UIL State season is here for both golf, tennis and soon track and field, to go with the baseball and softball playoffs, creating strong finalists for the Happy State Bank High School Athlete of the Week.
The Globe-News is taking weekly nominations and will release a list of finalists for the Happy State Bank High School Athlete of the Week each week.
Students in all varsity sports are eligible to be nominated. The poll will close on Thursday and the winners will be announced thereafter.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. each Saturday and can be submitted through email at sports@amarillo.com.
Please include statistics from the week’s games and any pertinent information or honors.
Take a look at this week’s candidates and cast your vote.
This week’s finalists
• Jensen Betzen/Kynley Craddock, Randall tennis — Betsen and Craddock claimed the mixed doubles state championship in Class 4A with a win against Hannah Terry and Cooper Richardson from Canyon.
• Aaliyah Chairez, Dumas softball — Chairez was 3 for 5 with two home runs and a triple, including five RBIs in a Game 1 win against Mineral Wells and added a home run in Game 2 for the Demonettes.
• Hunter Corman, Wildorado boys golf — Corman shot 74-73—147 to win gold individually at the Class 1A boys UIL State Tournament.
• Sydney Garza, West Plains softball — Garza was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a game-tying HR in a Game 1 win as the Wolves won 5-4, eventually sweeping Springtown to advance to the regional final.
• Olivia Hefley/Sara Shelhamer, Amarillo High girls tennis — Hefley and Shelhamer claimed the Class 5A girls doubles state championship with a three-set win against Frisco Wakeland.
• Isaiah Igo, Sundown boys golf — Igo hot 67-69—136 to finish third in the medalist standings in Class 2A at the UIL State golf tournament.
• Liliana Rodriguez, Dimmitt girls track— Rodriguez qualified and ran at the Region I-3A track meet in the 100, 200 and pole vault, finishing second in the 200 to qualify for the UIL state meet. She is the first female athlete from Dimmitt to qualify for the state track meet since before 2000.
• Carson Tucker/Damian Valdes, Valley boys tennis — Tucker and Valdes earned a straight sets win over a duo from Sanderson to claim the 1A boys state championship.
VOTE HERE
Submit nominees, with stats, honors and accolades from the previous week by Saturday each week to sports@amarillo.com
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Vote for the Happy State Bank High School Athlete of the Week