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Tulare County athlete of the week: Tulare Western's Chi’el Sanchez

vongni yang, visalia times-delta
·3 min read

Tulare Western water polo player Chi’el Sanchez was voted by readers as the Visalia Times-Delta Tulare County high school athlete of the week.

In an online poll that closed on Nov. 3, Sanchez received 2,179 votes, or a 28.8% majority, of the 7,600 responses.

Sanchez scored four goals, including the game-winner, to help the Mustangs beat rival Tulare Union 15-14.

Here's a look at past winners from this school year:

  • Avery Starr, Tulare Western volleyball

  • Holden Benevento, El Diamante boys water polo

  • Emma Taylor, El Diamante volleyball

  • Ty Baxter, Monache football

  • Faith Powell, Tulare Western volleyball

  • Jazmaine Stewart, Farmersville volleyball

  • Noeliah Zavala, Tulare Union golf

  • Olivia Machado, Tulare Western girls water polo

  • Areli Tobon, Mt. Whitney girls tennis

  • Caden Ritchie, Central Valley Christian football

Water polo ball in pool.
Water polo ball in pool.

Original story: Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register readers can now vote for their favorite high school athletes at the newspaper's website, visaliatimesdelta.com. The poll closes on Friday.

Please do not email your votes.

Here are the choices for the week of Oct. 31 to Nov. 3:

  • Amanda Caudillo, volleyball, Golden West: Caudillo recorded 13 kills, two aces and 10 digs to lead the Trailblazers to a 25-17, 25-11, 25-18 win over Dinuba in the Central Section Division IV quarterfinals.

  • Lance Lopez, football, Orosi: Lopez threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals topped Orange Cove to win a share of the East Sequoia League championship.

  • Cascade Norton, volleyball, Exeter: Norton delivered 13 kills, three blocks and four digs as the Tri-County Conference Kings Canyon champion Monarchs (30-11) defeated Garces 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21 in a Central Section Division II quarterfinal match.

  • Tieler Peterson, football, Tulare Union: Peterson rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns as the Tribe won their fourth straight Bell Game.

More: Tulare County Football: Central Valley Christian earns top seed in D2 playoffs

  • Kai Preisendorf, football, Redwood: Preisendorf tallied two sacks and five tackles in the Cowhide.

  • Jacob Ramirez, football, Mission Oak: Ramirez hauled in four passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a one-point win over Dinuba.

  • Julian Ramirez, football, Dinuba: Ramirez scored two rushing touchdowns and also made a sack on defense.

  • Mario Rodriguez, football, Mt. Whitney: Rodriguez made the game-sealing tackle in overtime to lead the Pioneers to a win at the 68th Cowhide game. His team also won an outright East Yosemite League championship and the Sid Hosking Trophy city title that is awarded to Visalia's top public school squad.

More: Tulare Union tops Tulare Western to win 4th straight Bell Game

  • Chi’el Sanchez, boys water polo, Tulare Western: Sanchez scored four goals, including the game-winner, to help the Mustangs beat rival Tulare Union 15-14.

  • Mason Shonk, football, Golden West: Shonk scored on a 19-yard touchdown catch to help the Trailblazers win the Battle for the Saddle game.

Tulare Union's Tieler Peterson looks up field for a first down against Mission Oak in a West Yosemite League high school football game Friday, October 13, 2023 at Bob Mathias Stadium.
Tulare Union's Tieler Peterson looks up field for a first down against Mission Oak in a West Yosemite League high school football game Friday, October 13, 2023 at Bob Mathias Stadium.

Nominations are based on information available to the Times-Delta.

All high school varsity players from Tulare County can be on the ballot. Nominations must be received for consideration by Monday morning following that week's games.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County athlete of the week: Tulare Western's Chi’el Sanchez