Sunnyslope, Cactus Shadows students top Arizona Republic's Athlete of the Week polls
John Mattingly of Sunnyslope High School and Lyla Strohman of Cactus Shadows High School were selected as The Arizona Republic's high school athletes of the week in polls posted on azcentral.com. More than 5,000 combined votes were cast in this week's polls, which are sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath.
Mattingly, a Vikings' basketball player, was nominated after scoring 43 points in 62-60 win over Brophy. He also scored 31 against Damien, 24 against Campbell Hall, 28 against La Mirada, and 18 against Heritage Christian in The Classic at Damien tournament in California.
Other boys' nominees included Lex Clontz, Cesar Chavez basketball, who averaged 19 points in his team's 4-0 performance in its bracket at Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge; and Kayden Luke, Canyon del Oro wrestling, who was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Mile High Challenge in Prescott, winning the 215-pound division.
Strohman, who plays on the Falcons' soccer team, was nominated after tallying 6 goals and 1 assist in four games since Dec. 12 as Cactus Shadows went 5-0-1 during that stretch.
Other girls' nominees were Aspen McClees, Gilbert basketball, who scored 18 points to lead the Tigers to a 40-37 win over visiting Alchesay from Window Rock, in the Epic New Years Tournament at Gilbert High School; and Rachel Roderick, Camp Verde basketball, who scored 17 second-half points for 23 total to lead Camp Verde over Parker 64-46 in the annual Yvonne Johnson Memorial Shootout championship last Thursday.
Nominees are based on performances in AIA-sanctioned sports. Polls are posted on Monday and voting closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Results are announced the next day on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic on Friday. Nominees are chosen by Republic sports staff, with input from coaches and readers. Submit a weekly nominee at static.azcentral.com/sports/high-schools/nominations/
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote for The Arizona Republic's high school athletes of the week, Jan. 3, 2024
