MaxPreps Ohio High School Athlete of the Week Award: Vote Now

By Eric Frantz Jan 25, 2022, 6:45am

Who turned in Ohio's top prep performances? You vote, you decide.

Who had Ohio's best individual performances? You vote, you decide. MaxPreps is proud to again sponsor the Ohio Athlete of the Week awards during the 2021-22 school year.

Each week during the season (regular and post), there will be a fan-generated contest to tab weekly winners. Each winner receives a letter and award patch for their varsity jacket. 

How does it work?

Nominees are selected from statistics submitted on MaxPreps. Coaches who do not have current access may request their free account here. Weekly finalists are released on MaxPreps every Tuesday and voting is conducted in a special poll. Voting ceases at noon on Mondays. The winners are announced the next day along with the next week's nominees.

Participants may vote as many times as they want. It's a competition. This past week, over 100,000 votes were cast. So far this season over 4.3-million votes have been cast.

Week 22 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Brandon McLaughlin, Heath Boys Basketball
Senior had 24 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 73-46 win over Utica and 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocks in a 65-27 win over Lakewood. Averaging 18 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

* Melody Arnett, Miami Valley Christian Academy (Cincinnati) Girls Basketball
Senior recorded her 12th straight double-double with had 33 points and 31 rebounds (also had nine blocks) in a 52-43 loss to CHCA. Averaging 18 points and 23.2 rebounds.

Here is the school year's next round of nominees...


Week 23 Ohio High School Athlete of the Week Nominees

* Bri Claxon, South Webster Girls Basketball
Senior scored 36 points and had five rebounds in a 58-56 win over Trimble. Also had 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 51-41 loss to Portsmouth Notre Dame. Averaging 26.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.5 assists.

* Brandon Sauter, Batavia Wrestling

Senior won the 126-pound title at the Miami Trace McDonalds Invitational with a 4-2 decision in the final. Won his previous four matches via pin in 1:37, 0:08, 0:40 and 1:00.

* Jagger Landers, Antwerp Boys Basketball

Senior had 35 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in a 73-59 win over Ayersville. Averaging 18.7 points and 9.2 rebounds.

* Bobby Pieratt, Amanda-Clearcreek Wrestling
Senior won the 144-pound title at Athens’ John Deno Invitational with a 10-7 decision in the final. His first four matches were decided via pin in 0:22, 1:36, 1:52 and 1:23.

* Ryan Walsh, Elyria Boys Basketball
Junior had 31 points (hit six 3s), four assits, four steals and three rebounds in a 62-53 win over Oberlin. Also had 20 points and five rebounds in a 60-42 win over Berea-Midpark and 14 points and six rebounds in a 53-36 loss to Elyria Catholic. Averaging 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists.



* Katie Neuhart, Delaware Christian Girls Basketball
Senior had 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 46-17 win over Northside Christian and 23 points, seven rebounds and five steals in a 46-20 win over Shekinah Christian. Also had 20 points and nine rebounds in a 33-31 loss to Granville Christian. Averaging 22.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.4 steals.

* Tyirq Ivory, Harding (Warren) Boys Basketball
Senior had 34 points, five steals, four assists and four rebounds in a 75-68 win over Struthers. Also had 22 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists in a 56-47 win over Boardman. Averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.5 assists.

* Isaiah Portis, Norwayne (Creston) Boys Basketball
Senior had 27 points, six steals and five rebounds in a 79-56 win over Hillsdale and 26 points and six rebounds in an 80-67 win over Dalton. Averaging 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds.


Previous Winners

Week 1 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Timothy Caffey, Hubbard Football
Senior running back carried the ball 33 times for 456 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-28 win over Norwayne.



* Levi Wiederhold, Fayetteville-Perry Football
Senior quarterback completed 35-of-49 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 73 yards on 18 carries in a 29-21 win over Cedarville.

* Konner Rodick, Keystone (La Grange) Football
Junior quarterback completed 16-of-27 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns in a 39-35 win over Ravenna.

