HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys
Gavin Webster, The Woodlands
Notable: The senior powerlifter won his second consecutive state title at 148 pounds, squatting 585, benching 350 and dead- lifting 540 for a state-record total of 1,475 pounds, which was 60 more than second place. He also earned the Light Platform Most Outstanding Lifter award at the Texas High School Powerlifting Division I meet in Abilene.
What coach Craig Smith said: “He has an unbelievable ability to stay focused, especially through long meets, and he refuses to give in. Over his four-year career, he completed 93 percent of his lifts, so there’s no failure in him. He doesn’t understand failing on lifts.”
Other nominees
Emerson Arzu, Hastings: The forward scored two goals in the bi-district soccer playoffs, lifting the fourth-seed Bears to a 3-0 upset of 24-6A champion Dickinson.
Jason Freeman, College Park: The senior defender/midfielder had a hat trick with three goals in a 5-2 bi-district playoff win over Longview, which led 1-0 at halftime.
Adam Houghtaling, Dawson: The junior lefthanded pitcher allowed four hits with five strikeouts in a 6-0 shutout of Pearland, which won its first three district games by a combined 40-0. Jason McDaniel
Girls
Kaleigh Stallings, Memorial
Notable: The senior outfielder went 4-for-4 with three home runs, four RBIs and a stolen base in a win over Stratford. Against Klein, she went 2-for-4 and threw out a runner at third base.
What coach Stephanie Mosley said: “Kaleigh is a competitor and a very gifted athlete. Any time a kid can go 4-for-4 at the plate, with three of those hits being home runs, you know they’ve done something special.”
Other nominees
Erica Cormier-Jordan, Cypress Springs: The senior finished second in the 400 meters in 55.40 seconds and helped the 4x400 relay team to a nation-best time of 3:42.98 at the Victor Lopez Relays.
Madison Lindsey, Kingwood: The junior lefty had 11 strikeouts in five innings and was part of a combined no-hitter with Jenika Lombrana in Kingwood’s 7-1 win over Baytown Sterling.
Morgan Stewart, Jersey Village: The Baylor pledge won the 400 with a time of 53.81 seconds at the Victor Lopez Relays. Adam Coleman