Cast your vote: Who should win PNJ Athlete of the Week for Oct. 16-21
Vote early and often for the Pensacola News Journal Athlete of the Week!
The polls are open until 11 a.m. Saturday at PNJ.com. Each weekly winner will be awarded a one-of-a-kind PNJ Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS. Winners will be contacted within the next two weeks.
Nominees are accepted via email or phone, but will be selected by staff in the absence of submission.
Note: Is your team or sport missing from Athlete of the Week? Be sure to file statistics with PNJ staff or keep your MaxPreps page up to date.
Ben Grieco can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
Patrick Bernadeau can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
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PNJ Athlete of the Week (Oct. 16-21)
Cross Country (Boys): Xander McLaughlin, Pensacola Catholic - The senior was excellent in a pair of meets. McLaughlin placed third at the Longleaf Seis from the Longleaf Course with a time of 18 minutes, 11.8 seconds. Four days later, he took first at Taking on the Trails from the University of West Florida after crossing the line in 17:44.1. The victory propelled the Crusader to a first-place team finish in the event.
Cross Country (Girls): Addison Garrett, Pensacola Catholic - The Crusaders sophomore collected a pair of victories. She recorded a mark of 21:17.2 to place first at the Longleaf Seis from the Longleaf Course. Garrett improved those numbers four days later in a win at Taking on the Trails from the University of West Florida, turning in a time of 21:11.3.
Football (Defense): Jonathan Daniels, Pine Forest - The senior defensive lineman had three sacks during the Eagles’ 14-7 victory over Escambia.
Football (Offense): Battle Alberson, Gulf Breeze - The senior quarterback accounted for nearly 400 yards of offense during the Dolphins’ 27-20 victory over Tate. Alberson completed 23 of 31 passes for 280 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also had 14 rushes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Football (Special Teams): Andre Spence, Navarre - The junior athlete had a go-ahead 60-yard kickoff return touchdown during the Raiders’ 25-24 win at Pace. He also had a rushing touchdown and an interception on defense.
Golf (Boys): Sammy Tucker, Booker T. Washington - The senior was victorious in two meets. At the Marcus Pointe Golf Club, Tucker shot a 43 to take first place in a two-team meet against Tate. One day later, he earned medalist honors with a 36 in a two-team meet against Escambia from the Osceola Municipal Golf Course.
Golf (Girls): Islay Benoit, Pensacola Catholic - The Crusaders senior shot a two-under-par 34 during a four-time meet at The Club at Hidden Creek. Benoit birdied the second, third and sixth holes before bogeying the seventh.
Swimming and Diving (Boys): Nicholas Shashaty, Pensacola Catholic - The sophomore broke a 45-year old school record by swimming the 100-yard butterfly in 59.34. He finished fourth in that event as well as the 50 freestyle (22.48) while helping his team to first in the 200-yard medley relay (1:51.02) and second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:39.36).
Swimming and Diving (Girls): Jennifer Mims, West Florida - The senior collected four wins to help the Jaguars win their second consecutive district title. Mims earned individual victories at a 1-meter dive (437.6) and 100 freestyle (57.54) and helped the team to wins in the 200 medley relay (1:55.48) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.19).
Volleyball: Bella Satterwhite, Gulf Breeze - The junior outside led the team in kills during the Dolphins’ fifth straight district title. Satterwhite put up 10 kills, seven aces and four aces during a semifinal victory over Tate. Two days later, she posted 17 kills and eight digs during the championship match against Navarre.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Vote for Pensacola News Journal's Athlete of the Week for Oct. 16-21
