Poll: Vote for the Poughkeepsie Journal May 9-15 Athlete of the Week

Stephen Haynes, Poughkeepsie Journal
·4 min read

Last week was filled with superb individual performances, dramatic finishes and several local teams secured division titles as the regular season draws to a close. As such, the poll this week is again stacked with nominees.

Last week’s Athlete of the Week winner was Arlington girls lacrosse player Molly Novak, who received 2,796 votes.

Voting will be open until 3 p.m. Tuesday. This week’s nominees:

Arlington's Riley Pettigrew crosses the finishline in the 200-meter dash during Day 2 of the Loucks Games track and field meet at White Plains High School on Friday, May 13, 2022.
Arlington's Riley Pettigrew crosses the finishline in the 200-meter dash during Day 2 of the Loucks Games track and field meet at White Plains High School on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Riley Pettigrew, Arlington track & field

The freshman ran a personal-best 24.75 to take second place in the girls 200 meters at the Loucks Games at White Plains High School last weekend. Pettigrew's time ranks No. 1 among high school girls in Section 1 and third in the state. She also took fifth in the 100 meters.

Ketcham's Ava Gambichler (9) scores on a sacrifice fly by Emma Kuzunski against Carmel during softball action at Carmel High School May 10, 2022.
Ketcham's Ava Gambichler (9) scores on a sacrifice fly by Emma Kuzunski against Carmel during softball action at Carmel High School May 10, 2022.

Ava Gambichler, Ketcham softball

She hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning to cap Ketcham's six-run rally to upset White Plains, 9-8, in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

Title quest: 5 Dutchess County softball teams begin quest for Section 1 championships

Sisterly sages: Giannoulis sisters star, teach as Red Hook girls lacrosse rebuilds

Perfect ending: Fraser's walk-off caps Lourdes' late-innings rally to beat Lakeland

Making history: Diedrich, Velsmid help Wappingers win first girls lacrosse league title

Noah Brightman from Pawling runs in the boys Section 1 Class C cross country championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, Nov. 6, 2021.
Noah Brightman from Pawling runs in the boys Section 1 Class C cross country championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, Nov. 6, 2021.

Noah Brightman, Pawling track & field

He set three program records in the boys 1-mile, finishing in 4:21.94 at the Loucks Games. Brightman's times at the 1,500 and 1,600-meter marks were the best in Pawling history. He took 15th overall in the event, but his time was second best among New York public school athletes.

Arlington's John Zelker clears more than 6 feet in the pentathlon high jump during the June 12, 2021 Section 1 Class AA track and field championships at Arlington High. Zelker won the event and the pentathlon.
Arlington's John Zelker clears more than 6 feet in the pentathlon high jump during the June 12, 2021 Section 1 Class AA track and field championships at Arlington High. Zelker won the event and the pentathlon.

John Zelker, Arlington track & field

He placed second in the boys 1,500 meters (4:40) and was third overall in the pentathlon with 3,034 points at the Loucks Games.

Spackenkill catcher Clare Sottile gathers to throw out an Ellenville base runner during a May 10, 2022 softball game.
Spackenkill catcher Clare Sottile gathers to throw out an Ellenville base runner during a May 10, 2022 softball game.

Clare Sottile, Spackenkill softball

She went 4 for 5 with four doubles and five RBI, leading the Spartans in an 18-13 win over Rhinebeck last Thursday. She also drove in four against Ellenville on Tuesday.

Maia Perillo, John Jay track & field

The sophomore set a program record with an 11-foot pole vault and took fourth place in the Loucks Games at White Plains High School last weekend.

Arlington's Eric Servellon pitches during during a Section 1 Class AA quarterfinal versus John Jay in Freedom Plains on June 9, 2021.
Arlington's Eric Servellon pitches during during a Section 1 Class AA quarterfinal versus John Jay in Freedom Plains on June 9, 2021.

Eric Servellon, Arlington baseball

He allowed four hits, no earned runs and struck out 10 in six innings to lead the Admirals in a 9-3 win over John Jay-East Fishkill that secured the league title last Wednesday.

Justin Coiteux, New Paltz baseball

He had two hits, including a walk-off single in the 13th inning that lifted the Huguenots to a 4-3 win over Saugerties on Saturday.

Beacon's Evan LaBelle took fourth in the Dutchess County boys cross country regional championship.
Beacon's Evan LaBelle took fourth in the Dutchess County boys cross country regional championship.

Evan LaBelle, Beacon track & field

The senior won the invitational boys 1,600 meters (4:38.83) at the Middletown Invitational last Saturday.