Week 2 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Cameron Estep, Wauseon Volleyball
Senior had 29, 24 and 18 kills in wins over Toledo Christina and Fairview and a loss to Hickesville, respectively.

* Ty Hurst, Tallmadge Football
Junior quarterback completed 17-of-18 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-7 win over Ellet.

* Hunter Kellogg & Hunter Rose, New Lexington Football
Tandem dominated in a 63-35 win over Maysville. Kellogg, a senior quarterback, completed 19-of-26 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns, made 10 tackles on defense and kicked three PATs. Rose, a junior running back, carried the ball 23 times for 237 yards, six touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.



* Allie Dunlap, Heath Girls Soccer
Junior had six goals and an assist in an 11-3 win over Ridgewood, four goals and three assists in a 7-1 win over Whitehall-Yearling and an assist in a 1-0 win over Rosecrans. Has 16 goals and six assists in five games for the undefeated Bulldogs.

Week 3 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* George Cottenden, HEARTS for Jesus Christ (North Olmsted) Boys Soccer
Senior striker had five goals and an assist in a 9-0 win over Kingsway Christian, three goals and four assists in a 12-2 win over Lawrence Upper and four goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over Heritage Christian.

* Abby Yoder, Kings (Kings Mill) Volleyball
Sophomore setter had 47 and 28 assists in 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Turpin and Anderson, respectively, and 43 assists in a 3-2 loss to Lebanon.

* Brayden Kohl, Hilliard Darby Football
Sophomore linebacker had 19 tackles (10 solo) in a 34-31 win over Westerville South.

Week 4 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week



* Camdyn Paul, Botkins Girls Soccer
Sophomore had eight goals and two assists in a 15-0 win over Southeastern and three goals and an assist in a 5-2 win over Lima Central Catholic.

* Christian Neff, Ravenna Football
Senior linebacker had 18 tackles (12 solo), a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble in a 39-6 loss to Norton. Averaging 13.3 tackles through four games.

Week 5 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Eli Eyrich, Yellow Springs Boys Soccer
Junior had hat tricks in wins over Greenon (three goals and two assists), Legacy Christian (three goals) and Xenia (four goals and an assist). Has six hat tricks and 21 goals in seven games.

* Kaleigh Palmer, Wapakoneta Volleyball
Junior leads the state in kills with 299 through 14 games. Had 41 kills, 16 and 14 kills last week in wins over Shawnee, Botkins and Waynesfield-Goshen and 34 in a loss to Parkway.

* Grace Wasserman, Old Fort Volleyball
Senior had 24, 24 and 17 kills win wins over Lakota, Hopewell-Loudon and Gibsonburg last week. Has 242 kills and 134 digs through 13 games.



Week 6 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Bryce Schondelmyer, Arcanum Football
Junior quarterback accounted for seven touchdowns in a 48-14 win over National Trail. Threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Has thrown for 29 touchdowns in six games. 

* Fletcher Smith, Parkway (Rockford) Football
Sophomore quarterback completed 18-of-28 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns in a 53-29 win over Minster. Also carried the ball seven times for 70 yards and a touchdown.

* Olivia Ramey, Portsmouth Volleyball
Senior had 44, 40 and 38 assists in wins over Fairland, Portsmouth West and South Point. Also had 52 digs.

* Cory Reed, Peebles Boys Soccer
Junior had five assists and two goals in m 8-0 win over Western, five assists and two goals in a 12-0 win over West Union and two assists and two goals in a 7-0 win over Southeastern.

Week 7 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week



* Ashley Merrick, Tuscarawas Valley (Zoarville) Volleyball
Senior had 46, 43 and 33 digs in wins over Ridgewood, Claymont and Dover. Has 391 digs and 154 kills this season.

* MJ Book, West Jefferson Football
Senior receiver caught nine passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-28 win over West Liberty-Salem. Has 38 receptions for 794 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

* Ethan Wilson, Genoa Area Boys Soccer
Senior forward had back-to-back games with two goals and three assists in wins over Rossford and Allen East. Has 25 goals and 19 assists on the season.

