Vote Now for Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week, Feb. 9-14

The Martin Dentistry Athlete of the Week award is set to recognize outstanding high school athletes in San Joaquin County from February 9 to 14. Readers are encouraged to participate by selecting their favorite athletes from a shortlist that includes remarkable performances from several local schools. This initiative highlights key achievements across various sports, excluding boys basketball, which has its own separate poll.

The nominees include athletes from schools in Stockton, Ripon, Manteca, Escalon, and Galt. Readers can submit their votes until noon on February 12, with no restrictions on how many times one can vote. To nominate an athlete, readers can email sports reporter Dylan Ackermann at [email protected], providing the athlete’s statistics and a photo if available.

Meet the Nominees

This week’s nominees showcase extraordinary athletic talent and significant contributions to their respective teams.

**Touraya Blakey**, a standout in girls basketball from Bear Creek, has been pivotal since joining the lineup on January 6. Her average of 14.6 points per game has helped the Bruins achieve a record of 15-2 and secure the top seed in the SJAA tournament. Blakey’s performance peaked during the SJAA championship game on February 13, where she scored 26 points, leading her team to victory.

In girls soccer, **Adriana Escobedo** from Weston Ranch delivered a stunning upset against No. 6 seed El Camino in the CIF-SJS playoffs. Despite being the No. 11 seed, Escobedo scored the only goal in a 1-0 win, marking a defining moment in her senior year.

**Alesandra Flores**, the goalkeeper for St. Mary’s, has demonstrated exceptional skill, registering her 13th shutout of the season with a 1-0 win over Grant Union High School. Her impressive 0.13 goals-against average and leadership have been crucial to the team’s success, according to coach Michelle Coleman.

On the boys’ soccer side, **Yandel Gutierrez** from East Union has shown remarkable prowess. He scored both goals in a crucial 2-0 victory over rival Manteca and later netted a hat trick in a 5-0 playoff win against Livingston, bringing his season total to 49 goals.

**Alan Montelongo**, a senior from Liberty Ranch, made a significant impact with his first-ever high school hat trick during a decisive 8-1 playoff victory over Center on February 14. This performance nearly doubled his season total of goals.

In wrestling, **Joaquin Rodriguez** from Ripon continues to impress with his commitment and skill, going 4-0 at the Division V Divisionals. He secured first place and will compete at the Masters next weekend, following a notable championship win where he was named the Outstanding Upper Weight Wrestler.

Lastly, **Arianna Velasco** from Escalon has maintained her excellent form, scoring 29 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in a decisive win over defending champion Ripon. Her contributions have been vital to Escalon’s successful campaign, averaging 16.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Readers are encouraged to cast their votes for these outstanding athletes and celebrate their achievements in high school sports.