Pine Plains' Lindsay Farinaccio pitching during the Section 9 Class C softball final versus S.S. Seward on June 11, 2021.
Pine Plains' Lindsay Farinaccio pitching during the Section 9 Class C softball final versus S.S. Seward on June 11, 2021.

Lindsay Farinaccio, Pine Plains softball

She allowed four hits and struck out eight in six innings and hit a two-run homer to lead the Bombers in a shutout of Dover that clinched their division title last Monday.

Trace Napoli, Marlboro track & field

He took first in the boys shot put (42 feet, 6 inches) and second in the discus (131-5) at the Middletown Invitational.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Aliya Feerick slides into home plate during Monday's game versus Burke Catholic on April 18, 2022.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Aliya Feerick slides into home plate during Monday's game versus Burke Catholic on April 18, 2022.

Aliya Feerick, Roosevelt softball

She went 3 for 3 with two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI to lead the Presidents in an 8-7 win over Wallkill last Friday. The junior also had her 150th career hit in the game.

Rachael Fraser, Lourdes softball

The junior delivered two walk-off hits last week, lifting the Warriors to dramatic wins over Lakeland and Nanuet.

The Poughkeepsie baseball team poses after defeating East Ramapo to win the Section 1 independent league title in May 2022.
The Poughkeepsie baseball team poses after defeating East Ramapo to win the Section 1 independent league title in May 2022.

Corey Martin, Poughkeepsie baseball

He allowed two hits and struck out 14 in a 2-1 win over Peekskill last Tuesday in the Section 1 independent league semifinals, and he helped the Pioneers beat East Ramapo, 12-6, in the championship game Friday.

Marlboro freshman Leah Gunsett (16) on her way to pitching a shutout against Pine Plains during softball action at Marlboro High School May 25, 2021.
Marlboro freshman Leah Gunsett (16) on her way to pitching a shutout against Pine Plains during softball action at Marlboro High School May 25, 2021.

Leah Gunsett, Marlboro softball

The sophomore excelled last week in the circle and at the plate. She pitched a complete game and drove in three runs for the Iron Dukes in a 7-3 win over Rondout Valley last Tuesday, had two RBI in a win over Saugerties, and went 3 for 4 and earned the win Friday against Red Hook.

Jackson Atwell, Beacon baseball

He went 3 for 4 with three stolen bases and two RBI, including the winning hit in the eighth inning that scored Derrick Heaton and lifted the Bulldogs to an 11-10 win over Valley Central last Tuesday.

Wappingers' Nicolette Diedrich closes in on the goal as Carmel's Taylor Lotz covers her during Friday's game on May 6, 2022.
Wappingers' Nicolette Diedrich closes in on the goal as Carmel's Taylor Lotz covers her during Friday's game on May 6, 2022.

Nicolette Diedrich, Wappingers lacrosse

She matched her career-high with eight goals and had three assists, leading the Warriors in a win over Pawling that clinched their first league title.

Dover's David Torrance on the mound during Friday's game versus Spackenkill on April 29, 2022.
Dover's David Torrance on the mound during Friday's game versus Spackenkill on April 29, 2022.

David Torrance, Dover baseball

His walk-off single lifted the Dragons to a 4-3 win over Pine Plains, which clinched for them a division title and a berth into the Mid-Hudson Athletic League tournament.

Pawling's Mikaela Mammola readies to deliver a pitch during a 2022 softball game.
Pawling's Mikaela Mammola readies to deliver a pitch during a 2022 softball game.

Mikaela Mammola, Pawling softball

She allowed three hits and an earned run and struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings for the Tigers in a 7-4 win over Croton Harmon that clinched the league title last Friday. Mammola also went 3 for 4 with two RBI. She pitched her second no-hitter of the season on Tuesday, striking out 11 in five innings.

Sophie Cargain, Arlington softball

She had five hits, including three doubles, and posted a .615 on-base percentage with six runs scored last week, helping the Admirals finish the regular season with four straight wins. The right fielder was also strong defensively.

Wappingers' DJ Velsmid passes the ball during Monday's game versus Hendrick Hudson on May 9, 2022.
Wappingers' DJ Velsmid passes the ball during Monday's game versus Hendrick Hudson on May 9, 2022.

DJ Velsmid, Wappingers lacrosse

He won all 23 faceoffs and added a goal, leading the Wappingers boys lacrosse team in a 10-9 win over Carmel last Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poll: Vote for the Poughkeepsie Journal 5/9-15 Athlete of the Week