Vote now: Who should be the next SBLive Texas High School Athlete of the Week (Feb. 12-19)?

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Texas High School Athlete of the Week for Feb. 12th-19th as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff. Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 26th, at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday, Feb. 27th. If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivetx.

THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE TEXAS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES (FEB. 12-19):

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.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Sebastian Lopez, Edinburg Economedes PG/SG

31 points on 11-of-22 shooting (50% FG), three rebounds, one assist in a 76-52 loss to Edinburg.

40 points on 13-of-25 shooting (52% FG), six rebounds, three steals, two assists in an 83-78 loss to Mission.

Donny Thomas, Bishop PG/SG

25 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3% FG), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block in an 89-53 win over Kingsville King.

Noel Duplechain, Houston Sharpstown PG/SG

25 points on 12-of-18 shooting (66.7% FG), six rebounds, five assists, three steals in an 86-54 win over Houston Northside.

Kevin Holmes Jr., Bryan Rudder SF/SG

29 points on 13-of-19 shooting (68.4% FG), 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal in a 65-56 win over Magnolia West.

Grayson Rigdon, Benjamin PG/SG

41 points, nine rebounds, five steals, three assists in an 89-7 win over Chillicothe.

T’Johnn Brown, Dallas Kimball PG

22 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3% FG), eight steals, six assists, two rebounds, one block in a 97-41 win over Dallas Jefferson.

J’Koby Williams, Beckville PG

18 points on 7-of-17 shooting (41.2% FG), seven rebounds, six steals, three assists, one block in a 64-16 win over Garrison.

20 points on 7-of-18 shooting (38.9% FG), seven steals, six assists, three rebounds in a 74-59 win over Emory Rains.

Enrique Castro, El Paso Coronado SG/PG

27 points on 10-of-15 shooting (66.7% FG), five rebounds, four steals, three assists in a 65-34 win over El Paso El Dorado.

Kaden Gumbs, San Marcos PG/SG

21 points on 10-of-20 shooting (50% FG), 10 assists, eight rebounds, two steals in a 75-61 win over San Antonio East Central.

Kanon Gibson, Wink PG

12 points on 4-of-15 shooting (26.7% FG), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal in a 76-52 win over Fort Hancock.

29 points on 9-of-23 shooting (39.1% FG), 14 rebounds, six steals, five assists in an 81-58 win over Anthony.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Aliyah Chavez, Lubbock Monterey PG

47 points on 16-of-27 shooting (59.3% FG), 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, two steals in a 104-64 win over Plainview.

34 points on 12-of-18 shooting (66.7% FG), 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block in a 96-50 win over El Paso Burges.

Calyssa Sevier, Lytle PG/SG

26 points on 11-of-24 shooting (45.8% FG), 11 steals, seven rebounds, four assists in an 87-30 win over Karnes City.

26 points on 10-of-20 shooting (50% FG), 11 rebounds, nine assists, nine steals in an 85-68 win over Hallettsville.

Kaelyn Hamilton, McKinney North PG/SG

19 points on 6-of-13 shooting (46.2% FG), 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block in a 45-28 win over Forney.

22 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3% FG), six rebounds, five steals, three assists in a 65-29 win over Longview.

Emma Lucio, Edinburg Vela SG/SF

23 points on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8% FG), six rebounds, four assists, four steals in a 75-25 win over Weslaco East.

19 points on 5-of-10 shooting (50% FG), three assists, two rebounds, one steal in a 42-39 win over Corpus Christi Flour Bluff.

Ayla McDowell, Cypress Springs SG/PF

22 points on 9-of-15 shooting (60% FG), six rebounds, four steals, two assists, two blocks in a 54-35 win over Klein Oak.

24 points on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6% FG), eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals in a 64-31 win over Conroe Oak Ridge.

Heather Baymon, Langham Creek SG/PG

23 points on 8-of-21 shooting (38.1% FG), 11 rebounds, two steals, one assist, one block in a 51-38 win over Klein Collins.

16 points on 6-of-21 shooting (28.6% FG), 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals in a 63-43 win over Spring.

Angelina Reyes, San Benito PG/SG

29 points on 11-of-24 shooting (45.8% FG), nine rebounds, one steal, one block in a 66-47 win over La Joya.

Emily Carranco, Edinburg PF/C

22 points on 8-of-20 shooting (40% FG), 16 rebounds, six steals, three assists in a 63-49 win over Los Fresnos.

