Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas High School Athlete of the Week? (8/28/2023)

Texas high school sports are officially underway for the 2023-24 school year. 

Each week throughout the year, SBLive will take a look at the top high school athletes across the Lone Star State by researching the entire state, gathering the top performers and putting the best of the best up for reader vote. 

We're splitting our Athlete of the Week process into two polls: a football player of the week and non-football athlete of the week.

Here are SBLive's Texas Non-Football Athlete of the Week nominees for Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Now, we want to hear from you. Scroll down to read about this week's nominees and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting remains open until Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. 

WHO SHOULD BE SBLIVE'S TEXAS NON-FOOTBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK?

Gavin Almaguer, jr., Sealy, boys cross country

The junior picked up first place by running 17:05.20, edging teammate Fernando Garza, to take first place at the 30th annual Bellville Booster XC Invitational on Saturday. The Tigers took first place with 24 points.

Josie Bishop, sr., The Colony, volleyball

The Lady Cougars rallied for a 3-1 victory against Lewisville on Tuesday. The outside hitter had 26 kills, 21 digs and two service aces.

Tatum Busch, sr., Deer Park, volleyball

The Tarleton State pledge had a season-high 18 kills, 15 digs and six aces in a 3-1 win over Clear Springs on Aug. 29 and then tallied 51 kills and 62 digs in seven games — the team was 5-2 — in a tournament in Orlando, Florida.

Summer Call, sr., Humble Atascocita, girls cross country

The senior won her home meet, the Atascocita Invitational, on Sept. 2. She won the title for the second time in her high school career, taking first in 2021. She was third last fall. The Eagles had 1-6 in the standings and won with a perfect team score of 15.

Suli Davis, jr., Colleyville Heritage, volleyball

The 6-foot-2 outside hitter - part of the Class 5A state championship squad last season - recorded 32 kills, while adding 20 digs and 20 assists in a 3-2 win over Trophy Club Byron Nelson on Aug. 29.

Lukas Delgado, sr., Flower Mound, boys water polo

He had only three shots on goal, but scored on all three and added four assists to help the Jaguars pick up a 16-15 win over Hebron on Sept. 1.

Jamie De Zwart, jr., League City Cypress Creek, boys water polo

He recorded a team-high four goals and had seven assists to help the Wildcats pick up a 16-11 win over League City Clear Falls on Aug. 29.

Ethan Drawbaugh, jr., Leander Founders Classical Academy, boys cross country

In the 3-mile race, the junior ran 16:01.30 to pick up an eye-popping win by 1:42 at the Jeep Webb Classic held on Sept. 2 in Borger. He was the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship state champion last year.

Carson Eickenloff, sr., McKinney Boyd, volleyball

The Ole Miss pledge had 15 kills, 21 digs and 31 assists to lead the Lady Broncos to a 3-1 win over Class 5A No. 1-ranked Frisco Wakeland on Tuesday.

Cameron Flannary, jr., San Antonio Alamo Heights, girls water polo

The Mules picked up an 18-10 win over San Antonio Davenport on Aug. 29 behind a seven-goal effort, which also included an assist.

Eddie Flores, sr., Presidio, boys cross country

The Blue Devils’ senior picked up his second win of the year by running 16:43.30 during the Crane Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 2 in Crane.

Jadyn Gonzalez, sr., San Antonio Brackenridge, girls cross country

Running in the San Antonio ISD Invitational on Sept. 2, Gonzalez ran 21:21.20 to win the race. It was the senior’s first varsity win.

Zanashia Harris, jr., Lubbock Coronado, girls cross country

Racing at the Abilene Christian course, the senior picked up a win on Sept. 2 at the Big Country Festival. She ran 19:37.00 and won by more than 35 seconds.

Ostan Hernandez, jr., Boyd, boys cross country

The junior won his first varsity race by taking first place on Saturday at the Battle at the Bluff — a race for schools in 4A or lower — in Fort Worth. He won by a little more than a second.

Ethan Horswell, sr., Alvin, boys water polo

The Yellowjackets hammered Pearland, 17-1, to bounce back from its first loss of the season the week prior. Horswell scored seven goals and had an assist in the victory.

Dakota Jimenez, sr., Quitman, boys cross country

Competing in his second race of the season, Jimenez ran 17:59 to win the Whitehouse Willie Wildcat Cross Country Classic by six-tenths of a second ahead of Lindale’s Dax Allen on Sept. 2.

Zade Kayyali, sr., Friendswood, boys cross country

In the first race of the season, the Class 5A all-stater ran 16:08 in the 3-mile race and picked up a win over close competition from Pearland’s Shawn Freeman at the Mustang Thunder Invitational on Sept. 2 in Friendswood.

Kinsley McPherson, so., Blum, volleyball

The reigning Class 1A state tournament MVP had 21 kills and 15 digs as the Lady Cats beat Class 4A Godley in five sets.

Elijah Merino, jr., Humble Kingwood Park, boys cross country

Merino won his second race of the year by running 16:00.30 to take first place at the Atascocita Invitational on Sept. 2 in Humble.

Kyla Rangel, jr., Crane, girls cross country

She ran a personal record at her team’s home meet — the Crane Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 2 — with a time of 20:20.60. She held a winning margin of 44 seconds.

Jazlyn Rivas, jr., El Paso Socorro, volleyball

The junior setter had 35 assists, five kills and three aces to help the Bulldogs sweep El Paso Montwood in a District 1-6A showdown on Tuesday. Socorro improved to 15-4 with the win.

Alexis Rodriguez, sr., Edinburg North, boys cross country

The senior ran a personal best in a 5K this year with a time of 15:25.20, breaking the 16-minute mark for the first time, when he won the Rio Grande Valley Cross Country Classic on Sept. 2 in Edinburg.

Makynna Smith, sr., League City Cypress Creek, girls water polo

In a 16-6 win over Cypress-Fairbanks, she had five goals and two assists on Sept. 1 and followed that up with five goals and five assists in a 16-4 win over Houston Memorial on Sept. 2.

Kylie Williams, jr., Highland Park, girls water polo

She reached 140 goals on the season after scoring 18 goals — with two assists as well — in a 25-13 win over Prosper on Sept. 2. It was a season-high in goals and the fifth time with 10 or more in a game for the Scots.

Diana Wong, sr., El Paso, volleyball

The senior outside hitter had 27 kills, eight digs, three aces and three blocks in a 3-0 win over Ysleta on Aug. 29.