Vote now for the SJ County Martin Dentistry AOTW for April 20-25

Q: Who are the nominees for the Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week for April 20-25?

The nominees include seven high school athletes from Stockton, Ripon, Manteca, and Oakdale.

Q: How can I vote for the Athlete of the Week in San Joaquin County?

Readers can vote for the Athlete of the Week through a ballot provided by The Record.

Q: What schools are represented in the Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week nominations?

The nominations feature athletes from 209-area schools, specifically from Stockton, Ripon, Manteca, and Oakdale.

Q: Is boys baseball included in the Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week voting?

No, boys baseball has its own separate poll and is excluded from this voting.

The Record will nominate several high school athletes in San Joaquin County for the Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week award.

It’s up to you, the readers, to choose the winner for April 20-25.

The Martin Dentistry Award highlights top performances from 209-area schools — excluding boys baseball, which has its own poll. This week’s ballot features seven nominees from Stockton, Ripon, Manteca, and Oakdale.

Fifteen St. Mary’s High School athletes signed letters of intent for committing to play 13 different sports at various colleges and universities during a ceremony at the school in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athletes Emma Nash committed to play hockey for Arcadia University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athletes Brynn Cain committed to play hockey for Arcadia University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Luciano Gutierez committed to play water polo for the University of the La Verne a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Manuel Villa committed to play cross country for the University of the Pacific during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athletes Cali Byrd commited to play Hockey for the University of St. Joseph during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Eliana Williams committed to swim for St. Mary’s College during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Leo Flynn committed to play lacrosse for Cumberlands University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Presely DaCruz committed to play flag football for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Jeremy Krause committed to play football and baseball for George Fox University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Giani Camacho committed to play baseball for Cal State Northridge during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Ava Miller committed to play baseball for University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Kevin Ross committed to play volleyball for Avila University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Jolie Baker committed to play Soccer for Pacific University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Molly Young committed to play rugby for Harvard University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Elliot Bitondo committed to play rugby for St. Bonaventure University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

St. Mary’s High School athlete Leo Flynn, left, is hugged by a well-wisher after committing to play lacrosse for Cumberlands University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athletes Emma Nash committed to play hockey for Arcadia University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athletes Brynn Cain committed to play hockey for Arcadia University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Luciano Gutierez committed to play water polo for the University of the La Verne a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athletes Cali Byrd commited to play Hockey for the University of St. Joseph during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Eliana Williams committed to swim for St. Mary’s College during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Leo Flynn committed to play lacrosse for Cumberlands University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Presely DaCruz committed to play flag football for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Giani Camacho committed to play baseball for Cal State Northridge during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Ava Miller committed to play baseball for University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Kevin Ross committed to play volleyball for Avila University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Jolie Baker committed to play Soccer for Pacific University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Molly Young committed to play rugby for Harvard University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

St. Mary’s High School athlete Elliot Bitondo committed to play rugby for St. Bonaventure University during a letter of intent signing ceremony at St. Mary’s in Stockton on Apr. 23, 2026.

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

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Our best photos of St. Mary's athletes as they sign letters of intent

Anyone can nominate an athlete of the week for every sport. Readers can email nominations to sports reporter Dylan Ackermann at dackermann@gannett.com. Please include the player's stats and, if possible, a photo.

The poll at the bottom of this pagecloses at noon on Thursday, April 30. There are no voting restrictions, so vote now and vote often.

Here are the April 20-25 nominees (Athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name):

Aaliyah Abrams, Softball, Venture Academy

When Aaliyah Abrams takes the mound, strikeouts usually aren’t far behind.

The freshman has made that a habit all season.

In a 17-0 win over ALHA on April 20, she threw three hitless innings and struck out nine. Even in a 5-2 loss to Sonora on April 24, she kept battling, recording 10 strikeouts in four innings while allowing four hits and three earned runs.

Her impact, however, doesn’t stop in the circle. In the first game of an April 20 doubleheader against ALHA, she went 2-for-3 with an RBI in a 28-1 win, then followed by going 1-for-1 with three hit-by-pitches in the 17-0 victory.

