The high school sports season is rapidly unfolding, which means it’s once again time for everyone’s favorite part of the week: The Gainesville Sun‘s Athlete of the Week Poll.
Our nomination process is a little different this season. Please click here to see how to nominate.
Athlete of the Week nominees are compiled by what’s available on MaxPreps and by submission, so coaches, athletic directors and statisticians are encouraged to send nominees and their stats to nram@usatodayco.com for consideration.
Last week’s winner was Kagan Hewett from the Lafayette baseball team. Hewett received over 8,800 votes as he had a home run and two RBIs in the Hornets’ 12-8 region semifinal win over Aucilla Christian.
Voting closes at noon on Friday, May 15.
Addison Allaire, Trenton softball
Complete game shutout with four hits and 18 strikeouts in the Tigers’ 8-0 region semifinal win over Bronson.
Aidan Kastensmidt, Buchholz baseball
Three RBIs, two hits and a double in the Bobcats’ 10-6 Game 2 Region Final win over Pace.
Alannah Lord, Columbia softball
Two RBIs and a triple in the Tigers’ 14-0 region quarterfinal win over Escambia.
Andrew Eisner, Oak Hall girls track and field
Sixth and seventh place in the 1600 and 800 meters at Class 1A states.
Andrew Sides, Buchholz boys track and field
Third place – and fifth fastest time by a sophomore in Florida history – in the 1600 meters at Class 4A states.
Dominick Diaz, St. Francis Catholic boys track and field
First place in the pole vault at Class 1A states.
Emily Asencion, Williston softball
Complete game with two runs and no earned runs in the Red Devils’ 4-2 region semifinal win at Fort Meade.
Estella Collante, Oak Hall girls track and field
Third place at Class 1A states in the 800m and 1600m.
Kiera Forbes, Gainesville High girls track and field
Fourth place in the 800 meters at Class 3A states.
Leanna Bourdage, Gainesville High softball
Complete game shutout with two hits and 10 strikeouts in the Hurricanes’ 6-0 region quarterfinal win over Deltona.
Madisen Crosby, Santa Fe softball
Three RBIs and a triple in the Raiders’ 10-0 region quarterfinal win over Mount Dora.
Mason VunCannon, Trenton baseball
5.2 innings with four hits and one earned run in the Tigers’ 6-1 Game 1 Region Final win over Williston, with two triples in Game 2.
Nate Robertson, Union County baseball
Two hits and three RBIs in the Fightin’ Tigers’ 14-3 Game 1 Region Final win over Lafayette.
![Suwanee’s Ryleigh Hermanson finishes the 1600 meter run at UNF’s Hodges Stadium during the FHSAA Class 2A state track and field championships, Thursday, May 7, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. 5:01.0[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-gainesville-sun/2beb09d7d548295245bf51f632675c7f)
Reed Thomas, Buchholz baseball
6.2 innings with six hits and two runs allowed in the Bobcats’ 10-2 Game 1 Region Final win over Pace.
Ryleigh Hermanson, Suwannee girls track and field
First place in the 1600 meters at Class 2A states.
Samuel Freas, Buchholz boys track and field
Fourth place in the 3200 meters at Class 4A states.
Victoria Swain, Branford softball
Two doubles and three RBIs in the Buccaneers’ 9-3 region semifinal win over Union County.
![Buchholz's Samuel Freas (3064), Viera's Michael Girard (3897) and Vero Beach's Andrew Youssef (3896) lead the boys 3,200 during the FHSAA Class 4A high school track and field championships in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-gainesville-sun/5c62be6896c17ec12709788d1820dee8)
Westyn Miller, Union County baseball
Two hits, two RBIs and a double in the Fightin’ Tigers’ 8-7 Game 2 Region Final win over Lafayette.
Zac Brown, Buchholz baseball
Two hits, three RBIs and a triple in the Bobcats’ 10-2 Game 1 Region Final win over Pace.
Zachary Reed, Eastside boys track and field
Second place in the 200 meters at Class 2A states.
Zane McArdle, Trenton baseball
Two hits, two RBIs and a double in the Tigers’ 8-2 Game 2 Region Final win over Williston.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Vote for the Gainesville-area Athlete of the Week for May 4-10
