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 Sept. 14-19, 2026, was Cardinal Mooney cross country runner Isaiah Leake, who won the poll with 56 percent of the vote. Leake, a freshman, placed 10th with a 17:59.3 in the 2026 North Port Invitational, featuring 21 teams.
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. 21-26, 2026 are:
Cross Country
Gabe Milliken, Sarasota Christian: Milliken placed fourth in the Lakewood Ranch XC Invite on Saturday, running a 17:00.93.
Golf
Jacob Menard, Sarasota: Menard shot a 136, tying for first, at the South Florida PGA West Coast Championship. He helped Sarasota to a second place finish.
Will Thomas, Lakewood Ranch: Thomas shot a 72 at the 2026 Crutchfield/Hawinks Invitational, placing third. He helped Lakewood Ranch to a top finish in the highest division of the tournament which featured 36 teams.
Football
Mike Blakely, Venice: Blakely had nine catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in Venice's 57-33 win over Sarasota.
Ayden Guerra, North Port: Guerra — who played on both sides of the ball — had a 7-yard touchdown, made a tackle in the end zone for a safety and ran in a 2-point conversion to help North Port to a 33-21 win over Lakewood Ranch.
Jok Harris, Palmetto: Harris, an App State commit, rushed for 167 yards and one touchdown in Palmetto's 52-0 win over Parrish Community.
Connail Jackson, Cardinal Mooney: Jackson had 277 yards and five touchdowns in one half and one play in Mooney's 62-7 win over Braden River.
Steven LeBlanc, Saint Stephen's: LeBlanc completed six of his eight passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding 12 rushing yards and two more scores in Saint Stephen's 62-0 win over Marco Island Academy.
Hudson West, Sarasota: West had four touchdown passes in a 57-33 loss to Venice. Led by West, Sarasota scored the most points against the Indians since the Sailors last defeated them in 2007.
Tait Zeltwanger, Sarasota Christian: Zeltwanger completed 15 of 37 passes for 324 yards and three TDs, and had six carries for 84 yards and a TD in Sarasota Christian's 41-21 win over Northside Christian.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE: CFBHN/Herald-Tribune Boys Athlete of the Week for Sept. 21-26
