The Gainesville-area Athlete of the Week poll is open for voting from May 4-10. Last week's winner was Kagan Hewett from Lafayette baseball, who had a standout performance in a recent game.
The high school sports season is rapidly unfolding, which means it's once again time for everyone's favorite part of the week: The Gainesville Sun's Athlete of the Week Poll.
Our nomination process is a little different this season. Please click here to see how to nominate.
Athlete of the Week nominees are compiled by what's available on MaxPreps and by submission, so coaches, athletic directors and statisticians are encouraged to send nominees and their stats to nram@usatodayco.com for consideration.
Last week's winner was Kagan Hewett from the Lafayette baseball team. Hewett received over 8,800 votes as he had a home run and two RBIs in the Hornets' 12-8 region semifinal win over Aucilla Christian.
Voting closes at noon on Friday, May 15.
Complete game shutout with four hits and 18 strikeouts in the Tigers’ 8-0 region semifinal win over Bronson.
Three RBIs, two hits and a double in the Bobcats’ 10-6 Game 2 Region Final win over Pace.
Two RBIs and a triple in the Tigers’ 14-0 region quarterfinal win over Escambia.
Forest Leighton Hetzel (1) tries for the tag on Deltona Kaitlyn Caruso (10) at third during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) tries for the tag on Deltona Sophia Weinrich (2) at second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Adriana Koralewski (16) goes for home fast Deltona Andrea Stump (14) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville has a mound conference during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Taylor Rogers (11) and Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) fight for the fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Taylor Rogers (11) and Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) fight for the fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville has a mound conference during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) goes for the ball as Deltona Memphis Derby (6) makes second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) slides into home during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) steals third past Gainesville Makenna Young (1) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Memphis Derby (6) grabs a fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) tags out Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) at second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) hits during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Allison Moore (7) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) celebrates a run during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) makes second past Gainesville Aubree Suarez (7) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) makes second past Gainesville Aubree Suarez (7) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Emma Barton (3) celebrates a run during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) fields during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14), left, celebrates her 500th strike out during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville poses for a photo after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Deltona Kaitlyn Caruso (10) celebrates a double past Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Forest Leighton Hetzel (1) tries for the tag on Deltona Kaitlyn Caruso (10) at third during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
1 / 27
Forest Leighton Hetzel (1) tries for the tag on Deltona Kaitlyn Caruso (10) at third during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
2 / 27
Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) tries for the tag on Deltona Sophia Weinrich (2) at second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
3 / 27
Gainesville Adriana Koralewski (16) goes for home fast Deltona Andrea Stump (14) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
4 / 27
Gainesville has a mound conference during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
5 / 27
Gainesville Taylor Rogers (11) and Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) fight for the fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
6 / 27
Gainesville Taylor Rogers (11) and Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) fight for the fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
7 / 27
Gainesville has a mound conference during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
8 / 27
Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) goes for the ball as Deltona Memphis Derby (6) makes second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
9 / 27
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) slides into home during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
10 / 27
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) steals third past Gainesville Makenna Young (1) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
11 / 27
Deltona Memphis Derby (6) grabs a fly during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
12 / 27
Deltona Amiyah Jones (5) tags out Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) at second during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
13 / 27
Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) hits during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
14 / 27
Deltona Allison Moore (7) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
15 / 27
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) celebrates a run during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) makes second past Gainesville Aubree Suarez (7) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
17 / 27
Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) makes second past Gainesville Aubree Suarez (7) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville Emma Barton (3) celebrates a run during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Deltona Trinity Bryant (8) fields during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14), left, celebrates her 500th strike out during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville Leanna Bourdage (14) pitches during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville poses for a photo after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Gainesville celebrate after beating Deltona 7-6 to win the 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
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Deltona Kaitlyn Caruso (10) celebrates a double past Gainesville Lana Renicks (15) during 5A district 5 championship at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 30, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Sixth and seventh place in the 1600 and 800 meters at Class 1A states.
Third place – and fifth fastest time by a sophomore in Florida history – in the 1600 meters at Class 4A states.
First place in the pole vault at Class 1A states.
Complete game with two runs and no earned runs in the Red Devils’ 4-2 region semifinal win at Fort Meade.
Third place at Class 1A states in the 800m and 1600m.
Gainesville Oak Hall's Estella Collante runs in the girls 4x800 relay during the FHSAA Class 1A high school track and field championships in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 6, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Fourth place in the 800 meters at Class 3A states.
Complete game shutout with two hits and 10 strikeouts in the Hurricanes’ 6-0 region quarterfinal win over Deltona.
Three RBIs and a triple in the Raiders’ 10-0 region quarterfinal win over Mount Dora.
5.2 innings with four hits and one earned run in the Tigers’ 6-1 Game 1 Region Final win over Williston, with two triples in Game 2.
Two hits and three RBIs in the Fightin’ Tigers’ 14-3 Game 1 Region Final win over Lafayette.
Suwanee’s Ryleigh Hermanson finishes the 1600 meter run at UNF’s Hodges Stadium during the FHSAA Class 2A state track and field championships, Thursday, May 7, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. 5:01.0[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
6.2 innings with six hits and two runs allowed in the Bobcats’ 10-2 Game 1 Region Final win over Pace.
First place in the 1600 meters at Class 2A states.
Fourth place in the 3200 meters at Class 4A states.
Two doubles and three RBIs in the Buccaneers’ 9-3 region semifinal win over Union County.
Buchholz's Samuel Freas (3064), Viera's Michael Girard (3897) and Vero Beach's Andrew Youssef (3896) lead the boys 3,200 during the FHSAA Class 4A high school track and field championships in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Two hits, two RBIs and a double in the Fightin’ Tigers’ 8-7 Game 2 Region Final win over Lafayette.
Two hits, three RBIs and a triple in the Bobcats’ 10-2 Game 1 Region Final win over Pace.
Second place in the 200 meters at Class 2A states.
Two hits, two RBIs and a double in the Tigers’ 8-2 Game 2 Region Final win over Williston.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Vote for the Gainesville-area Athlete of the Week for May 4-10
You can nominate an athlete by following the nomination process outlined on the Gainesville Sun's website.
Kagan Hewett from the Lafayette baseball team won last week, receiving over 8,800 votes.
Voting for the Athlete of the Week poll closes at noon on Friday, May 15.
Athlete nominees are compiled from MaxPreps and submissions from coaches, athletic directors, and statisticians.
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