Week 8 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Reese Teeters, Fairfield (Leesburg) Boys Soccer
Senior had four goals in a 7-1 win over West Union, three goals and an assist in a 6-1 win over Portsmouth West and two goals in a 6-0 win over Westfall. Has 17 goals and four assists in nine games.

* Dru Deshields, West Branch (Beloit) Football
Junior quarterback carried the ball 12 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns and completed 8-of-16 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 50-27 win over Alliance. Has thrown for 2,063 yards, rushed for 706 yards and accounted for 35 total touchdowns this season.

* Kat Hinkel, Wyoming (Cincinnati) Volleyball
Senior setter had 58, 57 and 26 assists in wins over Eaton, Taylor and Mariemont. Has 759 assists this season.



Week 9 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Connor Ritter, Sandy Valley (Magnolia) Boys Golf
Junior shot a 1-over-par 145 to win the OHSAA Division II state golf tournament at NorthStar Golf Club. He won by four strokes.

* Ella Newkirk, Fairfield (Leesburg) Girls Soccer
Senior had six goals and an assist in a 9-0 win over Southeastern and repeated the feat in a 7-1 win over McClain. Has 27 goals and four assists this season.

Week 10 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Macy and Mallory Hitchcock and Grace Murphy, Eaton Girls Tennis
Trio swept the OHSAA D-II tennis titles, Macy, a junior, repeated as the singles champion, while Mallory, a freshman and senior Grace Murphy won the doubles title.

* Clara Owen and Caroline Hinshaw, Centerville Girls Tennis
Sophomore and junior tandem, respectively, claimed the OHSAA D-I tennis doubles state title a year after finishing runner-up. It was the program's first doubles state title since 1997.

Week 11 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week



* Trace Terry, Bellbrook Boys Soccer
Senior and Bowling Green recruit had a hat trick (three goals) in a 3-2 win over Alter and a goal in a 3-2 win over Indian Hill. Those efforts followed a four-goal, three-assist performance in an 11-0 win over Trotwood-Madison. Has 34 goals and 10 assists this season.

* Graisyn Yoder, Monroeville Volleyball
Senior outside hitter had 23 kills and 13 digs in a 3-0 win over St. Paul and 20 kills and 17 digs in a 3-0 win over Buckeye Central. Has 484 kills and 361 digs this season.

Week 12 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Carsyn Henschen, New Knoxville Volleyball
Senior outside hitter had 30 kills in a 3-1 D-IV regional final win over Calvert and 26 kills in a 3-0 regional semifinal win over Leipsic. Has 483 kills and 197 digs this season.

* Carmen Soloria, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Volleyball
Senior setter had 51 assists in a 3-2 D-III regional semifinal win over Cardington-Lincoln and 37 assists in a 3-0 regional final win over Versailles. Has 701 assists this season.

* Molly Griffith, Bishop Watterson (Columbus) Field Hockey
Senior drilled the game-winning penalty shot in overtime as the Eagles capped un unbeaten season (20-0-1) with a 2-1 win over Thomas Worthington in the OHSAA state final.



Week 13 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Brayden Doran, Preble Shawnee (Camden) Football
Junior quarterback set career-highs in carries (25) and rushing yards (288) and tied a career-high with four rushing touchdowns as the Arrows advanced to the program's first regional final with a 35-28 win over Roger Bacon in the D-V semifinals. Doran had a 92-yard first quarter run and also scored the game-winner on a 12-yard scamper with 12 seconds left. Has rushed for 1,590 yards and 19 touchdowns and has thrown for 986 yards and 15 touchdowns.

* Lauren Yacobucci, Magnificat (Rocky River) Volleyball
Junior setter had 47 assists and 18 digs in a 3-1 win over Olentangy Liberty in the D-I state final. Has 23 assists in a 3-0 semifinal win over Mount Notre Dame.

* Karis Willow, Liberty-Benton (Findlay) Volleyball
Junior and Penn State recruit had 15 kills and 13 digs in a 3-0 win over Independence in the D-III state final. Had 16 kills and 16 digs in a 3-0 semifinal win over Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.

