Meet the nominees for the Greater Lafayette Area Athletes of the Week from Dec. 26-30
LAFAYETTE - Records were broken and history was made by eight outstanding wrestlers and basketball players who shot and grappled their way to individual and team achievements during the last week of 2023.
A Twin Lakes senior shot her way into the record books last Friday while two wrestlers earned sectional titles in Winamac and a sophomore from McCutcheon led a strong rebounding effort for the Mavericks.
Wrestlers from Harrison and McCutcheon hit benchmarks while a Lafayette Jeff senior and West Lafayette junior provided key baskets for their respective programs during games and tournaments last Friday and Saturday.
These eight individuals have been nominated as the Athletes of the Week from the Greater Lafayette Area by coaches, administrators and Journal & Courier sports reporters.
Let's meet the Athletes of the Week whose accomplishments occurred between Dec. 26-30. Voting on the poll at the bottom of this story will end Friday at midnight. Winners will be announced Saturday at 9 a.m.
More: Patience pays dividends for Indiana's new 3-point record holder from Twin Lakes
Olivia Nickerson
School: Twin Lakes
Sport: Basketball
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Nickerson shot her way into the history books last Wednesday during a home tournament game against Faith Christian. Nickerson became Indiana's career in 3-pointers hitting her 364th shot beyond the arc and leading Twin Lakes over the Eagles 77-50. Twin Lakes (6-4) hosts Central Catholic on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Rose Kaplan
School: West Lafayette
Sport: Wrestling
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Kaplan took the first step in defending her 2023 Indiana state championship. Kaplan won three matches during the cand pinned Rensselaer Central junior Kylee Spencer to claim the 125-pound title. Kaplan won last year's Indiana state title by beating Sophia Buechner of Terre Haute North 6-2.
More: Meet the Attica wrestler who beat the scale to become a state contender
Asra Foley
School: Harrison
Sport: Wrestling
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Foley, one of the top returning discus throwers made a major impact on the wrestling mats. Foley won the 170-pound IHSGW Winamac Regional title by pinning freshman Hailey Krug of Tri-County. Greater Lafayette wrestler who won regional titles will be competing at the Semi-State Championships at Penn High School in Mishakawa beginning this Friday. First matches start at 11 a.m.
Kalea Washington
School: McCutcheon
Sport: Basketball
Class: Junior
Team contributions: Washington showed that scoring isn't the only component helping McCutcheon (13-2) during its 10 game winning streak - the longest such streak for the Mavericks in 13 seasons. Washington led a commanding rebounding effort during the Twin Lakes Holiday Tournament and the Mavericks won all three games by double digits. Washington grabbed 16 rebounds and scored six points in the championship game to beat Bishop Chatard 50-35 last Thursday evening, outrebounding the Trojans by 15. Washington grabbed 14 rebounds and scored four points in a 63-42 win over Tri-County in the semifinals last Thursday morning and secured seven rebounds with six points to beat Chesterton 61-50 last Wednesday.
Kevo St. Hilaire
School: West Lafayette
Sport: Basketball
Class: Junior
Team contributions: The 6-10 center for the Red Devils has progressed into becoming a legitimate post threat for the Red Devils. Hilaire scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead West Lafayette over Seeger 63-48 last Friday. West Lafayette (6-4) hosts Harrison this Friday at 7 p.m.
Team contributions: Scoring baskets are one key but simple component to McCutcheon's second longest winning streak since the 2010-11 season. Rebounding has been just as vital for McCutcheon (13-2) and Washington crashed the glass the repeatedly to help her team win the Twin Lakes Holiday Tournament last Thursday. Washington grabbed 16 rebounds and scored six points in the tourney title game to beat Bishop Chatard 50-35 last Thursday evening. She snatched 14 rebounds and scored four points in a 63-42 win over Tri-County last Thursday morning and pulled down seven rebounds with six points in a 61-50 victory over Chesterton last Wednesday.
More: How Faith Christian wrestling grew from a six-person program to a small-school power
Ethan Popp
School: Harrison
Sport: Wrestling
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Harrison's stoic and soft-spoken captain hit another milestone with the Raiders last Friday. Popp won his 100th wrestling match and earned first place at the North Montgomery Holiday Duals last Saturday. Popp is planning to enlist in the Air Force after his wrestling career is over.
More: Kyle Osborne's legacy lives on through coaches and wrestlers
Cole Chicoine
School: McCutcheon
Sport: Wrestling
Class: Senior
Team contributions: The #2 ranked 215-pound wrestler in Indiana was impressive once again during a busy day of wrestling at the 52nd Mooresville Holiday Classic in Morgan County last Saturday. Chicoine won five of his six matches via pinfall and one by major decision to capture 1st place at the tournament. Chicoine pinned Northview sophomore Devyn Orman at the 0:34 mark in the first period to win the tourney title.
Ah'keem Wilson
School: Lafayette Jeff
Sport: Basketball
Class: Senior
Team contributions: Wilson has become more aggressive with his scoring for the Bronchos who found their rhythm to end 2023. Wilson averaged 19 points per game and led Lafayette Jeff to the Highland Holiday Hoopfest title last Thursday. Lafayette Jeff won all three of its games beating Andrean 52-46 and Griffith 56-48 last Wednesday and Morgan Township 51-46 last Thursday in the championship. Lafayette Jeff (9-2) has won six straight games and will host Muncie Central this Friday at 8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA sports: Lafayette Athlete of the Week nominees for Dec. 26-30
