Winner of The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week (Oct. 20 to 25)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between Oct. 20-25. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winner is:
Naesirhc White, Mount Tahoma football
The T-Birds RB took 14 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 45-6 win over Silas.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted.
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.
Bryson Allen, Franklin Pierce football — Cardinals RB/LB took three carries for 44 yards and a touchdown, adding 10 tackles (5 TFL) with three sacks and a forced fumble on defense in Thursday’s 71-6 win over Clover Park.
Briytan Bailey, Puyallup football — Vikings RB took 11 carries for 162 yards and three touchdowns in Friday’s 45-0 win at Curtis.
Kam Balles, Auburn Mountainview football — Lions RB rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in Friday’s 42-0 win over Kent-Meridian.
Evan Barnes, Bethel football — Bison QB completed 15-of-22 passes for 329 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in Friday’s 45-6 win over Bonney Lake.
Ethan Bello, Tumwater football — Tumwater corner had three interceptions, part of an eight turnover effort from the T-Birds’ defense in 2A EvCo title clinching win over rival W.F. West.
Isaac Benjamin, South Kitsap cross country — Won the 4A SPSL championship meet at Fort Steilacoom on Thursday with a time of 15 minutes, 17.5 seconds.
Tayven Collins, Cascade Christian football — Cougars junior rushed for 37 yards and a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass, returned two kickoffs for 138 yards, blocked a field goal, and grabbed an interception with five tackles (1 TFL) and a sack in Saturday’s 49-7 win over Klahowya.
Ja’mire Ford, Franklin Pierce football — Cardinals RB rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on two carries in Thursday’s 71-6 win over Clover Park.
Ramzak Fruean, Bethel football — Bison TE caught six passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 45-6 win over Bonney Lake.
Keshawn Hines, Mount Tahoma football — T-Birds RB rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in Friday’s 45-6 win over Silas.
Jaleo Johnson, Steilacoom football — Sentinels WR had five catches for 171 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 41-31 win over Eatonville.
Titus Kaeka, Steilacoom football — Sentinels QB completed 17-of-28 passes for 382 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, adding a fifth score on the ground in Friday’s 41-31 win over Eatonville.
Jordan Koval, Auburn Mountainview football — Lions QB completed 2-of-5 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, adding 19 carries for 126 yards and two scores in Friday’s 42-0 win over Kent-Meridian.
Jadis Lefono, Lakes football — Freshman QB totaled four touchdowns without a turnover in Friday’s 47-6 win over Capital. Lefono completed 7-of-17 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns, adding two carries for 25 yards and a score.
Mason Locke, White River football — Hornets RB took 10 carries for 70 yards that powered White River over Decatur on Friday, 15-0.
Ta’u Mareko, Lakes football — Lancers LB piled 13 tackles (3 TFL) and recovered two fumbles in Friday’s 47-6 win over Capital.
Julian Martinez, Washington cross country — Won the 2A SPSL league championship meet at Fort Steilacoom on Saturday with a time of 16 minutes, 49.7 seconds.
Noah Maxwell, Steilacoom football — Sentinels RB took 20 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown, adding two carries for 75 yards in Friday’s 41-31 win over Eatonville.
Austin Messer, Todd Beamer cross country — Won the 3A NPSL sub-district meet at Fort Steilacoom on Saturday with a time of 16 minutes, 44.2 seconds.
Royce Miller, Kennedy Catholic football — Lancers RB took three carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 74-6 win over Kentridge.
Ludolph Misher, Federal Way football — Eagles freshman had three catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, two carries for 60 yards and a third score, and an interception on defense in Thursday’s 55-0 win over Kentlake.
Toetu Moliga, Lakes football — Lancers RB took 15 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 47-6 win over Capital.
Ean Owens, Lakes football — Lancers WR had six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 47-6 win over Capital.
Luke Parker, Puyallup football — Vikings WR had three receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 45-0 win at Curtis.
Blake Pearson, Graham-Kapowsin football — Eagles RB rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in Thursday’s 28-12 win over Spanaway Lake.
Tygee Roy, Federal Way football — Freshman QB completed 12-of-18 passes for 325 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in Thursday’s 55-0 win at Kentlake.
Max Schwab, Gig Harbor football — Tides RB took nine carries for 139 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 71 yards and another score in Friday’s 42-20 win over Bellarmine Prep.
Jadeon Scranton, Lincoln football — Abes RB had eight carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns in Thursday’s 49-7 win over Central Kitsap.
Ian Shearer, Gig Harbor football — Tides RB took 11 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 42-20 win over Bellarmine Prep.
Noah Smith, Puyallup football — Vikings QB completed 13-of-15 passes for 311 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in Friday’s 45-0 win at Curtis.
Carson Stafford, Tahoma cross country — Won the 4A NPSL sub-district meet at Fort Steilacoom on Saturday with a time of 15 minutes, 58.7 seconds.
Kooper Tasler, Stadium football — Tigers QB completed 12-of-19 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, adding five carries for 25 yards in Thursday’s 51-19 win over Auburn Riverside.
Mana Voss, Central Kitsap cross country — Won the 3A PSL league championship meet at Fort Steilacoom on Saturday with a time of 15 minutes, 33.3 seconds.
Kolton Wadley, Graham-Kapowsin football — Eagles QB completed 20-of-25 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, adding four carries for 11 yards and a score in Thursday’s 28-12 win over Spanaway Lake.
Grady Wall, Tumwater football — T-Birds RB took 11 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns, tackled seven (1 TFL) with four pass break-ups on defense, and kicked five extra points in Friday’s 41-20 win over W.F. West.
Donovan Walson, Cascade Christian football — Cougars sophomore took 11 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown, had five catches for 50 yards and two scores, adding eight tackles (3 TFL) and two sacks on defense in Saturday’s 49-7 win over Klahowya.
Naesirhc White, Mount Tahoma football — T-Birds RB took 14 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 45-6 win over Silas.
Lucas Wiseman, Peninsula football — Seahawks senior scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime, lifting Peninsula over Timberline on Friday, 15-9. Wiseman took five carries for 30 yards and two touchdowns.
This story was originally published October 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM.