Week 14 & 15 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Sean Carr, Chardon Football
Senior running back scored four touchdowns and a 2-point conversion in a 41-7 D-III state semifinal win over West Holmes.



* Demarcus McElroy, Ursuline (Youngstown) Football
Senior running back scored five touchdowns and had 259 yards rushing on 30 carries in a 34-17 D-IV semifinal win over Port Clinton.

* Jordan Vallejo, Carey Football
Senior running back scored three touchdowns in a 26-13 D-VI semifinal win over New Middletown Springfield.

Week 16 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Kody Zantene, Clinton-Massie (Clarksville) Football
Senior quarterback/defensive back helped the Falcons rally from a 28-7 deficit to win the D-IV state title with a 29-28 victory over Youngstown Ursuline. Ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns and had a team-high 12 tackles.

* Carson Bey, Versailles Football
Senior quarterback/linebacker helped the Tigers snap the nation's longest winning streak (55 games) with a 20-16 win over Kirtland in the D-V state final. Threw for 129 yards and a touchdown, ran for 85 yards and a touchdown, had three tackles, a TFL, an interception and a pass break-up.

* Laurell Brown, Cloverleaf (Lodi) Girls Basketball
Senior small forward had 31 points, 13 rebounds and six steals in a 57-53 win over Streetsboro and 21 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and three assists in an 86-48 win over Field. Also had 28 points, seven rebounds and six steals in a 68-60 loss to Ellet.
Week 17 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Lacie Fenstermaker, Pandora-Gilboa Girls Basketball
Senior guard had 32 points, 21 rebounds, six steals and five assists in a 60-36 win over Upper Scioto Valley; 23 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in a 48-45 win over Perry; and 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 42-31 win over Arcadia. Averaging 19.9 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals.



* Zarina Fader, Lawrence Upper (Sagamore Hills) Girls Basketball
Junior had 51 points in a 67-39 win over Horizon Science Academy and 26 points in a 66-31 loss to St. John.

Week 18 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Madi Matthews, Heartland Christian (Columbiana) Girls Basketball
Senior guard had 32 points in a 64-42 win over Chaney and 23 points in a 77-56 loss to Warren JFK.

* Chloe Dearwester, Harrison Girls Wrestling
Sophomore became the first female wrestler to place in the 40-plus year history of the SWOWCA Coaches Classic by collecting six wins via pin over male competitors to finish fourth at 106.

Week 19-20 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Laura McCoy, LaBrae (Leavittsburg) Girls Basketball
Junior guard had 39 points (six 3s), six assists, six steals and five rebounds in an 84-30 win over Mineral Ridge. Also had 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 48-25 win over Windham. Averaging 23.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.9 steals.

* Ray Ellington, Westlake Boys Basketball
Senior nailed nine 3-pointers, scored 45 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 101-65 win over Oberlin. Also had 32 points and 12 rebounds in an 83-63 win over Rocky River and 25 points and five rebounds in a 64-46 win over Firelands. Averaging 26 points and 8.4 rebounds.

Week 21 Ohio High School Athletes of the Week

* Delani Robinson, Lake (Millbury) Girls Basketball
Senior forward scored 41 points (hit five 3s) and had six steals, four rebounds and four assists in a 91-73 win over Carey. Averaging 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 steals.

* Delores Woodyard, Mifflin (Columbus) Girls Basketball
Junior had 29 points (five 3s), eight assists and four steals in an 81-11 win over Columbus West. Also had 24 points (six 3s), five rebounds and three assists in a 56-31 win over Columbus East. Averaging 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.



* Jonathan Bertovich, Heartland Christian (Columbiana) Boys Basketball
Senior had 39 points (six 3s and 7-for-7 FTs) in an 81-63 loss to Warren JFK and 30 points (four 3s), six assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 78-52 win over Columbiana. Averaging 26.7 points, 4.9 assists, 4.3 steals and 4.2 rebounds.