Jordyn Hernandez, El Paso Burges F/C

21 points on 10-of-22 shooting (45.5% FG), 15 rebounds, four blocks, two assists, two steals in a 59-16 win over El Paso Del Valle.

Caylee Conley, Cooper PG/SG

21 points on 9-of-20 shooting (45% FG), 10 steals, four rebounds, three assists in a 74-18 win over Maud.

21 points on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3% FG), five rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block in a 53-30 win over Wolfe City.

SOFTBALL

Kate Bubela, El Campo 1B/3B

Bubela, a North Carolina commit, hit .474 for the week through seven games for El Campo. She collected nine hits in 20 plate appearances, including five HRs and three doubles in addition to 10 RBI and a 1.871 OPS during a 5-2 week for the Ricebirds that featured wins over Longview Spring Hill (4-3), Groveton (7-4), Coldspring-Oakhurst (15-0), Woodville (12-2) and Lufkin (4-2).

Dakota Farmer, Leander Glenn C

Farmer, who’s verbally committed to the University of Pennsylvania, smacked seven home runs through eight games during a red-hot opening week of the season. She helped lead the Grizzlies to a 7-1 start by hitting .778 with 26 RBI, 14 runs scored and 14 base hits, including four doubles, a triple and her seven HRs in 23 plate appearances.

Ava Brown, Montgomery Lake Creek P/1B

Brown, a Florida Gators commit, led Lake Creek to a 7-0 week to open the new season, extending the Lions’ 48-game winning streak which represents the longest winning streak in UIL softball history. She tossed a complete game no-hitter in a 10-0 season-opening victory over Tomball and appeared in the circle five times last week, tallying 38 strikeouts, a save, three complete games and a 4-0 record while giving up no runs and only five hits in 23.2 innings pitched. At the plate, Brown hit .545 for the week with 13 RBI, four runs scored and 12 hits in 26 plate appearances, which included four doubles, three triples and a home run.

Jensin Hall, Frisco Heritage P

Hall, a Dartmouth commit, was outstanding at the plate and in the circle during an 8-0 week for the Coyotes, who outscored their opponents 84-3 in a sensational start to their 2023 campaign. She made six appearances in the circle for Frisco Heritage and claimed one save and a 5-0 record after throwing 58 strikeouts, three shutouts and two no-hitters in 22.1 innings pitched. Hall also recorded a .583 batting average for the week with 11 RBI, 12 runs and 14 hits (three doubles, HR) in 26 plate appearances.

Neveah Brown, Harker Heights P/INF

Brown was dialed in during her time in the circle last week, as Harker Heights finished the opening week of the season with a 4-1 record. She was the starting pitcher in all five of the Knights’ opening week games and went the distance four times, which included a complete game no-hitter in an 11-0 win over Killeen Shoemaker. Brown also tallied a 1.62 ERA and 69 Ks through 26 innings pitched, as well as a .400 batting average offensively with nine RBI, four runs scored, three HRs and a pair of doubles.

Jaelynn Duke, Huntsville UTL/P

Duke hit everything that came her way during a 5-3 opening week of the season for the Hornets. She boasted a .760 batting average for the week and racked up six stolen bases, 13 runs scored, 14 RBI and 19 hits, including three home runs, three triples and two doubles in 27 plate appearances. In the circle, Duke tallied 36 strikeouts, a 3.62 ERA and a 2-2 record in 29 innings pitched across five games.

Taylor Anderson, Dripping Springs SS

Anderson, an Oklahoma State commit, was dangerous in the batter’s box and on the basepaths during a 6-1 week for Dripping Springs to kick off the new season. She hit .609 for the week with three RBI, five walks, 10 stolen bases, 12 runs scored, 14 hits — including a double and home run — and a 1.462 OPS in 29 plate appearances.

Alexis Warncke, East Bernard P/UTL

Warncke was close to untouchable in the circle during the opening week of the season. She picked up a save and a 3-0 record in five appearances, throwing for 48 strikeouts, one walk and a 0.32 ERA through 21.2 innings pitched. She also managed to hit .706 for the week with eight runs, eight RBI, 12 hits — four doubles, two triples, two HRs — and two steals offensively.

