Coldwater's VanAken voted TDR Athlete of the Week
The results are in as you the readers have once again voted for who you think deserves the title of The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week. This vote encompassed all events from Jan. 23 through Jan. 29, which saw a handful of amazing moments in basketball, wrestling, and diving.
A full week of voting is in the books and in one of the largest voter turnouts of the winter sport season we are happy to announce that this week’s The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week sponsored by ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, Omega Physical Therapy and Coldwater Chiropractic and Wellness Center, as voted by you the reader, is Coldwater Lady Cardinal hooper Rylie VanAken.
VanAken, a freshman at Coldwater High School, has earned the honor after securing almost 37% of this week’s votes.
VanAken was instrumental in Coldwater finishing 2-0 in a busy week of action, starting off with a 13 point, three steal and three assist performance in a win over Three Rivers. To cap off her week VanAken led the Cardinals with 10 points, three rebounds and four assists in the Cardinals Interstate 8 conference win over Hastings. VanAken has wasted no time in cementing her spot in the lineup of the hard charging Cardinals who enter the later portion of their season schedule with only one loss on their record. VanAken has been counted on for big minutes for the Ken Smoker led Cardinals and will continue to be one of the focal points of a very dynamic Coldwater team for years to come.
Finishing just behind VanAken in this week’s voting was Quincy freshman grappler Chayse Jensen. Jensen had a big week on the mats, earning his first career varsity individual championship, winning the 106 pound weight class at the Grass Lake Invitational. Jensen entered the tournament unseeded, however that did not stop the scrappy lightweight from running the table, finishing 4-0 on the day to record his first career individual title.
Not far behind the top two was Union City sophomore wrestler Aidan Taylor who finished in second place in his weight class at the Battle Creek Central Invite; Bronson senior wrestler Mathew Blankenship who finished in third place in his weight class at the BC Central Invite; Bronson basketball player Aden Hathaway who scored his 1000th career point; Coldwater diver Sam Pernia who went undefeated on the 1-meter board; and Coldwater sophomore hoopster Ayden Dirschell.
Congratulations goes out once again to Coldwater freshman basketball player Rylie VanAken, this week’s The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week sponsored by ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, Omega Physical Therapy and Coldwater Chiropractic and Wellness Center.
Tune in Monday for the next installment of the reader vote for The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week sponsored by ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, Omega Physical Therapy and Coldwater Chiropractic and Wellness Center. If you know of an athlete you feel deserves recognition please reach out with their name, sport and school via email to ttennyson@thedailyreporter.com or to sports@thedailyreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater's VanAken voted TDR Athlete of the Week
