ALA QC QB, Basha runner are voted athletes of week

Enoch Watson of American Leadership Academy Queen Creek and Taylor Drewry of Basha High School have been selected the Arizona Republic's boys and girls athletes of the week.

They were chosen by readers from among three nominees for each award in polls posted on azcentral.com earlier this week.

Watson, quarterback for ALA QC football, was nominated after going 16 of 24 passing for 242 yards and four TDs in the Patriots' Sept. 22 win. He put his team ahead for good after catching a ball that bounced off a lineman's helmet and running for a score, breaking three tackles along the way.

Also nominated for the boys' award were: Ryan Denhof, Liberty cross country, who won the Mt. Carmel Cross Country Invitational in San Diego on Sept. 16 with a time of 14:52; and Miles Smyczek, Cienega (Vail, AZ) swimming, who won the 500-yard freestyle to make the automatic state qualifying cut at a high school invitation at the University of Arizona.

Drewry was nominated after winning the varsity Blue Division race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in Irvine, California with a time of 17:19.

Also nominated for the girls' award were: Ryland Douglas, Chandler flag football, who had two interceptions, returning one 98 yards for a TD. She also had 3 sacks and pulled five flags to help Chandler defeat Highland 12-7 and remain undefeated; and Ava Norris, Goodyear Trivium Prep volleyball, who in six matches last week had a combined 73 kills, including 19 against St. John Paul II Catholic and 16 against Flagstaff.

The Republic's Athlete of the Week awards are sponsored by Diamond Kitchen and Bath. Nominees are chosen by The Republic’s sports staff based on performances the previous week, with the help of our readers and input from coaches. You can submit a weekly nominee at static.azcentral.com/sports/high-schools/nominations/). Winners are selected from our weekly polls that are posted on azcentral.com on Monday, with winners announced later in the week.