Vote for the Des Moines Register's male and female Athlete of the Week candidates Oct. 23-29
The first full week of postseason of Iowa high school sports action for the 2022-23 school year is complete.
Several talented athletes turned in outstanding individual performances during state cross country, regional volleyball, playoff football and girls qualifying swimming and diving.
On the boys side, there were several phenomenal performances during the first full week of playoff football. The girls saw excellent volleyball and swimming performances.
Both the boys and girls turned in some terrific times at the state cross country, headlined by a new state record 5-kilometer time on the girls side.
Here are the Register's top five candidates for Athlete of the Week for both the boys and girls. Readers will be able to choose their pick for the winners, who will be revealed at the end of next week.
Girls
Paityn Noe, Ballard
Noe became the first female runner in state history to break 17 minutes on a 5-kilometer course during the state co-ed cross country meet at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge Saturday.
Noe crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 48.58 seconds. She easily broke her own state record time of 17:09.8 set earlier in the year and the previous state mark of 17:23.9 set by Ames' Camille Jackson in 2019.
Noe repeated as Class 3A individual champion, winning the race by an amazing 1:35.55.
Noelle Steines, Calamus-Wheatland
Steines bounced back from a partially-torn patellar tendon injury to win the Class 1A girls race at the state co-ed cross country meet Friday in Fort Dodge.
Steins repeated as 1A state champion with a 5-kilometer time of 18:39.45. She just edged Sibley-Ocheyedan's Madison Brouwer, who ran an 18:42.12, in an exciting race.
Danielle Hostetler, Mid-Prairie
The Mid-Prairie junior became the eighth female runner in Iowa state cross country history to win three straight state championships and she is on track to become the second four-time winner. Hostetler won the 2A girls race in 18:41.64 Friday, taking the race by 20.06 seconds.
Nia Howard, Springville
Howard had a huge match against New London in the 1A regional finals Oct. 26 to help Springville advance to the state tournament as the No. 1 seed.
Howard dished out 53 assists at setter over five sets. She also came up with 17 digs and five aces.
Mackenzie Dean, Dowling Catholic
Dean had a big match for the Dowling volleyball team to help the Maroons advance to state with a four-set win over Sioux City North in the 5A regional finals Oct. 25.
Dean tallied 21 kills on outstanding 41.9% efficiency. She also had 14 digs and three aces.
Boys
Jackson Heidesch, Dowling Catholic
Heidesch repeated as 4A individual boys champion at the state cross country meet Saturday. He did so running a new state record time by becoming the first runner to break 15 minutes in a 5K race at state.
Heidesch won the 4A boys race in 14:56.66. He won by 18.85 seconds over Iowa City's Ford Washburn and helped Dowling Catholic repeat as 4A team champions in the process.
Landon Bendgen, Woodbine
Bendgen won the Class 2A boys race at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge Friday after placing 42nd a year ago.
Bendgen completed the course in 15:58.11. That was 1:45.04 faster than his 2021 state time.
Ethan Eichhorn, Lewis Central
Eichhorn won the most exciting race of the 2022 state co-ed cross country meet when he took first in the 3A boys race Saturday in Fort Dodge.
Eichhorn crossed the finish line in 15:32.43 to just edge out the 15:34.43 by Marion's Jedidah Osgood for the 3A individual title.
Makelle Taylor, Cedar Rapids Prairie
Taylor went off for over 300 yards rushing during Prairie's 50-28 5A playoff win over Linn-Mar Friday.
It took Taylor just 21 carries to rack up 332 yards and shatter the old school record of 260 yards. He also ran for two touchdowns.
Will Nuss, Johnston
Nuss came up huge for Johnston in its 38-31 overtime win over Iowa City in a battle of two top-10 teams during the 5A playoffs Friday.
Nuss completed 14 of 24 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vote for Des Moines Register Athletes of the Week for Oct. 23-29
