Vote Now: The Herald's High School Athlete of the Week (May 2, 2025)!

Below are the contenders for The Herald’s High School Athlete of the Week award. Voting will conclude at midday on Sunday.

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This week’s nominees

Tristan Blake, Legion Collegiate Soccer The junior midfielder for the Lancers found the back of the net three times in two victories, helping Legion Collegiate secure a 5-0 win against Atlantic Collegiate Academy on April 30 followed by a nail-biting 5-4 victory over Combine Academy the following day.

Connor Demmerle, Fort Mill track event: The Yellow Jackets’ junior won the Region III 5A title in the 800-meter run in 1 minute, 59.04 seconds and the 1,600 in 4:24.46 at Clover High on May 1.

Demmerle also assisted the Fort Mill 4x800-meter relay team in claiming a regional championship at the same event.

Lucas Hansson, Northwestern soccer: The Trojan team's experienced goalie made 22 saves during their 3-2 victory against Indian Land on May 2nd.

Northwestern (2-16) also lost 6-1 to Catawba Ridge on April 28.

Josh Helms from Rock Hill tennis: The Bearcats' underclassman secured a victory with a score of 6-0, 6-0 at the third singles position, aiding Rock Hill in achieving a 5-1 triumph against Byrnes in the initial stage of the 5A state playoffs on April 29.

Helms secured the sole win with scores of 3-6, 6-2, 10-7 in third-position singles play during their team’s 5-1 defeat against Lexington in the playoff's second round.

Helms, an all-Region III 5A performer finished the season at 14-1 in singles play for Rock Hill (12-5).

Larson Montgomery, York baseball: The Cougars’ senior went six innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing just one earned run while earning the victory in a 4-3 win at at Lancaster on April 29. Montgomery was also 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI in the same game.

Montgomery boasts 87 strikeouts across 51 innings pitched, maintaining an impressive 1.65 ERA. At the plate, he’s been equally formidable, batting at a clip of .386 with five doubles, one triple, one homer, driving in 15 runs, and scoring 21 times for York this year.

Ella Nighbor, Clover girls’ track: The Blue Eagles’ junior won the Region III 5A title in the 3,200-meter run, running a 11:05.13. Nighbor also finished third in the 1,600-meters at the same meet in 5:03.26.

Nighbor also won the 800-meter run in 2:20.38 at the Tri-County Championships at South Pointe High on May 3. She also finished as runner-up in the 1,600 (5:51.14) and third in the 3200-meter (13:00.49).

Evan Rybacki, South Pointe track: The Stallions’ junior had personal-best times to win Region III 4A titles in the 1,600-meters (4:30.08) and the 3,200-meter run (9:55.72).

Rybacki also helped the South Pointe 4x800-meter relay to a region title the same day.

Levi Staton, Riverwalk Academy track: The Lions’ senior finished sixth in the discus and 10th in the shot put at the Region II 1A championships on April 30.

At the Tri-County Championships held at South Pointe High on May 3, Staton achieved a new personal best of 37 feet 10 inches in the shot put, securing fourth place. Additionally, they set a personal record of 93 feet 6 inches in the javelin throw, placing them seventh overall, while coming in fifth in the discus event.

The information released today encompasses data up to May 3.