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Time to vote for Marion County High School Athlete Of The Week

allen pettigrew jr., ocala star-banner
·2 min read

Sports around Marion County reached historic heights last week. The first MCIAC flag football champion was crowned, a baseball player set a home run record and a boys volleyball rivalry finally swung in the favor of the underdog.

Cooper Jones was the lucky Colt to go 3-for-3 from the plate with dingers at each at-bat. Janiana Wess stepped up in the biggest game of Forest's flag football season with three interceptions that pushed her to the top 10 in the state in takeaways. Dylan Luke and his Wolf Pack teammates are responsible for beating Forest boys volleyball for the first time in school history.

We have big performances and so much more in the week's edition of the Marion County athlete of the week race. Let your voice be heard with a vote for the best performance from a week of legacy defining games.

You can vote for your favorite athlete once per hour. Please share the poll on social media so friends and family can get in on the action. Voting will close Thursday at 11:59 p.m.

Antwaun Hampton, Weightlifting, North Marion

North Marion High School Antwuan Hampton is the Ocala Star Banner Boys Weightlifter of the Year. Hampton, an incoming junior, poses for a portrait Tuesday, June 28, 2022 in the North Marion High School weight room. Hampton placed 5th in state by benching 380 pounds and clean and jerked 265 for a total of 645 pounds.
North Marion High School Antwuan Hampton is the Ocala Star Banner Boys Weightlifter of the Year. Hampton, an incoming junior, poses for a portrait Tuesday, June 28, 2022 in the North Marion High School weight room. Hampton placed 5th in state by benching 380 pounds and clean and jerked 265 for a total of 645 pounds.

Stats: 685 pounds total lift, 1st place at regionals

Hampton continues to add hardware to his trophy shelf. After taking the county and district titles, he brought home the regional title to solidify his run to the state finals.

Dylan Luke, Volleyball, West Port

Stats: 7 Aces, 34 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks

Luke had a monster performance to give the Wolf Pack boys volleyball team their first win over Forest in school history. He led West Port to an undefeated week and they are 8-0 on the season with two matches left.

Cooper Jones, Baseball, North Marion

Stats: .636 batting average, 6 home runs, 7 hits, 9 RBIs

Jones made history for the Colts with a three home run game. The senior's had the hottest bat in the county with homers in his last three games.

Janiana Wess, Flag Football, Forest

Forest Janiana Wess (20) breaks up the pass intended for Belleview Madison Douglass (22) as Forest travels to Belleview for the MCIAC championship Thursday, April 6, 2023, at Belleview High School in Belleview, Fla. Belleview won 13-12 in overtime. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Star-Banner]
Forest Janiana Wess (20) breaks up the pass intended for Belleview Madison Douglass (22) as Forest travels to Belleview for the MCIAC championship Thursday, April 6, 2023, at Belleview High School in Belleview, Fla. Belleview won 13-12 in overtime. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Star-Banner]

Stats: 3 interceptions in MCIAC title game

Wess had a monster performance for the Wildcats. Her ball skills and athleticism kept the Wildcats in the title game.

Ryleigh Bauer, Softball, West Port

Stats: .750 batting average, 6 hits, 3 RBIs, 13 Ks

Bauer piloted the Wolf Pack to an undefeated week. She got the job done with her bat and on the mound.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: It's time to vote for the Marion County High School Athlete of the Week