Desert Sun Athlete of the Week Voting Opens With Five Coachella Valley Candidates
The short version
- Voting is open online at desertsun.com, closing Saturday at noon.
- Last week's winner was Palm Desert flag football player Gwyneth Kitagawa.
- Five candidates are nominated: two golfers, two volleyball players and one water polo player.
- Mia Margolis aced the 102-yard ninth hole at the Rainbow Sandals Invitational.
- Natalia Smith had 25 kills as Shadow Hills took sole first place in the Desert Valley League.
Readers can now choose among five local high school athletes, including a golfer with a hole-in-one and a water polo player with a buzzer-beating goal.
The Desert Sun has opened voting for its latest Athlete of the Week honor, with five high school athletes from the Coachella Valley on the ballot. Readers select the winner through an online poll at desertsun.com, and the candidate with the most votes at noon Saturday takes the award.
The previous week's honor went to Gwyneth Kitagawa, a flag football player at Palm Desert. Across two consecutive victories, she accounted for two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Aztecs.
This week's nominees, listed alphabetically, include two golfers, two volleyball players and one water polo player. Keira Cassady of Rancho Mirage went a combined 3-over across 27 holes in two matches, helping the Rattlers open league play at 2-0. The reigning Desert Empire League individual champion is competing in the Desert Valley League this season after league realignment.
Gavin Lawrence of La Quinta scored at the buzzer to give the Blackhawks a 10-9 water polo win over rival Palm Desert. Palm Desert golfer Mia Margolis recorded a hole-in-one during the Rainbow Sandalls Invitational at San Clemente, acing the 102-yard ninth hole with a pitching wedge. She shot an 82 for the day as the Aztecs placed sixth as a team.
In volleyball, Aliya Rapolla of Palm Springs posted 17 kills and 14 digs in a 3-0 win over Yucca Valley as the Indians chase third place in the DEL and its accompanying playoff berth. Natalia Smith of Shadow Hills recorded 25 kills in a 3-1 win over Rancho Mirage, moving the Knights into sole possession of first place in the Desert Valley League.
Nominations for future awards can be sent to [email protected].
