Vote: Who should be SBLive's Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week? (2/13/2024)

Here are the nominees for the week of February 5-11

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

Trey Shimota, Northfield

Being in a rotation at goalie is always a hard task for anyone, but Shimota has settled into his role nicely. The senior goalie is fresh off an 18-save shutout versus Rochester Mayo, his second of the season.

Will Cashin, Northfield

The usual suspects for Northfield’s attack include a trio of seniors, but junior Will Cashin is fresh off a big game for his squad. The forward notched three points on a goal and two assists, a game that extended his scoring streak to six consecutive games. 

Hunter Behling, Sauk Rapids-Rice

Behling was the hero for Sauk Rapids-Rice in what proved to be an overtime thriller. The forward notched his second point of the game, burying a goal less than a minute into overtime to give his team the victory. 

Dominick Walton, Mound Westonka

Low scoring games tend to put a lot of pressure on goalies, but if Walton was nervous against Pine City, he did not show it in his performance. The goalie stepped up this past week, saving 23 shots en route to a 2-0 victory.

Tobias Sajdok, La Crescent-Hokah

The Lancers may be known for their electrifying attack, but the defensemen have been getting in on the action as of late. Sajdok has scored in four consecutive games, including a six point performance against the West Salem Panthers.

Brett Ludvigsen, Dodge County

Dodge County has roared out to a 16-win season thanks to its star studded cast, with the leading skater being Ludvigsen. The junior forward has scored nearly 70 points on the year, with his most recent game being a five point effort against St. Paul Academy.

Blaine Batchelor, Stillwater

This deep into the season, conference games are must-win matches to claw up the standings, and Batchelor was integral in giving Stillwater another conference victory. He scored what proved to be the game winner halfway through the third period, lifting Stillwater to a 4-3 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall.

Mason Jenson, Rogers

A hat trick is one of the most notable accomplishments in hockey, and Jenson earned this accolade for the second time this season. The Ohio State commit scored three goals and notched an assist, earning a 8-0 win over Duluth East in the process.

Steven Ranisate, Rock Ridge

Ryan Rothfork tends to be the leading man in the net for Rock Ridge, but it was Ranisate who thrived under the spotlight this past week. The junior goalie stonewalled Northern Edge to earn his first shutout of the year, pushing his win/loss record to 3-0 on the season. 

Joey Welinski, Little Falls

Low-scoring games can be hard to come by in hockey, but Welinski and Little Falls are fresh off of braving a tightly contested bout. Welinski scored the only goal of the game on the power play, leading his team to a 1-0 victory. 

Izaak Kalis, Little Falls

A game where only one goal is scored between both teams is a rarity, but it was Kalis who won the battle of the goalies. The sophomore saved 38 shots en route to a 1-0 shutout victory, arguably his best game of the season. 

Claire Bronson, Lakeville South

Bronson has been a shutout machine this season, and last week was no exception. Three teams stepped up to the challenge, two were shutout, and Bronson earned another three victories to push her season win/loss record to an impressive 21-3-3 mark. 

Nora Carstensen, Dodge County

Dodge County has a dynamic attack this season, headlined by stars like Carstensen. The junior forward has notched back-to-back hat tricks, scoring three goals in her last game versus Winona. 

Sophia Buesking, Dodge County

Despite Dodge County’s aforementioned attack, it was the defense that also stepped up in the team’s most recent bout. Facing Winona, Buesking and the defense held Winona to only five shots through three periods, helping the Wildcats cruise to a 11-0 victory. 

Natalie Kendhammer, Rosemount

Lakeville North’s attack was relentless this past week, but Kendhammer was even better. The senior goalie saved 41 of the 44 shots that came her way, lifting Rosemount to a 4-3 win over Lakeville North. 

Alyssa Polaski, Woodbury

Polaski and the Royals were on fire this past week, winning their last two games in gritty fashion. Polaski was the x-factor, shutting out East Ridge in her last game, her ninth of the year.

Brooke Klemz, Chisago Lakes

Klemz and Chisago were dominant this last week, a run that culminated in a 11-0 thrashing over Visitation. Klemz was a threat on the attack, scoring two goals and two assists in what proved to be an excellent game for the Hamline commit.

Mckenna Borene, Chisago Lakes

On the defensive side of things, Borene was integral in keeping Visitation’s attack at bay. The sophomore was one of the leaders of a defense that held its opponent to only eight shots all game.

Britlyn Rasmussen, East Grand Forks

Rasmussen was under duress all game from an unceasing Crookston attack, having an excellent game in the process. The goalie saved 51 shots, and her .944 save percentage on the night kept her team in the game until the final horn.

Reese Swanson, Crookston

On the other end of the ice, Swanson was a big part of helping Crookston get past an incredible goalie. The senior defender scored two points on a goal and an assist, helping Crookston secure a 3-0 victory in the process. 

Benjamin Pearson, Minnesota Valley Lutheran

Speaking of electrifying performances on the offensive end, Pearson was integral for Minnesota Valley Lutheran this past week. The 6-foot-4 guard had a big day, scoring 31 points in a lopsided 100-76 win over Tri-City United. 

Ty Vig, Kittson County Central

Vig and Kittson County have been explosive on the hardwood all year, and this last game was no exception. Vig scored 31 points with lethal efficiency, shooting 12-for-16 from the field while pulling down nine rebounds to boot. 

Angel Hill, Minnehaha Academy

Hill has been unbelievable on all ends of the court, but her rebounding has been the difference maker as of late. In her last game, Hill pulled down 14 boards and scored 20 points, a performance that helped lift Minnehaha Academy to a 78-75 victory. 

Chloe Johnson, Duluth Marshall

Johnson is a versatile athlete who can help out in all aspects of the game, and when she is at her best, Duluth Marshall appears unstoppable. In Marshall's most recent game against Mounds Park Academy, Johnson was doing it all. She scored 27 points, pulled down eight rebounds and added 10 assists to cap off what proved to be an incredible night, pushing Duluth Marshall to a 87-40 victory.

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