Each week, the Herald-Tribune staff will select nominees for the Herald-Tribune Boys Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Network, Inc. Nominees are derived 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 Boys Athlete of the Week.
The Herald-Tribune Boys Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for Oct. 12-17, 2026, was Sarasota High golfer Braden Fernandez de Castro, who won the poll with 46 percent of the vote. Fernandez de Castro shot a 36 — the third-lowest score — in Sarasota's 141-155 win over Riverview.
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 Oct. 19-24, 2026 are:
Cross Country
Nathan Heaney, Venice: Heaney finished first with a 16:18.9 time at the Tri-County Championship at Lemon Bay on Saturday.
Colton Prater, Lakewood Ranch: Prater finished second with a 16:32.2 time at the Tri-County Championship at Lemon Bay on Saturday.
Sebastian Velazquez-Rodriguez, North Port: Velazquez-Rodriguez finished third with a 16:36.7 time against Sarasota County runners at the Tri-County championship at Lemon Bay on Saturday.
Football
Dion Donkor, Saint Stephen's: Donkor caught both of Saint Stephen's touchdown passes in a 17-14 win over St. Joseph Academy.
Brandin Gallaway, Palmetto: Gallaway made field goals from 46, 40 and 25 yards in Palmetto's 37-0 win over Sumner.
Gabe Halperin, Riverview: Halperin — a senior linebacker/running back — rushed for 58 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. He also had a pick, which he returned for 70 yards to kickstart a 28-0 run to end the game in Riverview's 62-34 win over Sarasota.
Connail Jackson, Cardinal Mooney: Jackson rushed for 284 yards and five touchdowns in Cardinal Mooney's 58-36 win over Palm Beach Central.
Maleek Lee, Palmetto: Lee (a four-star Georgia Tech commit) had three sacks in Palmetto's 37-0 win over Sumner.
Mason Polley, Venice: Freshman quarterback Mason Polley finished 5-of-7 for 193 yards and three touchdowns in Venice's 62-8 win over North Port.
Imari Thomas, Riverview: Thomas, a senior receiver, had 201 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE: CFBHN/Herald-Tribune Boys Athlete of the Week for Oct. 19-24
