Vote now: Who should be the WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week (May 22-May 27)?
Here are the candidates for the WaFd Bank Washington High School Athlete of the Week for May 22-May 27 as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff. Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday, June 5th. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivewa.
THIS WEEK’S WAFD BANK WASHINGTON ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
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.
WASHINGTON NOMINEES
Braelyn Baker, Bear Creek girls track and field: Capped fantastic junior campaign with her crowning moment - an all-time Washington record in the 300-meter hurdles (41.02 seconds; No. 6 in country) in Class 1A championships finals in Yakima. Also tied 100-meter meet record (11.92) and won 200 meters in career-best time of 23.55.
Alex Harris, Columbia River boys soccer: In these WIAA Class 2A playoffs, this Connell signee tallied nine of the team's 12 goals - including both first-half goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Sehome, and another pair of net-getters in the 4-2 win over North Kitsap in the title game. Finishes season with an astounding 76 goals and 12 assists.
Bryce Johnson, Eastlake baseball: Threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout in the Class 4A semifinals against Tahoma (on 75 pitches), striking out six batters. The Oregon State University signee also had run-scoring hits against the Bears and Sumner in the WIAA title game.
Hailey Kerker, Camas girls tennis: Remember Sammi Hampton? The Skyview standout was the last Class 4A singles players to win at least back-to-back WIAA titles (2012-15). Kerker, a sophomore, is halfway to her four-peat, beating Bellarmine Prep sisters Anya Moravek in semifinals, and Lucia Moravek in three sets in the finals.
Alli Kimball, Peninsula softball: 3A SSC's best player was lights-out in Class 3A title game against Snohomish. She gave up one run in seven innings, striking out six batters (and caught two line-outs) - and socked the game-winning three-run home run in the 4-1 victory.
Baylor Larabee, Ferndale boys golf: A year ago, he finished 10 strokes behind nationally-ranked junior golfer Max Herendeen, of Bishop Blanchet, for the Class 3A title. But at Indian Canyon last week, Larabee was the only golfer under-par both rounds - a pair of 1-under 71s - to win the WIAA title by three shots over Herendeen.
Brooke Lyons, Tahoma girls track and field: Put up a beastly time to win the Class 4A 400-meter title - 54.13 seconds - in Tacoma. It was the fastest time seen in Washington since 2017 when Union's Jai'lyn Merriweather went 53.44. Also captured the 200 title with a personal-best 24.59.
Lauren Reed, Liberty Christian softball: Nobody was going to stop the Patriots from defending their Class 1B crown. If Inchelium had thoughts, this senior catcher dashed them quickly. She had four hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs in the team's 12-2 victory, capping an undefeated season in Yakima.
Roderick Schenk, Central Kitsap boys track and field: Up for a challenge? Schenk certainly was at the Class 4A championships facing off in the javelin with 3A SSC rival Brayden Platt, of Yelm. After Platt put up some big throws (including 216-0), Schenk responded with a personal-best 219-1 - No. 3 in the country.
Trevontay Smith, Yelm boys track and field: He picked up track and field (and the triple jump) as a junior - and has blossomed into one of the best performers in the country. He soared a career-best 50 feet,41/2 inches to win the Class 3A title in Tacoma - and registered the eighth-best mark in the nation in his final meet.
Karlee VonMoos, Adna softball: One of the state's most productive multi-sport athletes wasn't going to get this opportunity pass. The slugger went 10-of-14, including seven extra base hits (two HRs), with nine RBI in three wins in the WIAA tournament as the Pirates brought home the gold ball from Yakima.
Wren Wagner, Lincoln of Seattle boys soccer: What a moment for the new-era Lynx, which wrapped up a first WIAA title in Puyallup with two wins. Wagner tallied two goals in the team's 6-1 semifinal win over Edmonds-Woodway, then booted a 20-yarder in the 27th minute for the lone goal in the 1-0 title-match win over Ballard.