Hannah Harvey, Lucas Lovejoy 2B/SS

Harvey showed why she’s one of the hardest hitting middle infielders in Texas high school softball during a 5-2 opening week of action for the Leopards. She slapped 13 base hits — which included four double, three HRs and a triple — for a .684 average and also recorded 11 RBI, 11 runs scored and a 2.170 OPS in 23 plate appearances.

Arlette Hernandez, La Joya P

Hernandez started every game in the circle and was a major contributor offensively too during a 6-2 week for the Coyotes to open the 2023 season. She tallied a 3-2 record and 1.75 ERA after notching 61 strikeouts and allowing 13 walks, nine earned runs and two extra-base hits in 36 innings pitched. Hernandez hit .500 at the plate during that eight-game stretch, collecting four runs, 10 RBI, 12 base hits (six doubles, two HRs, triple) and a 1.621 OPS in 26 plate appearances.

BOYS WRESTLING

Angelo Ferrari, Melissa (5A-175)

Ferrari, one of the nation’s top pound-for-pound high school wrestlers, put on a dominant display at the state wrestling tournament until he reached the podium. The Cardinals junior beat Canyon Randall’s Riley Davis by a 9-1 major decision in their championship match to win an individual state championship in the 5A boys 175-pound division and finish the year with a spotless 28-0 record.

Karson Tompkins, Midlothian (5A-190)

Tompkins was one of two Midlothian wrestlers that brought home individual state titles from the 2023 UIL Wrestling State Championships, and also showed why he’s one of the Lone Star State’s most elite heavyweight wrestlers. He completed his senior year with a spotless 50-0 record after pinning Melissa’s Hudson Zufelt just 57 seconds into their championship match in the boys 5A 190-pound division.

Jeremy Manibog, Katy (6A-165)

Manibog completed a perfect season on the mat when he pinned McKinney Boyd’s Cameron Girard 1:47 into their championship match, sealing a 45-0 record for his senior season and capturing an individual state title in the 6A boys 165-pound division.

Shawn Ryncarz, Arlington Martin (6A-126)

Ryncarz capped off an incredible high school career by reaching his fourth straight championship match at the UIL Wrestling State Championships. He won his third career state title by beating The Woodlands College Park’s Caio Aron 2-1 during a tiebreaker period in the first-place match for the 6A boys 126-pound division, finishing his senior year with a 40-3 overall record.

Hunter Bogner, Dumas (5A-126)

Bogner was one of two Demons boys wrestlers who successfully defended their respective 2021-22 state championships at a different weight class. He pinned Canyon Randall’s Ashton Bennert in 85 seconds to finish the year at 35-1 overall and win his second straight state title, this time in the 5A boys 126-pound division after capturing the crown in the 113-pound division a year ago.

GIRLS WRESTLING

Alexis Hanks, Killeen Ellison (5A-114)

Hanks stood out while competing against a deep field of lightweight wrestlers at the 2023 UIL Wrestling State Championships, ending her senior year with a 43-0 record and an individual state title in the 5A girls 114-pound division after beating Amarillo Palo Duro’s Victoria Vasquez via a 15-0 technical forfeit 5 minutes into their championship match.

Madison Canales, Richmond Foster (5A-126)

Canales became the only 5A girls wrestler to return to the state tournament and earn another individual state championship for the second consecutive season. After capturing a state title in the 5A girls 128-pound division last year, she returned to the top of the podium with an unblemished 46-0 record after pinning Burleson Centennial’s Maritza Martinez in 1:52 to win another state title in the 5A girls 126-pound division.

Olivia Moreno, Austin Bowie (6A-126)

Moreno prevailed in one of the most intense state title matches of the 2023 UIL Wrestling State Championships, earning a win over previously unbeaten Emily Pedro of Little Elm via a 1-0 decision to secure a 36-0 record for the year and an individual state title in the 6A girls 126-pound division, which makes her one of just six Texas high school girls wrestlers to win three straight UIL state championships.

Serenity De La Garza, McAllen Memorial (5A-138)

In her fourth consecutive trip to the UIL Wrestling State Championships, De La Garza finished her senior season with a 36-0 record and pinned Frisco’s Destiny Sims in 3:39 to win her first state championship in the 5A girls 138-pound division.

Jasmine Robinson, Allen (6A-152)

Robinson became one of only a handful of Texas high school girls wrestlers to win three individual UIL state titles in a row, pinning previously undefeated Audrey Onyeonwu of Round Rock McNeil in 77 seconds to win another state championship in the 6A girls 152-pound division.