HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys
Andrew Esses and Artur Zigman, Memorial
Notable: The juniors teamed up to claim the program’s fourth boys doubles state championship in five years. Esses and Zigman, the Mustangs’ No. 1 boys doubles in team tennis, defeated teammates Benjamin Westwick and Anthony Huynh 6-4, 6-4 in the Class 6A final. The teams also met in the regional final, with Westwick and Huynh winning.
What coach Budd Booth said: “After they lost the regional, it was like, ‘Wow, we’ve got to get going. We need to step it up and practice more, play together more and improve,’ and they did that and it worked out well for them.”
Other nominees
Dane Acker, Brenham: The senior threw a three-hitter in a 3-0 win over Leander Rouse in a 5A regional quarterfina.
Jaren Burks, Travis: The junior infielder hit a two-run homer in Game 1 and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Game 3, helping Travis edge Katy in a 6A regional quarterfinal.
Zach Johnson, Ridge Point: The junior went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 7-2 win over Cy Ranch in Game 3 of their 6A regional quarterfinals.
Girls
Halle Whitney, Magnolia
Notable: The freshman won a twohole playoff to claim the Class 5A individual state golf championship, shooting a combined 150 over two rounds.
What Whitney said: “I’m just happy — and proud.” Other nominees Cait Calland, Katy: The sophomore’s two-run homer sparked Katy’s 5-2 win over Atascocita in Game 2 of the Class 6A Region III semifinal series.
Rebecca Miller, Barbers Hills: The sophomore accounted for Barbers Hill’s only runs in Game 1 with a two-run homer against Brenham in the Class 5A Region III semifinal series.
Sara Vanderford, Deer Park: The sophomore went 2-for-3 with a home run to help Deer Park win Game 3 of the Class 6A regional semifinal against Cy Ranch.