Ponte Vedra Swimmer Aaron Yang and Nease Diver Kamiyah Hill Win Athlete of the Week; New Polls Open for Oct. 26-31
Ponte Vedra senior Aaron Yang, who won the 100-yard backstroke in 53 seconds as the Sharks took the District 3-3A team title, and Nease sophomore Kamiyah Hill, who won the District 1-4A diving championship with 384.05 points, are the Times-Union's new Athletes of the Week. Voting for the Oct. 26-31 nominees is open until 10 a.m. Thursday.
The results are in for the week of Oct. 19-24. Ponte Vedra swimmer Aaron Yang is the new Florida Times-Union Boys Athlete of the Week for Northeast Florida high school sports, the Times-Union reported in its Nov. 2 poll pages, both opened and read directly by the desk this run. The senior won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 53 seconds even as the Sharks won the District 3-3A team championship, placing first in a vote that included Hilliard football's DJ Alderman, Atlantic Coast cross-country's Peter Curet, Nease football's Tyshawn Ford, Raines football's Zion Green, Creekside swimming's Bailey Koo, Ridgeview bowling's Cameron Morton and Wolfson golf's Michael Rattigan.
On the girls' side, Nease diver Kamiyah Hill is the new Athlete of the Week. The sophomore won the Florida High School Athletic Association District 1-4A diving championship with a score of 384.05 points, placing first in a vote that included Atlantic Coast cross-country's Allison Austin, Middleburg volleyball's Maysie Bader, Fletcher swimming's Liv Broner, Stanton golf's Lily Chiang, Sandalwood bowling's Lily Johns, Christ's Church volleyball's Delainey McLaughlin and Fleming Island golf's Sophia Moody.
The new vote covers the week of Oct. 26-31, and the nominee lists are a week of Northeast Florida sport in miniature. Boys: Union County football's Ricky Barr (19 carries, 249 yards, two touchdowns in a 53-38 SSAA playoff win at Cottondale), Tocoi Creek golf's Brady Dougan (2-under 70 at Cimarrone to win the District 2-3A individual and team titles), Raines football's Andre Flowers (six tackles, a fumble-return score and an interception in a 52-13 win over Ribault), Wolfson swimming's Luke Franzmathes (200 and 500 freestyle wins as Wolfson took District 3-2A by three points), Ridgeview bowling's Cameron Morton (fifth at the state individual championships), Fernandina Beach cross-country's Malik Ravenell (18 minutes flat to win the Nassau County championship) and Bolles football's Luke Toland (18 of 27 for a career-high 361 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 win over Gainesville Buchholz). Girls: Bolles swimming's Juliana Costantini, Stanton bowling's Bailey Forrest, Christ's Church volleyball's Harper Hadden (19 kills, 10 digs), Fleming Island volleyball's Shelby Jackson (27 assists, 11 digs, six aces), Fernandina Beach cross-country's Maya Kovalcik (19:22 to win Nassau County), Creekside swimming's Sophie Oldham and Beachside golf's Lily Wachter (a bogey-free 66 to win the District 2-3A team and individual titles at Eagle Landing).
Voting began Monday morning and closes at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at jacksonville.com/sports, restricted to once per device per hour, the Times-Union states. Coaches across Northeast Florida nominate by e-mailing stats and scores to the sports desk; the deadline to receive nominations is 7 p.m. Saturdays.
