Vote: Who should be SBLive Ohio's high school Athlete of the Week (01/08/2024)?

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Ohio high school Athlete of the Week for December 31 – January 6. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email ryan@scoreboklive.com. For questions/issues with the poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

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.

Bree Allen, Fairland girls basketball

Led the Dragons to a 2-0 record for the week, scoring 18 points in a 68-23 win over Minford and dropping another 18 points in a dominant 80-30 victory over Coal Grove. Fairland is now 11-0 on the season.

Mackenzie Blackford, Solon girls basketball

In a 74-38 win over Nordonia, Blackford scored a game-high 40 points and hit eight 3-pointers to tie a school record for most threes in a single game. In a 71-30 win over Hudson, the senior dropped 27 points.

Kailee Bransford, Mount Notre Dame girls basketball

The junior guard scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds to hand Winton Woods a 57-50 loss.

Gary Burnett, Perrysburg wrestling

The freshman impressed at the Perrysburg Invitational, winning the 113-pound crown with an 11-6 decision over Genoa Area’s Scott Fuller. In the semifinals, Burnett defeated defending state champion Adam Mattin of Delta 7-6 with a takedown in the final seconds. 

Izzy Callaway, Copley girls basketball

The senior guard scored a team-high 29 points to defeat Tallmadge 67-46.

Will Cordonnier, Findlay boys basketball

Posted 20 points to lift the Trojans past Southview 51-36.

James Gadomski, Fairport Harding boys basketball

Recorded a team-high 38 points to put away Mathews 90-54.

Ellie Horst, Lebanon girls basketball

Led the Lady Warriors to a 53-44 rivalry win over Springboro with 20 points.

Jaxon Joy, Wadsworth wrestling

In a dual against Brecksville, the two-time state champions was one of only three Grizzlies to win their match, as he defeated Zack Aquila at 150 pounds to snap a six-match losing streak in the event for Wadsworth.

Kaden King, Buckeye wrestling

At the Gorman Invitational, the defending state champions won the 157-pound title with an 11-3 major decision.

Grace Kingery, North Ridgeville girls basketball

Scored the Rangers’ first 16 points in the second half and finished with a career-high and school-record 45 points to defeat Elyria on the road 80-51.

Katie Maryo, Magnificat girls basketball

Knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points to defeat Notre Dame Academy 48-33.

Jesse McCulloch, Lutheran East boys basketball

Helped the Falcons bounce back from their first loss of the season by scoring 30 points, grabbing 20 rebounds and blocking seven shots in a 73-58 win against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

Hayden Nigro, Louisville boys basketball

Scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Leopards to a 56-44 victory over Walsh Jesuit.

Jonathan Powell, Centerville boys basketball

The Xavier commit scored 22 points to beat Moeller 62-55 and dropped 17 points to defeat rival Wayne, 65-59.

Carter Reese, Westerville North boys basketball

Drained five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to defeat Otterbein 81-67.

Logan Rinehart, Miamisburg wrestling

In the semifinals and final at the Valley View Wrestling tournament, neither of his matches at 215 pounds saw the 1-minute mark as he won the semifinal with a pin in 59 seconds and then won the final with a pin in just 45 seconds. 

Luke Skaljac, Brecksville-Broadview Heights boys basketball

The Miami commit put up 40 points, nine rebounds and four assists to earn a 66-50 road victory over North Royalton.

Jenna Slates, Green girls basketball

In a win over Howland, the junior went for 31 points and 18 rebounds. And then in a win over Canton McKinley, she had 21 points and eight rebounds while also breaking the program's career steals record. 

Corri Vermillya, Loudonville girls basketball

In a road win over Clear Fork, the senior scored her 2,000th career point on a right-hand floater in the third quarter. Vermillya finished with 32 points to help defeat the Colts 64-40.

Wyatt Walker, Edgewood wrestling

At the Ron Masanek Fairfield Invitational, Walker won the championship match at 215 pounds with a pin in 1:07. He advanced to the final with a 53-second pin in the semifinals.