Help us select our high school Athletes of the Week
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News and East Bay Times) girls and boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Oct. 30-Nov. 4.
Polls can be found on our websites — mercurynews.com/sports/high-school-sports/ or eastbaytimes.com/sports/high-school-sports/ — where voting closes at 5p.m. Wednesday. Vote as many times as you'd like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections. Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday. We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
GIRLS Julia Arrizon, Alhambra water polo:
Arrizon, a junior, played valiantly in Alhambra's tripleovertime loss to Terra Linda in the NCS Division II playoffs. She scored three goals, giving her a season total of 76.
Paige Bennett, Foothill volleyball: The senior had 22kills, 14digs and 10service points in Foothill's 3-1victory over Pleasanton rival Amador Valley in the NCS Division I semifinal. Bennett then helped Foothill win the NCS title 3-2 vs. Marin Catholic.
Katelyn Cook, Archbishop Mitty volleyball: Cook, a senior, helped lead the Monarchs to a 3-1victory in the CCS Open title game after Mitty dropped the first set. Cook had a number of important kills as Mitty locked up another section crown.
Michelle Ho, Dougherty Valley golf: Ho, a junior, helped Dougherty Valley win the NCS Division I team golf title after she shot a 71 on Monday. Dougherty Valley finished with a team score of 413, with Monte Vista coming in second with 421.
Ariya Kaushek, Menlo School cross country:
Kaushek, a sophomore, won the WBAL girls championship, finishing the day with a 18.53.5 time. That helped Menlo School finish third as a team, which secured a spot in the CCS championships.
Emma Moreno, Gilroy field hockey: Moreno, a sophomore, scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0victory over Presentation. That was her fourth goal of the season.
Leah Nai, Aragon volleyball: Nai, a senior, led the Dons in blocks with three in Aragon's 3-1 CCS Division II championship victory. She also had five kills and one dig as the Dons defeated Woodside at Palo Alto High School.
Varsha Ramachandran, Valley Christian golf: Ramachandran, a junior, shot 3-under 69 at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch to win the CCS's individual championship by a stroke. Valley Christian also won the team title.
Nicole Steiner, Los Gatos volleyball: Steiner, a junior, led the Wildcats in kills with 11in the CCS Division I title game against Salinas. Steiner also letters in basketball and track and field. Sabrina Zanetto, St. Francis cross country: Zanetto, a senior, had the second-fastest time at the WCAL championship at 18.32.9. Her performance helped the Lancers win the WCAL team title over Mitty 28-23.
BOYS Aidan Chirica, Livermore water polo:
The senior goalkeeper saved 23 shots in a 13-11 double-overtime loss to Cardinal Newman in the NCS Division II playoffs. Chirica broke a program record with 416 saves on the season, coach Nathan Brandon said.
Deontae Faison, Berkeley football: Threw four touchdown passes as Berkeley defeated Irvington 39-10to finish MVAL/WACC Mission Division play with an 5-0 record. The Yellowjackets were seeded eighth in the NCS Division II bracket.
Sean Hickey, Aragon football: Passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns as the Dons rolled to victory in their rivalry game over Hillsdale 34-7. Aaron Knapp, St. Francis football: Threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to tight end James Jordan and a 71-yard scoring pass to Perrion Williams as St. Francis beat rival Bellarmine 2810to secure second place in the West Catholic Athletic League.
Andre Latimore, Del Mar football: With the BVAL West Valley Division title on the line, he rushed for 344 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Dons to a 42-31victory over Prospect. Scott Lyon, Campolindo football: The receiver caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter and then reeled in a two-point conversion pass late in the fourth quarter that lifted Campo to a dramatic 25-24victory at rival Acalanes and a share of the league title.
Zach Pistor, Leigh football: Ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns in 18carries as Leigh rallied to beat Westmont 34-27. The win clinched the BVAL Santa Teresa-Valley Division title and a CCS playoff berth for the Longhorns.
Adrian Rosales, Newark Memorial water polo: The senior scored six goals and had three assists in a 22-9victory over El Cerrito in the first round of the NCS Division II playoffs. Newark Memorial lost in the quarterfinals to Piedmont.
Walter Smith, Overfelt football: Helped Overfelt rally from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun visiting Sobrato 30-28 and clinch a CCS playoff spot. Finished with nine receptions for 108 yards and forced a crucial fumble.
John “Sharky” Tamale, McClymonds football: Rushed for 208yards, caught two passes for 68 yards, and scored four touchdowns as Mack cruised to a 58-0 rout of Fremont-Oakland.