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VOTE: Gaylord Herald Times Athlete of the Week, winter week seven

dylan jespersen, the petoskey news-review
·2 min read

It is time to vote for the Gaylord Herald Times Athlete of the Week.

Please send stats/nominations to djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com by Sunday evening to have your athletes nominated.

Vote for the GHT AOTW, candidates include Keaton Abraham (top), Jayden Marlatt (left), Zane Willobee (right), Jaron Bensinger (bottom left) and Ty Bensinger (bottom middle).
Vote for the GHT AOTW, candidates include Keaton Abraham (top), Jayden Marlatt (left), Zane Willobee (right), Jaron Bensinger (bottom left) and Ty Bensinger (bottom middle).

Luke Gelow, Gaylord boys basketball

Luke Gelow drives a boys basketball matchup between Gaylord and Cheboygan on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in Gaylord, Mich.
Luke Gelow drives a boys basketball matchup between Gaylord and Cheboygan on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in Gaylord, Mich.

Another day, another 30+ point scoring night for Luke Gelow.

Gaylord's senior star has been lighting up the scoreboard this season, earning his nomination this week after a 36-point output in an OT win against Cheboygan.

Daniel Jacobson, Gaylord St. Mary boys basketball

Daniel Jacobson shoots over Malaki Gascho during a boys basketball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston on Thursday, Jan. 18.
Daniel Jacobson shoots over Malaki Gascho during a boys basketball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Another week, another nomination for DJ.

This time around, St. Mary's junior leader put up matching 21-point performances in back-to-back conference wins over Forest Area and Pellston.

Kaylee Jeffers, Gaylord St. Mary girls basketball

Kaylee Jeffers drives during a Ski Valley girls basketball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary and Mancelona on Friday, Jan. 5.
Kaylee Jeffers drives during a Ski Valley girls basketball matchup between Gaylord St. Mary and Mancelona on Friday, Jan. 5.

The GSM girls team has been on a roll since the start of the new year, winning six of their last seven games since the start of January. Sophomore Kaylee Jeffers continues to play a big part in the team's success, scoring 22 points in a loss to Lake Leelanau St. Mary and 17 points in a pivotal conference win over Inland Lakes.

That win brought GSM into a tie atop the Ski Valley Conference standings with IL, setting up a potentially monumental matchup when the two teams meet again in late February.

Jayden Marlatt, Johannesburg-Lewiston girls basketball

Jayden Marlatt has continued to dominate against Ski Valley opponents.
Jayden Marlatt has continued to dominate against Ski Valley opponents.

Outside of GSM, no team in the SVC has figured out a way to slow down JoBurg's Jayden Marlatt.

Her most recent performance in a 33-point win over Forest Area may have been her best of the season, grabbing a double-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists.

Ty Bensinger, Gaylord wrestling

Ty Bensinger stayed perfect in the 2023-24 season en route to the 190-pound championship win.
Ty Bensinger stayed perfect in the 2023-24 season en route to the 190-pound championship win.

One of three Blue Devils to claim individual championships at the Gaylord-hosted NMC Championships meet on Saturday, Jan. 27, the top-ranked 190-pound wrestler in the state cruised to a 4-0 record on the weekend while defeating Charlevoix's Trevor Streeter (MD 15-5) to stay a perfect 23-0 on the season.

Jaron Bensigner, Gaylord wrestling

Everyone was surprised at how quickly Jaron Bensinger ended the 120-pound first-place match at the NMC Championships on Saturday, even Bensinger himself.
Everyone was surprised at how quickly Jaron Bensinger ended the 120-pound first-place match at the NMC Championships on Saturday, even Bensinger himself.

Another individual title winner was the other Bensinger as Jaron cruised through the 120-pound bracket, successfully pinning TC Ct. Francis's Tyler Sheeran (fall 0:38) in the final match before anyone knew what happened, including Bensinger himself.

Zane Willobee, Gaylord wrestling

Zane Willobee was one of three individual winners from Gaylord on Saturday, winning the 157-pound bracket.
Zane Willobee was one of three individual winners from Gaylord on Saturday, winning the 157-pound bracket.

The third and final individual championship winner, battling with Ogemaw Heights's Xander Kartes in the finals before claiming the 157-pound championship.

Keaton Abraham, Gaylord ski

Keaton Abraham races during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional races on Monday, February 13 at Nub's Nob in Harbor Springs, Mich.
Keaton Abraham races during the MHSAA Division 2 Regional races on Monday, February 13 at Nub's Nob in Harbor Springs, Mich.

Last but not least, Gaylord ski's top men's competitor found his way tot he top of the podium last week at the Gaylord-hosted BNC Contest last Thursday at Boyne Mountain. Abraham earned a first place finish in the slalom race in a time of 1:22.28, pacing the Gaylord effort.

Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: VOTE NOW: Gaylord Herald Times Athlete of the Week