The spring sports season is heating up, and it's time to crown the next Gaylord Herald Times Athlete of the Week for May 4-9! Each week, standout athletes from Gaylord, St. Mary, and Johannesburg-Lewiston are nominated for their incredible performances, and now it's your turn to decide who takes the top honor. Voting runs until early Friday morning, so make your voice heard before the polls close.
This week's nominees have delivered some truly jaw-dropping stats. On the track, one athlete soared to victory in the pole vault at the BNC Championships, clearing an impressive 14 feet, 6 inches. Over on the golf course, a player claimed the top spot at the TC West BNC Invite with a stellar 70-overall on Wednesday, May 6, at Grand Traverse, then followed it up with a 79-overall win at the Ski Valley Invite at Shanty Creek Resort the next day.
Baseball and softball stars also made their mark. One standout went a perfect 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, and seven RBIs in Gaylord's home tournament on Saturday. On the mound, another pitcher dominated, tossing a seven-inning gem against Alpena, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out 15 batters. For a week-long powerhouse, Royce put up video-game numbers: 9-for-14 at the plate with 12 RBIs, eight runs, a home run, and a double, plus a 2-0 record on the mound with 25 strikeouts over 10 innings.
Other nominees include hitters who went 4-for-7 with two doubles, five runs, and four RBIs against Ellsworth, and another who was 4-for-10 with a double, six runs, and three RBIs in the same matchup. One athlete shined against Kalkaska, going 6-for-9 with a double, triple, four runs, and two RBIs, while also pitching five innings with 11 strikeouts. Another week-long star hit 11-for-17 with a home run, four doubles, 17 runs, and 10 RBIs, and a pitcher went 1-1 with 17 strikeouts over 8.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs.
With such a talented group, the competition is fierce. Who will you vote for? Cast your ballot now and help us celebrate these incredible athletes!