Athletes of theweek

SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA

Nolan Gallagher, Branham

Sport: Football

Position: Running back

Class: Senior

Kept his team in contention for a Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division championship, rushing for 272yards and three touchdowns on 20carries as the Bruins cruised past Del Mar 49-13to set up a regular-season finale showdown Thursday against Leland, which shares first place with Branham and Independence. In the win over Del Mar, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Gallagher pushed his season rushing totals to 1,607yards and 19 touchdowns on 179attempts, an average of 9 yards per carry. Sabrina Iqbal, Pioneer

Sport: Golf

Class: Senior

Claimed the Central Coast Section individual championship, shooting a 2-under 69at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch to win the tournament by three strokes. The victory completed the high school grand slam for the senior as she has won league, section, Northern California regional and state championships in her four years at Pioneer. Iqbal took fifth at the NorCal championships this week to qualify for state.

EAST BAY

Luke Ditzler, Bishop O’Dowd

Sport: Water polo

Position: Attacker

Class: Senior

Led the Dragons to two dramatic comeback playoff victories as O’Dowd advanced to the semifinals of the North Coast Section Division II playoffs. In the opening round, Ditzler had five goals and an assist as O’Dowd overcame a 5-2deficit to defeat Justin-Siena 11-8. In the quarterfinals, the fifth-seeded Dragons roared back from a 6-2hole to eliminate fourthseeded Alhambra 12-10as Ditzler led the way with seven goals, including two 5-meter penalty shots, and an assist.

May Zhu, California

Sport: Tennis

Position: No. 1singles

Class: Senior

Won the East Bay Athletic League’s singles championship with a 6-2, 6-0victory over Amador Valley’s Isabel Poljalcovic, continuing a run of dominance she displayed while going through league play without losing a set. Overall, Zhu haswon 21of 23matches, with both of her defeats coming early in the season. As a team, California began this week 20-4and seeded second in the North Coast Section Division I team playoffs.