Each week, the Herald-Tribune staff will select nominees for the Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Network, Inc. Nominees come from scores and stats emailed in by Sarasota and Manatee County coaches during the week to htincoming@gmail.com. Readers can then vote in the online poll to determine the Girls Athlete of the Week.
The Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for Sept. 7-12, 2026, was Riverview High volleyball player Mila Poteralski, who won the poll with 56 percent of the vote. Poteralski had four aces, eight digs and 20 assists in Riverview's 3-0 sweep of Braden River.
A poll will be posted at heraldtribune.com each Monday, and
voting will end at 10 a.m. Friday each week.
The nominees for the week of Sept. 14-19, 2026 are:
Cross country
Kenna Borras, Riverview: Borras finished 11th with a 20:57.7 at the 2026 Raider Open-East Hillsborough.
Ella Dabringhaus, Riverview: Dabringhaus placed ninth at the 2026 Raider Open-East Hillsborough, running a 20:46.2.
Chloe Johnson, Venice: Johnson placed 26th at the 2026 North Port Invitational, running a 22:38.4 and helping Venice to a third-place finish.
Allison Tripp, Palmetto: Tripp placed 13th with a 21:05.8 at the North Port Invitational.
Kaylee Vallejo, Riverview: Vallejo finished 19th with a 22:04.5 at the 2026 North Port Invitational.
Lily Walsh, Venice: Walsh placed 25th at the 2026 North Port Invitational, running a 22:38.4 and helping Venice to a third-place finish.
Annika Zimmerman, Palmetto: Zimmerman ran a 20:07.3, placing third at the North Port Invitational.
Golf
Avery Banfill, Parrish Community: Banfill shot a 36, medaling against Lakewood Ranch at C.C. Kings Dunes. She helped the Bulls to a win. She also shot a 34, medaling again, in a matchup against Lakewood Ranch and ODA, helping Parrish to another win.
Liana Odendal, Lakewood Ranch: Odendal tied for the lowest score on the Mustangs squad, shooting a 37. She also shot a 37 the next day against ODA and Parrish.
Volleyball
Lyla Bailey, Riverview: In a sweep over Lakewood Ranch, Bailey had 14 kills with a .34 hitting percentage during the match.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE: CFBHN/Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week for Sept. 14-19
