HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys Nathan Fernandez, Jersey Village
Notable:
The senior goalkeeper made a diving save for the Falcons during penalty kicks against Tompkins in the Region III-6A championship Friday. Teammate Jose Bejarano buried the ensuing shot to give the team a 5-4 shootout victory. Jersey Village (17-3-5) is the first team from Cy-Fair ISD to reach the state semifinals and will take on San Antonio LEE (27-1) on Tuesday.
What coach Clinton Dyer said: “Nathan has been consistent all year long. He had to deal with an injury earlier on in this year. The way that he came back from it, he’s shown everybody why we’re able to trust him back there. He again steps up, made incredible saves.”
Other nominees
Gage Guerra, Kingwood Park:
The senior scored two goals and assisted on another in a 6-2 victory over Pflugerville Hendrickson in the Region III-5A championship Friday. Jesus Cervantes and Nathan Jimerson each scored two goals as well. The Panthers (25-2-2) will make their first state semifinals appearance since 2011 against Pharr Valley View (21-1) on Tuesday.
Angel Aguas, Huffman-Hargrave: The senior converted the gamewinning penalty kick in overtime as the Falcons defeated Splendora 1-0 in the Region III-4A championship Friday. Hargrave (16-7-6) will make its first state semifinals appearance, matching up against Boerne (20-1-1) on Tuesday.
Dorian Friend, Spring: The junior helped the Lions to a runner-up finish at the District 14-6A championships by winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes (10.71 and 22.28 seconds). Friend, a University of Houston football commit, also took second place in the long jump (21-11) and was the anchor leg for the winning 400-meter relay team. Friend, Vincent Bass, Myron Carter and Derick Washington finished that race in 41.92.
Girls Maddie Dukes, Memorial Notable:
The senior goalkeeper made key saves as the Lady Mustangs defeated Cy-Fair 2-0 in the Region III-6A championship Friday. The highlight came with seven minutes to play as she stopped a Cy-Fair penalty kick to preserve her team’s 1-0 lead. Memorial (22-3-2) will be making its second state semifinals appearance Tuesday, taking on Austin Vandegrift (19-3-2).
What coach Lindley Amarantos said: “There’s not ever really a safe lead when you play a team of that caliber. We had to battle all 80 minutes, and it was good for us.”
Other nominees
Marley Krach, The Woodlands:
Krach scored the lone goal for the Lady Highlanders in a 1-0 victory over Mansfield Lake Ridge in the Region II-6A championship Friday. The Woodlands (23-1) will be making its first state semifinals appearance since 2010 against Flower Mound (21-1-2) on Tuesday.
Olivia Schmidt, Friendswood: Schmidt assisted Brooke Spinks on the lone goal during a 1-0 victory over Magnolia in the Region III-5A championship Friday. Friendswood (24-2-2) will be making its ninth state semifinals appearance and first since 2014 against Dripping Springs (25-1-1) on Tuesday.
Gabriella Ayiteyfio, George Ranch: The senior sprinter helped George Ranch capture the District 20-6A title in landslide fashion by winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes (12.84, 25.82). She also won the high jump, setting a school record at 5 feet, 4 inches.