Vote for the best performers of the week and see who won previous polls at the Marion Star
For the first time, fans were asked to vote for their favorites for preseason boys basketball and boys and girls wrestlers of the year in the Marion Star polls.
The most action was found in the girls wrestling poll as 2,437 votes were cast with Marion Harding's Sophia Holt getting 1,094 votes (45 percent) to win it. Others receiving votes were Highland's Emma Bolton, Elgin's Hallie Winslow, River Valley's Kylee Sardina and Cardington's Cameron Sherman.
The boys wrestler of the year poll saw 1,975 votes with Highland's Konner Blaney earning 676 (34 percent) to win it. Teammate Cael Gilmore and Pleasant's Daxton Chase also made the top three. Others receiving votes were Elgin's Kaiden Luikart, Northmor's Brady Carr, Pleasant's Julien Griffith, Elgin's Nels VanGundy, and Northmor's Cowin Becker, Carson Campbell and Ethan Amens.
Another poll: You pick! Marion Star Preseason Swimmers of the Year Polls now open
Look at last week's poll results: Vote for your favorite athletes in this week's Marion Star Performer Polls.
The boys basketball preseason winner was Pleasant's Trey Booker who received 119 of 331 votes (36 percent), while River Valley's Carson Smith and Cardington's A.J. Brehm made the top three. Other nominees were Marion Harding's Trey Cady, Cardington's Journey Williamson, North Union's Max Parish, Marion Harding's Marquis Long Jr., Northmor's Jax Wenger, Marion Harding's Braylyn Dyer, Ridgedale's Nathan Thiel, RV's Chase Ebert, Northmor's Grant Bentley, Ridgedale's Brayden Townsend and North Union's Miles Hall.
Last week's poll winners
In last week's Marion Star Girls Best of the Week Performer Poll, Mount Gilead basketball player Ava Baker, who nailed six 3-pointers for 18 points in a win over Utica, earned 300 of 619 votes (48 percent) to win it. Other nominees were Pleasant basketball's Avah Steele, Ridgedale basketball's Lauren Leslie, RV bowler Alexis Manning, Highland bowler Elyssa Reigles and Elgin bowler Bethany Strong.
In the boys poll last week, Mount Gilead basketball's Rowan Fitzpatrick got 100 of 243 votes (41 percent) to win it after scoring 18 points in a victory over Loudonville. Other nominees were Pleasant bowler Nolan Ludwig, Northmor basketball's Grant Bentley, RV bowler Andrew Karrick and Ridgedale bowler Jayden Reynolds.
This week's poll nominees
Voting in this week's boys and girls best of the week polls will continue through early Sunday morning at MarionStar.com and its app.
Boys nominees:
● River Valley basketball's Ayden Kenney scored 31 points in a win over Ontario.
● Gilead Christian basketball's Talan Blankenship tallied 21 points in a win over Faith Christian.
● North Union basketball's Max Parish produced 26 points in each victory over KIPP and Benjamin Logan.
● Cardington basketball's Brayden Lackey put up 22 points with 15 rebounds in a win over Elgin.
● Pleasant wrestler Daxton Chase won the 150-pound class at the John Brown Invitational in Mount Vernon.
● Elgin wrestler Quentin Harrison won the 157-pound class at the John Brown Invitational in Mount Vernon.
Girls nominees
● Mount Gilead basketball's Greer Simpson put up 11 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Danville.
● North Union basketball's Audrey Benedict posted 13 points and six steals in a win over Benjamin Logan.
● River Valley swimmer Karis Beineke won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke in a meet with Marion Harding, Mount Gilead and Elgin, plus won the 100 free and 100 breaststroke in a meet with Harding and Pleasant.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Star Boys Best of the Week Performer Poll, vote:
