Vote: Who should be SBLive's Minnesota Athlete of the Week? (9/12/2023)

Here are the candidates for the Minnesota High School Athlete of the Week for Sept. 3-10 as nominated by coaches, fans and readers.

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com with “MHSAW Nomination” in the subject line.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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Soccer

Jonathan Banegas, Worthington (Boys)

The senior forward assisted on six of seven goals scored in a shutout of Austin on Sept. 9. Two days prior he played a part in four of five goals scored in a 5-3 win over New Ulm, scoring twice and assisting twice more. 

His 13 assists lead the state, and his 11 goals are fourth-most in Minnesota.

Roberto Perez-Ordaz, Winona Cotter (Boys)

The senior had a hat trick and an assist in a 6-1 win over Plainview-Elgin-Milville, Sept. 7, and had a goal and three assists in a 5-0 shutout at Dover-Eyota, Sept. 5. 

He’s tied for fourth in the state with 11 goals scored in just four games played.

Maya Johnson, Southwest Christian (Girls)

The junior forward scored seven goals and had two assists over three games last week, all of which were victories. 

She had a hat trick and an assist in an 8-0 shutout at North St. Paul on Sept. 9, and had two goals and an assist in another 8-0 drubbing of Hiawatha Collegiate on Sept. 5. Her 19 goals is tied for the most in Minnesota.

Malia Timm, Hope Academy (Girls)

The eighth-grade goalkeeper made 17 saves on 19 shots faced in a 2-2 draw with Concordia Academy, Sept. 6. She made 12 saves in a 10-1 rout at Cristo Rey Jesuit two days later. 

She’s third in the state with 73 saves over four games.

Avery Petty, Hopkins (Girls)

The University of Minnesota commit scored both of her team’s goals in a 2-1 win over Buffalo on Sept. 5, had five goals and two assists in a 15-0 drubbing of Sauk Rapids-Rice two days later, and she played a part in two of three goals scored in a shutout of Waconia on Sept. 9. 

Her 17 goals are fourth-most in Minnesota.

Volleyball

Faith Corbett, Northfield

The junior had 17 blocks over six matches last week, contributing to wins over Chaska, Bloomington Jefferson, and Mankato East. She leads the state with 16 solo blocks and 28 total blocks.

Mya Foslien, West Central Area

The junior outside hitter had 32 digs, 24 kills and four blocks in a 3-2 win over Melrose Area on Sept. 5, and 24 digs, 13 kills and an ace in a 3-0 win at Minnewaska Area on Sept. 7. 

Her 102 kills are fifth-most in Minnesota.

Reese Axness, Champlin Park

The junior setter and outside hitter helped her team to a 5-1 record last week, posting 164 assists, 30 digs, six aces and four blocks. 

Her 246 assists are fourth-most in the state.

Catherine Lin, Blake

The junior outside setter did a bit of everything to pace the Bears to a 3-2 win at Breck, Sept. 9. She had 15 digs, 14 assists, seven aces, four kills and a block. She’s tied for fifth in the state with 21 aces.

Fern Fisher, Nova Classical Academy

The senior setter had 208 assists over seven matches last week, with 50 coming in a 3-2 win at Concordia Academy on Sept. 7. She also had 46 assists in a 3-1 win over DeLaSalle on Sept. 5. Her 298 assists lead all of Minnesota.

Football

Jayce Kiehne, Fillmore Central

The senior caught five passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-18 win over Blooming Prairie, Sept. 9. He also returned a punt for a touchdown, had eight tackles (four solo) and ran three times for 28 yards. 

His five touchdown receptions are tied for the most in the state, and his 338 receiving yards rank second.

Jakob Nachreiner, Springfield

The senior quarterback tossed four touchdowns and completed 24 of 33 passes for 288 yards in a 27-14 win over Murray County Central on Sept. 8. 

His eight passing touchdowns are second-most in Minnesota, and his completion percentage of 64.3 is also second-best in the state.

Cooper Brinkman, Albany

The junior outside linebacker had three sacks and seven total tackles (four solo) as his defense shutout Melrose Area 43-0, Sept. 8. He leads the state with five sacks on the season.

Carter Verhasselt, Hutchinson

The senior running back ran for 173 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 38-7 win at Delano on Sept. 8. 

He continues to average more than seven yards per rush after two games played. His nine rushing touchdowns are the most in Minnesota.

Brett Salmonson, Park of Cottage Grove

The senior had 35 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-39 win over Burnsville. 

He also had seven tackles (one solo), scored the game-tying touchdown and converted the game-winning two-point attempt.

Peyton Podany, Anoka

The junior quarterback completed 22 of 31 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-19 win over St. Michael-Albertville, Sept. 8. 

His 135.5 quarterback rating is the best in Minnesota amongst those with at least 40 pass attempts.

Maxwell Woods, Chanhassen

The senior ran eight times for 218 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Owatonna on Sept. 8. He also had one catch for a 69-yard touchdown and recorded two tackles as a defensive back. 

His 16.4 yards per rush ranks second in the state amongst those with at least 20 carries.

Beau Wiersma, Kingsland

The senior carried the ball nine times for 98 yards, a touchdown and two two-point conversions in a 63-21 victory over Red Rock Central, Sept. 9. 

He had 12 tackles (six solo, two for loss) and an interception on defense. He also caught two passes for 47 yards. 

His 17-yard rushing average per carry leads all of Minnesota.

Nick Kinsey, Stillwater

The sophomore completed 28 of 48 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-25 win at Woodbury on Sept. 7. His 357 passing yards per game are the most in the state.

Oliver Linnemann, Bethlehem Academy

The senior had 10 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-14 victory at Rushford-Peterson, Sept. 8. 

Only three receivers in the state have more than his four touchdown catches, and only nine have more receptions (14).