Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week: Ballots for Oct. 2-8

peter kenzekyOct 9, 2023

Welcome to the fifth installment of the 2023 fall season for the Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week voting by high school sports fans.

This week, and every week during the sports seasons, members of the public may vote for a top girls athlete and a top boys athlete.

More:Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week: Winners for the 2023-24 school year

Table of Contents

How do I cast my vote?

All voting is through the two ballots at burlingtonfreepress.com. We will not accept votes through email or through social media.

Voting began Oct. 9, and continues through 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

How do we learn who wins?

The two winners will be announced in a story published at burlingtonfreepress.com on Friday.

How can I nominate an athlete?

The athlete of the week feature will return in the fall. We accept nominations via email: [email protected] (Subject Line: Athletes of the Week nomination).

Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

More on this week’s candidates:

Hannah Gubbins, Woodstock field hockey: After a three-goal effort to beat Brattleboro 3-0, Gubbins struck for both goals in a 2-1 overtime triumph over Hartford.

Ruby Harrington, Spaulding field hockey: Harrington pocketed a pair of goals in a 6-0 win over Stowe. She then tallied two goals and two assists as the Crimson Tide ended U-32’s undefeated season in a 4-3 decision.

Estella Laird, Champlain Valley cross-country running: The junior captured the Woods Trail Run at Thetford Academy with a winning 5k time of 19 minutes, 47.12 seconds out of nearly 400 competitors. Laird led five CVU runners in the top 11 as the Redhawks also claimed the team title by 31 points over the second-place team.

Olivia MacLeay, Windsor soccer: After tallying twice in a 5-0 win over Springfield, MacLeay fired in four goals in a 7-3 victory over Randolph.

Megan Marroquin, Rice soccer: After a masterful, three-goal, one-assist performance in Rice’s stunning, 6-5 overtime comeback at Milton, the freshman midfielder tacked on two goals and an assist in a 7-0 rout of Vergennes.

Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

More on this week’s candidates:

Caleb Durand, Harwood bass fishing: In the sixth Vermont high school bass fishing state championships, the junior Durand led the way in Harwood claiming the team title and setting a new state record by weighing in a full bag of 24.99 pounds.

Sawyer Fagnant, BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille football: The Bullets broke from their run-heavy offense as Fagnant hauled in four catches for 210 yards. Each of the four receptions for the senior receiver went for touchdowns as the Bullets halted their three-game losing streak with a 56-26 win over Spaulding on Saturday afternoon.

Lucas Politano, Otter Valley golf: The reigning Division II state champion fired a 70 to claim medalist honors at this year’s state qualifier held at Montague Golf Course.

Quinn Sessions, Burlington soccer: Sessions scored twice, including the overtime winner to lead the Seahorses to the comeback win at St. Johnsbury on Saturday night. Sessions also had a goal vs. Mount Anthony and an assist vs. Essex during Burlington’s 3-0 week.

Andrew Thornton-Sherman, St. Johnsbury cross-country running: The junior raced to victory at the Woods Trail Run at Thetford Academy, posting a 5k time of 16:36.62 out of nearly 525 finishers. Thornton-Sherman headlined SJA’s dominating, 70-point team win over U-32.