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 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 Girls Athlete of the Week.
The Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for Sept. 21-26, 2026, was Saint Stephen's volleyball player Olivia Ierulli, who won the poll with 63 percent of the vote. Against Lakewood Ranch Prep, Ierulli had nine kills and three aces in a 3-2 loss.
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. 28-Oct. 3, 2026 are:
Cross Country
Brooke Ashton, Wellen Park: Ashton placed 14th at the Venice Invitational, running a 24:07.30.
Sophia Boussouf, Classical Academy: Boussouf placed fourth at the Venice Invitational running a 20:54.5.
Oria Buckley, Classical Academy: Buckley placed 12 at the Venice Invitational, running a 23:38.80.
Lily Buser, Saint Stephen's: Buser placed 10th at the Venice Invitational, running a 23:24.8.
Golf
Brooklyn Cullen, ODA: Cullen tied for the second lowest score (37) against Lakewood Ranch and Manatee, helping the Thunder to a win.
Kieran Shaw, ODA: Shaw shot a 41 against Lakewood Ranch and Manatee, helping the Thunder to a win.
Anne Yu, Lakewood Ranch: Yu shot a 38 — the second lowest score of the match — helping Lakewood Ranch to a win over Riverview.
Swimming
Lyla Fischer, Sarasota Christian: Fischer placed first in the 50 free against North Port, swimming a 27.78. She aslo placed first in the 100 free with a 1:02.5 finish.
Dru Hershberger, Sarasota Christian: Hershberger swam a 1:58.65, placing first against North Port with a 1:58.65 finish.
Mae Hershberger, Sarasota Christian: Hershberger placed first in the 200 IM against North Port, swimming a 2:15.59. She also placed first in the 500 free with a 5:15.28 finish.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE: CFBHN/Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week for Sept. 28-Oct. 3
