Winner of The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week (April 6 to 11)
Voting is now closed for The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between April 6-11. Thanks to everyone who voted and supported local student-athletes.
This week’s winner is:
Blake Gunderson, Graham-Kapowsin baseball
In two wins over Spanaway Lake, the senior first baseman went a combined 5-for-8 with a double, triple, home run, and four RBI.
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.
Alex Alstrom, Kentwood baseball — Junior right-hander threw a complete-game one-hitter in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Stadium, allowing one earned run with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Aaron Barnhart, Bellarmine Prep baseball — Leadoff third baseman went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday’s win over Mount Tahoma. Barnhart added a single and two walks in Monday’s win over the T-Birds.
Imani Brown, Auburn Mountainview baseball — Senior right-hander threw seven stellar innings in Monday’s 6-2 win over Federal Way, allowing one hit and two runs (none earned) with one walk and seven strikeouts. In Tuesday’s win over the Eagles, the leadoff shortstop went 4-for-4 with a home run, walk, two doubles, and six RBI.
Neal Burtis, Tahoma baseball — Senior left-hander threw five scoreless innings (4 H, 1 BB, 7 K) and went 2-for-3 at the plate in Tuesday’s win over Mount Rainier. Burtis added a double, walk and two runs in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over the Rams, helping complete the two-game sweep.
Jesus Cruz, Clover Park soccer — Junior forward scored twice in Monday’s win over Orting.
Jake Cuda, Gig Harbor baseball — Senior right-hander threw four scoreless innings (1 H, 0 BB, 5 K) in Tuesday’s win over Lincoln. In a two-game sweep of the Abes, Cuda went a combined 3-for-5 at the plate with a walk, double, triple, and three RBI.
Mattson Ducharme, Fife baseball — Senior first baseman went 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI in Monday’s win over Eatonville, then threw four strong innings (2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) in Tuesday’s win over the Cruisers.
Ethan Flavel, Decatur baseball — Junior right-hander tossed five scoreless innings (1 H, 4 BB, 7 K) and went 3-for-4 at the plate in Friday’s 9-2 win over Peninsula.
Evan Fulghum, Peninsula baseball — Right fielder hit a walk-off single to beat North Thurston, 5-4, on Monday.
Joe Giles, Curtis baseball — In four games last week (2-2), the senior catcher went a combined 8-for-13 with a home run, double, walk, and six RBI.
Blake Gunderson, Graham-Kapowsin baseball — In two wins over Spanaway Lake, the senior first baseman went a combined 5-for-8 with a double, triple, home run, and four RBI.
Beau Hale, Puyallup baseball — Vikings starter threw four scoreless frames in Friday’s win over Spanaway Lake, allowing one hit with no walks and five strikeouts.
Jaxon Harpel, Franklin Pierce baseball — Senior starter threw five strong innings (1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K) and hit two doubles at the plate in Tuesday’s 12-1 win over Clover Park.
O’Shea Jones, Graham-Kapowsin baseball — Sophomore right fielder went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI in Tuesday’s win over Spanaway Lake.
Travis Kunkel, Olympia baseball — Senior right-hander threw five scoreless frames in Friday’s 3-0 win over South Kitsap, allowing one hit and one walk with six strikeouts. Kunkel added 1 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief (1 BB, 3 K) in Wednesday’s win over Bonney Lake.
Jack Luxenberg, Stadium soccer — Senior midfielder notched a hat trick (three goals) in Wednesday’s win over Auburn, adding two goals in Monday’s win over Auburn Riverside.
Jake Miller, Sumner baseball — Junior shortstop hit a walk-off solo home run and threw a scoreless seventh inning of relief to beat rival Puyallup, 6-5, on Tuesday. In Wednesday’s win over the Vikings, Miller went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and four RBI.
Christopher Moore, Kentlake baseball — Senior P/INF belted a grand slam and hit three doubles in Monday’s win over Thomas Jefferson, going 4-for-4 with seven RBI. Moore went 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday’s win over the Raiders, then delivered four scoreless frames on the mound (2 H, 2 BB, 8 K) in Saturday’s 7-6 win over Juanita.
Daryl Muganda, Clover Park soccer — Junior forward notched a hat trick (three goals) in Monday’s win over Orting.
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner baseball — Senior starter threw six strong innings in Wednesday’s win over Puyallup, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with two walks and seven strikeouts. In three wins last week, Plyler went a combined 5-for-10 at the plate with a walk and three RBI.
Wyatt Posz, Todd Beamer baseball — Junior right-hander struck out 10 across four scoreless innings and went 4-for-4 (4 R) with a double at the plate in Tuesday’s 15-2 win over Kent-Meridian.
Jacob Powell, Franklin Pierce baseball — Sophomore right-hander struck out 13 throughout a complete-game two-hitter in Wednesday’s win over Clover Park, allowing one unearned run. Powell reached in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a double, three walks, and three runs.
Nery Ruiz, Enumclaw soccer — Junior forward had one goal and one assist in Monday’s 2-0 win over Federal Way, adding a goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Kentlake.
Brody Santman, Sumner baseball — Sophomore left-hander threw five strong innings (4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) and went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate in Friday’s 11-1 win over Yelm. In two wins over Puyallup, Santman hit a combined 3-for-8 with two RBI.
Owen Schneller, Bellarmine Prep baseball — Freshman right-hander threw four hitless innings (3 BB, 8 K), part of a combined no-hitter with Nate Gause in Monday’s 11-0 win over Mount Tahoma. Schneller added a single and a walk at the plate (1-for-1, RBI).
Brayden Seiber, Kennedy Catholic baseball — Sophomore right-hander threw a complete-game shutout in Wednesday’s 7-0 win over Kentridge, allowing three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Jonah Smith, Yelm baseball — Senior starter threw 6 ⅔ strong innings in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Bethel, allowing seven hits and one earned run with two walks and seven strikeouts. Smith added a single and RBI at the plate.
Landon Smith, Silas baseball — In a two-game sweep of Central Kitsap, the senior shortstop went a combined 4-for-7 with a home run, triple, walk, and four RBI.
Anthony Solorio, Rogers baseball — Right fielder went 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and two RBI in Tuesday’s win over South Kitsap. Solorio threw 4 ⅔ solid innings on the mound in Friday’s win over Bethel, allowing four runs (one earned) with two walks and six strikeouts.
Jay Swanson, Auburn Mountainview baseball — Junior right-hander threw a complete-game shutout in Tuesday’s win over Federal Way, allowing two hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts across five strong frames.
Ace Tennent, Timberline baseball — Third baseman went 3-for-4 with a double, four runs and four RBI in Monday’s win over Lakes.
Dawson Van Dam, Enumclaw baseball — Freshman right-hander overpowered rival White River with six strong frames in Monday’s 4-1 win, allowing five hits and one earned run with two walks and eight strikeouts.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM.
