Monroe County Region Athlete of the Week voting opens with 21 candidates across multiple disciplines
Voters have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, to cast ballots for athletes representing schools including SMCC, New Boston Huron, and Bedford.
The Monroe County Region Athlete of the Week initiative has launched its current cycle, inviting the public to determine the standout performer for the week commencing April 27. Polling remains active through the close of business on Wednesday, May 6, at 11:59 p.m. This week's slate features twenty-one candidates representing a diverse array of high schools and community colleges, including SMCC, New Boston Huron, Bedford, Jefferson-Erie Mason, Ida, Erie Mason, Summerfield, Whiteford, and Airport.
The roster spans multiple competitive disciplines, with nominees competing in softball, track and field, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and golf. Previous cycles have demonstrated significant public interest, with Bedford's Iva Ravindra securing the April 20–26 title by garnering over 15,000 votes. That figure surpassed the 12,671 votes recorded for New Boston Huron's Luke Dulecki during the prior week, indicating a robust level of community participation in the selection process.
Among the current field, several athletes have already distinguished themselves through notable achievements at the recent Mason Invitational. Notable honours include Boys Most Valuable Track Athlete awards for Zamir Austin and Vince Harris, alongside Girls Most Valuable Track Athlete titles for Adela Illes and Giuliana Nastale. Additionally, Lincoln Murbach and Ryan Thomas both swept hurdle events, while Murbach also set a school record in the high jump.
Performance metrics for the current candidates range from pitching dominance to individual scoring records. In softball, Cecelia Aulph recorded a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep, while Julia Dyson and Olivia Piepsney threw shutouts with 16 and 13 strikeouts respectively. Baseball candidates include Hunter Hemelgarn and Cash Moczydlowsky, who both recorded no-hitters, and Brock Cousino, who delivered a walk-off hit in the seventh inning.
Other nominees have contributed to team victories through varied contributions. Camryn Cousino collected four goals and an assist in a soccer win, while Max Flint scored all five goals for his lacrosse team before adding seven more on Wednesday. In golf, Hunter Massingill earned medalist honors to lead his team to victory in the Tri-County Conference jamboree, and Devin Rhoades eagled the final hole to secure medalist status in an LCAA jamboree.
The voting platform is currently active, with participation described as heating up alongside the warmer weather. While specific vote tallies for the current cycle have not been disclosed, the initiative continues to function as a public measure to recognise high school and community college athletes. The final winner for the April 27 to May 3 period will be determined by the total number of public votes received by the end of the deadline.
