Statesman Journal Opens Girls Athlete Vote
Nine girls nominated for the Maps Credit Union Athlete of the Week poll, which closes Thursday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Track & Field
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Statesman Journal has opened voting for the girls Maps Credit Union Athlete of the Week, with nine girls athletes nominated. The poll closes at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
Why it matters
The weekly recognition spotlights high school athletes across Oregon's conferences and gives readers a chance to choose the standout performer from a slate of nominees.
Annika Baltzley of Central ran a personal-best 19-minute, 53.3-second 5,000-meter race for fifth place on Oct. 31 at the Oregon West Conference championship. Brooke Friesen of Sprague recorded 10 kills, 22 assists, 10 digs and a service ace in a three-set win over South Salem in the OSAA 6A state semifinals on Nov. 6.
The players
Statesman Journal
Statesman Journal is a daily newspaper serving the Salem, Oregon area and its surrounding communities.
Oregon School Activities Association
The Oregon School Activities Association is the state body that governs interscholastic sports and activities for public high schools in Oregon.
The details
Nominees include Kensley Tegman of Silverton, who scored the overtime game-winner in a 2-1 win over Candy on Nov. 4, and Lexi Lulay of Regis, who helped the Rams to a 12-2 record and a conference title. Voting is conducted through the Statesman Journal poll.
Timeline
Oct. 31: Baltzley runs her personal-best 5,000-meter race at the Oregon West Conference championship.
Nov. 4: Tegman scores the overtime winner for Silverton.
Nov. 6: Friesen posts her state semifinal stat line for Sprague.
Nov. 12, 9 a.m.: Athlete of the Week poll closes.
Season Trajectory
The honorees span the OSAA 6A, 5A and 4A classifications, reflecting how competition is organized across Oregon's high school tiers. Conference player-of-the-year awards, including Friesen's third straight 6A Central Valley Conference honor, shape how individual seasons are remembered statewide.
Readers can cast a vote for their pick before the poll closes Thursday at 9 a.m., with the winner determined by that result. Friesen's selection as 6A Central Valley Conference player of the year for a third consecutive season marks a notable run for the Sprague standout.
The takeaway
Following weekly honors like the Athlete of the Week poll offers a clear view of which Oregon high school athletes are performing at the top of their conferences. Voting closes Thursday, so readers who want to weigh in should cast their ballot before 9 a.m.
What happens next
The Athlete of the Week winner will be announced after the poll closes at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
Further reading
For more on the state's competitors, see Track & Field coverage across Oregon.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Statesman Journal.
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