She is now hitting .455 with 14 RBIs, along with a 3.13 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings pitched — impressive numbers for a freshman.

St. Mary’s Ava Arucan delivers a pitch during a varsity softball game against Tracy at the Tracy Softball Complex on Mar. 26, 2026. Tracy won 12-2.

Ava Arucan, Girls Softball, St. Mary's

How a player responds often says more than the struggle itself.

For sophomore Ava Arucan, that response said plenty.

The previous week tested her, pitching in three losses and allowing 15, five, and two earned runs, easily the roughest stretch of her young career after opening the season with nine wins and only three losses in 17 appearances.

There was only one answer — bounce back.

In St. Mary’s lone game this week, she delivered a complete-game shutout in an 11-0 win over Merrill West on April 23, giving up just three hits, striking out five, and allowing no earned runs.

Across 83 1/3 innings this season, she owns a 4.87 ERA with 60 strikeouts.

Ripon’s Armando Ayon spikes the ball over the outstretched arms of Beyer blockers during a home match on March 4. Ripon lost three sets to none.

Armando Ayon, Boys Volleyball, Ripon

Smart players change matches, and Armando Ayon does it every time he steps on the floor.

His anticipation and court awareness allow him to pile up numbers all over the stat sheet.

He opened with five kills, two aces and four digs in a 3-0 loss to Ripon Christian on April 20, then followed with four kills, two aces and nine digs in a 3-0 win over Riverbank a day later.

His biggest performance came April 23, when he powered Ripon past Chavez with nine kills, three aces and five digs in another 3-0 win.

Finishing the regular season with 244 kills and 220 digs, his all-around game, relentless effort and leadership have made him a major piece for Ripon.

“Armando Ayon is a standout volleyball player with four years of experience and a proven record of leadership as team captain,” coach Tara Maruyama said. “He leads by example on and off the court, consistently guiding his team with strong communication and composure.”

Blama Kamara, Boys Track and Field, Sierra

The best week of Blama Kamara’s track career came with no debate.

That is not an exaggeration.

The Sierra junior opened it on April 23 at the VOL Central Catholic at Sierra by running a personal-best 48.49 in the 400 meters.

Two days later, on a bigger stage at the Sacramento Meet of Champions, he nearly matched it with a 48.54 in the men’s varsity 400 meters — just 0.05 off his best — and still crossed first.

Now with four wins in five 400-meter races this season, he has taken a major step forward from last year, when he won just one sprint event.

Mya Johnson, Girls Track and Field, Lincoln

Winning three individual races the week before was impressive.

Mya Johnson followed it by going even bigger.

The Lincoln sophomore stepped onto one of the biggest stages at the Sacramento Meet of Champions and left with the fastest 400-meter time in the Sac-Joaquin Section this season.

Competing against 167 schools, she won the women’s open 400 meters in 54.88, a personal best and the section’s top mark this year.

She added a third-place finish in the women’s open 200 meters with another personal-best time of 24.91, and with 18 county teams represented, she was the only athlete to win a track event.

Jacob Padilla, Boys Volleyball, East Union

There was only one way for Jacob Padilla to finish his season — attacking.

In the final match of his junior year, a 3-1 loss to Sierra on April 22, he delivered 14 kills and a season-high 26 digs.

No matter where East Union needed him, whether at opposite hitter or outside hitter, he answered with effort and versatility.

That mindset carried through the entire season.

He finished with 197 kills, 120 digs, and a .422 hitting percentage, a mark that ranks No. 51 in the nation and No. 25 in California, according to MaxPreps.

Eric Rubio, Boys Track and Field, Oakdale

First place has become the only finish Eric Rubio knows.

Every time he steps into the shot put ring or the discus circle, the result has been the same.

This week, he added two more wins and made another league meet look routine.

At the VOL Manteca at Oakdale on April 22, he claimed first in the 12-pound shot put with a mark of 54-2, his third-best throw of the season behind a season-best 57-6 at the County Clash on March 27.

He saved the biggest throw for discus, launching the 1.6-kilogram implement 175-9 1/2, crushing his previous best of 158-10 and taking over the best mark in the entire Sac-Joaquin Section this season.