Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Aug. 21-26.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley football: Last season’s Bay Area News Group player of the year threw for 321 yards on 17-of-23 passing and two touchdowns as the Wolves prevailed on the road over St. Ignatius 42-14.
Noah Crescini, Pioneer water polo: In his team’s season-opening 16-9 victory over Washington-Fremont, the senior scored six goals in eight shots, had a steal and finished with two drawn ejections.
Emmanuel Fitzgerald, San Mateo football: Opened the season by rushing for 240 yards and a touchdown in 27 carries as San Mateo defeated El Camino 20-7.
Sean Hickey, Aragon football: Completed 10 of 17 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns as the San Mateo school defeated Homestead 41-13.
Reece McKeever, Bellarmine football: The junior running back had a big second half rushing the ball as the Bells held off No. 20 Menlo-Atherton 17-14. McKeever carried 29 times for 113 yards — 103 after halftime — to help lead the way.
AJ Minyard, Los Gatos football: In his team’s 45-14 season-opening triumph at home over Soquel, Los Gatos’ new starting quarterback was 16-of-21 passing for 244 yards and five touchdowns.
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Trajan Sinatra, Silver Creek football: In a season-opening 47-0 win over Evergreen Valley on Friday, the senior completed 5 of 7 passes for 74 yards and a TD, made a 33-yard field goal, was 6 for 6 on extra points and had seven touchbacks in eight kickoffs. Saturday, he took a handful of teammates to volunteer at the Lifemoves.org “Ride to End Homelessness” event.
John Stowers, Overfelt football: The 6-2, 255-pound senior rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns in eight carries and made 12 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage, as Overfelt beat San Jose 36-0. San Jose chose not to play the second half, Overfelt coach Carlo Maningo said.
Herschel Turner, Mt. Diablo football: Three-star prospect rushed for 377 yards and six touchdowns in 16 carries and had 11 tackles as Mt. Diablo defeated Deer Valley 39-28.
Jordan Visperas, Leland football: The 5-7, 200-pound freshman led the Chargers with 11 tackles as the San Jose school went on the road and stunned No. 24 Half Moon Bay 40-7. Also ran for a touchdown.
