sealing interception in win over Curtis.
Isaiah Sanchez, Auburn — Do-it-all WR/SS scored three touchdowns in 63-40 win over Kentridge on Friday night. Caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Baylen Erdmann, returned a kickoff 85 yards for six, and recovered a blocked punt in Kentridge’s endzone for a third score.
Jacob Simons, Eatonville — WR/DB racked up 127 yards and a touchdown on five catches and on defense, had six tackles and a pass breakup in win over Clover Park.
Darius Sum, Stadium — Bellcow RB exploded for 257 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, adding a catch for 12 yards in 21-7 win over Mount Rainier.
Josiah Taijeron, Rogers — Feature-back took 13 carries for 113 yards (8.7 YPC) and two touchdowns in 76-27 win over Silas.
Beckett Wall, Tumwater — Senior linebacker logged 14 tackles (2 TFL) in road win at Eastlake.
Lucas Whitehall-Gilkes, Auburn — Trojans WR secured six receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Auburn’s big win over Kentridge.
FALL SPORTS
Cooper Boyle, Tahoma boys cross country — Took second place at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational on Saturday with a time of 15 minutes, 6.2 seconds.
Addy Conner, North Thurston volleyball — Junior outside hitter had 37 kills, 22 digs, four blocks and three aces in three-set wins over River Ridge and Lakes.
Ella Conrad, Gig Harbor soccer — Junior keeper has four shutouts and 17 saves this season, including a shutout in a win over 4A Puyallup on Saturday.
Roxy Dow, Tahoma volleyball — Senior middle hitter had two aces, six kills and two blocks in win over Kentwood and nine kills and two blocks in win over Mount Rainier.
Sydney Farach, Annie Wright volleyball — Freshman libero had 58 digs, 14 aces and 56 serves received last week, leading the Gators to a 5-0 season so far.
Clare Herring, Central Kitsap girls cross country — Took third overall at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational on Saturday, clocking in at 18 minutes, 29.8 seconds.
Nae Humphrey, Gig Harbor soccer — Had over 36 defensive stops at center back on the week for the Tides, which won games over Bellarmine, Silas and Puyallup, posting two clean sheets and conceding just one goal on the week.
Sloane Jackson, Annie Wright volleyball — Sophomore outside hitter had 25 kills, 13 aces, 17 serves received with only three errors in games last week, leading the Gators to a 5-0 season so far.
Charlotte Lamb, Bellarmine soccer — According to coach Derek Woodworth, Lamb kept Bellarmine in games all week, recording upwards of five saves in 1-on-1 situations and stopping opposing breakaways in losses to Gig Harbor and Central Kitsap and draw against Gonzaga Prep.
Jovie Lind, Timberline volleyball — Libero had 16 digs, six aces and four assists in wins over Capital and River Ridge.
Sophia Mayne, Curtis soccer — Senior box-to-box midfielder has scored four goals and had an assist in team’s first four games. As a defensive center mid, has helped Vikings post three shutouts.
Mary Rodarte, Orting soccer — Center midfielder notched a hat trick on Tuesday with three assists in a 7-1 win over Washington, then scored and assisted in Orting’s 4-2 loss to Steilacoom last Thursday.
Caitlyn Riggs, Auburn Riverside soccer — Senior captain scored three goals in a 7-0 shutout of Auburn, notching her second hat trick of the young season.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 12:37 PM.
