Vote: Who should be SBLive's Minnesota Athlete of the Week? (1/22/2024)

Here are the candidates for the SBLive Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week for January 15-21

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com with “MNHSAW Nomination” in the subject line.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week nominees

Quintin Stapf, New Prague

Facing a 13-0 Luverne squad, Stapf won the goalie duel despite being shot at twice as much. The junior goalie saved over 40 shots that came his way en route to giving his team a 6-5 victory and handing Luverne its first loss of the year. 

Will Seymour, New Prague

On the attacking end of things, Seymour was the X-factor. The senior forward put up four points on three goals and one assist to push New Prague to a narrow victory over Class 1A powerhouse Luverne. 

Heath Nelson, Centennial

Nelson is quickly becoming one of the premier scoring options in the state, with this past week being the best three-game stretch he’s ever had. Nelson has scored 12 points across these three contests, including two hat tricks. Thanks in part to his heroics, Centennial has gone undefeated in its last seven contests. 

Tre Peck, Totino-Grace

The Eagles put on a nine goal showcase against Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper, and Peck was the star leading the charge. His six points on four goals and two assists helped propel the Eagles to one of their best offensive performances in ages. 

Charlie Goergen, Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper

It may have been a losing effort, but Goergen did not falter at any point in the game against Totino-Grace. The senior forward assisted all four goals his team scored, helping them to put up a respectable four points against a red-hot Eagles team. 

Max Rider, St. Louis Park

Rider has been one of St. Louis Park’s top options on the attack as of late. In his last three games, Rider has racked up nine points, including a one goal, four assist performance against New Prague. 

Christopher Danielson, Morris/Benson Area

Danielson has been brilliant between the pipes in his last two contests. The senior goalie has put up 57 saves and a shutout as of late, boasting a save percentage north of .950 across this stretch. 

Riley Zupfer, Hill-Murray

Zupfer was the difference maker in Hill-Murray’s nail biter of a game versus Grand Rapids. The freshman netted the game winning goal to push Hill-Murray over the line to a 4-3 victory. 

Cole Bies, East Grand Forks

Bies is fresh off one of the best games of his career. The junior defenseman logged a goal and assists versus Duluth Denfeld, but more importantly, helped hold the Hunters to only nine shots all game. 

Connor Crowley, Holy Family

Crowley was the hero in Holy Family’s most recent game against Sartell. The senior netted the game-winning goal in the first overtime period, securing a 3-2 victory for his team against a tough Sartell program. 

Gretchen Paaverud, Anoka

Paaverud boasts arguably the best two-game stretch of any goalie in the state so far this year. The senior amassed 112 saves over six periods of play, allowing only five goals in the process as she steered Anoka to a 1-1 record across this stretch. 

Jolynn Hauan, Hutchinson

Hauan was dominant in Hutchinson’s most recent game. Despite a 3-4 loss versus Delano/Rockford, Hauan finished with a hat trick, her first of the season.

Lily Timmons, Stillwater

Timmons faced a tough Woodbury team that sent 31 shots her way, but the goalie was not phased. She saved every last shot, sealing a 31-save shutout and giving her team a decisive 6-0 victory over a conference opponent. 

Averi Vetsch, Owatonna

Vetsch nearly doubled her season high point total with a memorable performance against Rochester Century/John Marshall. The junior forward scored four points on two goals and two assists, and Owatonna came out on top with a 9-1 victory. 

Taylor Lesnar, Academy of Holy Angels

You don’t hear about defensemen who score five points in a game very often, but Lesnar did just that in her recent game against Bloomington Jefferson. Five points, two goals and three assists later, Lesnar locked in her career game, and her team cruised to a 10-0 victory. 

Grace McCoshen, Northfield

Speaking of defensemen who scored five points this past week, McCoshen joins this elite club. The senior secured a five point performance against Red Wing, a game that helped Northfield lock in an easy 10-1 victory.

Emerson Garlie, Northfield

A hat trick machine this year for Northfield, Garlic secured her fourth hat trick on a four goal performance, and thanks in part to her excellent game, the Raiders emerged victorious. 

Senja Leeper, Minnetonka

Leeper was the difference maker in a must win, rivalry game for the Skippers. Facing a powerhouse in Edina, Leeper was the one to call game, scoring the final goal in overtime to give her team the 3-2 victory. 

Dom Zoa, Legacy Christian Academy

If you’re looking for efficient shooters, look no further than Dom Zoa. The senior put up 28 points on 67% shooting from the field, which helped Legacy Christian to cruise to a 96-64 win.

Dan Zoa, Legacy Christian Academy

Dan Zoa may be the younger brother, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play ball too. The eighth grader took the court on varsity once again, astounding fans with an 18-point performance on 64% shooting to support his brother and team to the one-sided victory. 

Jerry Freeman, Coon Rapids

A 30-point game and a win sounds like a dream night for any hooper, but Freeman made this into a reality. The senior guard put up 31 points, 10 rebounds and added seven steals to help the Cardinals lock in a 91-77 victory. 

Clara Keaveny, Mayer Lutheran

In a low-scoring contest, every point counts, and Keaveny made sure her performance was enough to get her team the win. Keaveny put up 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, assisting her team in picking up the 52-31 win. 

Anna Stromberg Legacy Christian Academy

Stromberg scored over half of her team’s points, an effort that certainly helped them close out a narrow 57-56 victory. The senior was brilliant, scoring 30 points and pulling down 19 rebounds in the all-around effort. 

Kadence Popejoy, PACT Charter

Popejoy and the PACT Charter Panthers held a team to nine points this past week. Yes, you read that right. Popejoy was brilliant, putting up a triple double on 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 steals to earn her team a 70-9 dominant victory. 

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