Vote here for The State’s Midlands high school boys, girls athletes of the week
It’s time to vote for The State’s high school spring sports Players of the Week from Midlands-area schools and games played from April 27-May 2.
Voting ends at noon Friday. The winner will be announced on Lou Bezjak’s Twitter page. This will be the last weekly poll for the spring. There will other polls regarding postseason honors in the coming weeks.
The nominees are listed below. Please note that these polls are not scientific and are meant to be just for fun.
Congrats to all the nominees. Cast your vote below the bios:
Girls Player of Week Nominees
Bayli Aiken, Hammond track & field: Aiken won the 100, 200 and 400 and earned MVP honors in helping the Skyhawks to the SCISA Division I championship, the program’s first title since 1999.
Iyanna Butler, Swansea softball: Butler went 3-for-5 with a double, four RBIs and also walked five times.
Hailey Jiminez Cortez, Brookland-Cayce soccer: Cortez had 10 goals and 7 assists in Bearcats’ two wins last week.
Lily Hankinson, Northside Christian soccer: Sophomore had two goals and an assist last week for the Crusaders.
McKenzie Lindler, Chapin track & field: Lindler won the 100 hurdles, pole vault and was second in the 400 hurdles in helping Chapin to Region 4-5A championship.
Furaha Mayinga Bora, Columbia soccer: Junior midfielder had 3 goals in two matches last week.
Ainsley Minchew, Batesburg-Leesville softball: Sophomore struck out 20 and allowed two hits in a 1-0 win over Ridge-Spring Monetta. At the plate, Minchew went 3-for-8 with a double, home run and 2 RBIs.
Mia Reilly, Lugoff-Elgin soccer: Junior had 3 goals and an assist last week for L-E.
Bella Sabbagha, Mid-Carolina softball: Eighth grader went 7-for-8 with a double, triple and 9 RBIs in three games last week.
Lily Sundell, Lexington lacrosse: Senior had 4 goals, 3 assists, 3 ground balls, 10 draw controls and 17 draws won in 22 attempts.
Olivia Taylor, Blythewood track & field: Taylor won the 200, 400 and was fourth in the 100 in helping the Bengals to win the Region 5-5A championship.
Boys Player of Week Nominees
Jacob Braden, Chapin soccer: Braden had two goals in a win over Newberry and helped on defense in a shutout against Ashley Ridge.
Ty Fajardo, Ben Lippen baseball: Senior went 5-for-9 with 2 doubles, 5 runs scored and 8 RBIs in three playoff games last week.
Easton Farrell, Cardinal Newman baseball: Farrell went 5-for-6 with a double, grand slam and 5 RBIs in two playoff wins last week.
Jason Gonzalez, Gray Collegiate soccer: Sophomore forward had a goal and three assists in a 4-0 win over Aiken.
Pope Johnson, AC Flora lacrosse: Senior had 7 goals and 6 assists in Falcons’ two playoff wins last week.
Matthew Pinasco: Hammond soccer: Senior had 7 goals and 1 assist in two matches last week.
Jack Wilcox, Heathwood Hall track & field: Wilcox won the 1,600, 3,200, was second in the 800 and earned MVP honors in helping the Highlanders to their second straight SCISA Division I track and field championship.
Elijah White, Ridge View track & field: White won the 110 and 400 hurdles in helping the Blazers to the Region 5-5A championship.
Connor Wolfe, Heathwood Hall golf: Wolfe won the SCISA 4A individual state championship with an 11-under (133). He shot a course-record 9-under 63 in the final round at the Hackler Course in Conway.
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM.
