The week of May 3–9 delivered plenty of standout performances from male high school athletes across the Ames area, making for an exciting round of Athlete of the Week candidates.
It was a busy stretch for conference track and field meets, with Ames competing at the Iowa Alliance Conference meet, Ballard and Gilbert at the Raccoon River Conference meet, Collins-Maxwell and Colo-NESCO at the Iowa Star Conference meet, and Nevada and Roland-Story at the Heart of Iowa Conference meet. Boys golf, tennis, and soccer also kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Here’s a look at the nominees for the Ames Tribune male Athlete of the Week. Readers can vote on AmesTrib.com to decide the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Nolan Varsa, Nevada boys tennis
Varsa powered the Nevada boys tennis team to its third straight North Central Conference title on May 5 in Webster City. He claimed first place in the No. 1 singles competition, defeating Webster City’s Nathan Wardell and Iowa Falls-Alden’s Carter Zollar in straight sets—both matches ended in dominant 6-0 shutouts.
Mason Angell, Colo-NESCO boys track and field
Angell brought home two titles at the Iowa Alliance Conference meet on May 7 in Tama. He won the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.46 seconds and the 400-meter hurdles in 57.29 seconds, showcasing his speed and technique in both events.
Jake Vander Wilt, Ames boys track and field
Vander Wilt played a key role in helping Ames claim the Iowa Alliance Conference boys team championship on May 5 in Fort Dodge. He anchored the 4x200 relay to victory with a time of 1:30.81 and ran the final leg of the winning sprint medley team, which finished in a season-best 1:34.89. He also added a runner-up finish in the open 200 meters with a time of 22.24.
Drew Colvin, Ballard boys golf
Colvin shared the top score with teammate Parker Domino to lead the Ballard boys golf team to first place at the Gilbert Invitational on May 9 at the Ames Golf and Country Club. Both golfers shot an even-par 18-hole round, setting the pace for the Bombers’ victory.
Whether it’s track, tennis, or golf, these athletes are proving that hard work and dedication pay off—on and off the field. Stay tuned to see who takes home this week’s honor!