It’s time to vote on the News & Observer high school athlete of the week (Nov. 27, 2020)
It’s time to vote on the News & Observer high school athlete of the week.
Readers can vote as often as they want until Friday when the winner will be selected.
Meet this week’s nominees.
Nasir Bell, Thales Academy Rolesville Basketball: The 6-foot-2 junior guard had 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists to lead Thales Academy Rolesville to a 70-38 win in their season opener against Village Christian Nov. 19.
Chase Dawson, Cary Academy Basketball: The 5-11, Chargers’ guard scored 28 points to lead Cary Academy to a 78-55 win at St. David’s Nov. 17.
Dawson is averaging 28.5 points per game for Cary Academy (2-0) through Sunday.
Max Geckler, Heritage Cross Country: The Heritage senior ran a personal-best 16:15.02 on his home course to win the race in a dual meet with Corinth Holders Nov. 18.
Geckler’s run was 19 seconds faster than his previous career best.
Halle Gibson, Green Level Volleyball: The Green Level junior had 58 assists, 16 kills and 11 aces in two games as the Gators split games with Hillside and Jordan this week.
Green Level is 1-1 through Sunday.
Viktor Idhammar, Cary Cross Country: The Cary senior has had a historic start to his final high school cross country season.
Idhammar ran a personal-best, 8:48, to win the 3,000-meter run against Cardinal Gibbons, Nov. 11. Idhammar’s 3,000-meter time was also the No. 1 time in the event in state history.
Idhammar also ran a personal-best 16:13 (5K) in a dual meet with Green Hope at Wake Med Complex Nov. 17.
Justin Hayes, Panther Creek Cross Country: The Panther Creek senior won two races in the opening week of the cross country season.
Hayes ran a 17:31.93 to win the race in a dual meet at Jordan Nov. 17.
Hayes, a Western Carolina signee, also ran a 16:30.47 to win the race in a dual meet with Green Hope at Wake Med Complex Nov. 20.
Aliya Richmond, Ravenscroft Basketball: The 5-8 senior guard averaged 17.7 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and four assists per game to help the Ravens to a perfect 3-0 start to the season (through Sunday).
Richmond had 12 points in one quarter of play in 54-21 win at St. Mary’s Nov. 18.
She came back with 22 points in a 65-45 victory over Mount Zion Nov. 20.
The next day, Richmond had 19 points in a 50-43 win over Cannon School.
Ian Rouse, Jordan Cross Country: The Falcons’ sophomore ran a 17:41.13 on his home course to finish 2nd-place overall in a dual meet with Panther Creek, Nov. 17.
Rouse had the lead until he lost his shoe with 800 meters remaining in the race and finished the race with only one shoe on, according to Jordan Cross Country coach, Brendan Murray.
Aaron Rovnak, Franklin Academy Charter Cross Country: The Patriots’ senior ran a 16:18 to set course record while winning the NCAC conference race at Flaherty Park in Wake Forest Nov. 17.
Rovnak, the defending NCHSAA 1A state cross country champion, broke his own record on the course from last year, when he ran a 16:30.
Emma Schwarting, West Johnson Volleyball: The Wildcats’ freshman had 17 kills, eight blocks, eight digs and seven aces in the first two varsity high school matches of her career last week.
Schwarting had 11 kills, an ace, five blocks and six digs in a 3-2 season-opening victory over Harnett Central Nov. 16.
The next day, she came back with six kills, six aces, three block, and two digs in a 3-0 sweep of West Harnett.
Jalen Walker, Grace Christian Basketball: The 6-5, Grace Christian senior averaged 13 points and four rebounds as the Eagles split games with High Point Christian and Thales Academy Apex last week.
Walker had 16 points, four rebounds and two blocks in the season-opening 88-60 win over Thales Academy Apex Nov. 19.
The next day, Walker had 10 points and four rebounds in a 68-58 loss to High Point Christian.
** Information published today includes statistics through Nov. 21.
Want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com.
