Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Oct. 7-12.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Nic Austen, College Park water polo: The junior totaled five goals, six steals and an assist as College Park defeated Clovis 12-9. College Park (16-3, 2-0) is tied for first place with Campolindo in the Diablo Athletic League- Foothill Division standings.
Benjamin Bouie, Crystal Springs Uplands cross country: Bouie crossed the finish line in 15:41.21 to take first place in the 2.95-mile run at the West Bay Athletic League meet.
Trey Caldwell, De La Salle cross country: Caldwell broke a course record when he took first place in the Crystal Springs Invitational 2.95-mile run, crossing the finish line in 14:27. The previous record was held by Mitch Kingery, whose time of 14:28 held for 51 years.
Josh Elerts, Acalanes football: Elerts rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a running back to lead Acalanes to a 35-28 win over Miramonte. Acalanes (5-2, 1-0) will play Clayton Valley on the road on Friday.
Moussa Fall, MacDonald football: Fall completed 8 of 16 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown to lead MacDonald to a 20-14 win over Cupertino. The junior also rushed for 48 yards and a score for MacDonald, which is 2-4 and will host Saratoga on Friday.
Matthew Garibaldi, San Ramon Valley football: Garibaldi, a senior, totaled 236 rushing yards and three touchdowns as SRV held off California 38-26. The Wolves are now 7-0, 1-0 and will travel to De La Salle on Friday.
Ethan Kennedy, Dublin football: Kennedy had a 60-yard pick-six in Dublin’s 18-14 upset win over Foothill. Dublin, which improved to 2-4, 1-0, is slated to host Granada on Friday.
Dylan Ly, Evergreen Valley football: The senior rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in Evergreen Valley’s 22-8 win over James Lick. The Cougars are 4-2, 2-0 and are scheduled to host Gunderson on Friday.
Carmel Mendes-Grassia, Woodside football: The senior quarterback returned two kicks for touchdowns and had a passing score in Woodside’s 77-12 win over Homestead. Woodside (4-2, 2-0) plays at South San Francisco on Friday.
Casey Watkins, Menlo-Atherton water polo: Watkins had four goals and four steals in M-A’s 14-3 win over Carlmont. The Bears are 10-7, 7-1 this season.
