The 2026 fall sports season is reaching its crescendo with volleyball and soccer districts being held this week along with cross country regionals.

With the season waning, the Marion Star wants to recognize the top high school sports performances of the week of Oct. 19 by offering athlete of the week polls for boys and girls.

The polls, embedded below in this story found at MarionStar.com and its app, will be open through 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Fans may vote as often as allowed in these polls.

Nominees, picked by the Marion Star's Rob McCurdy from results posted during the last week, are below:

Marion Star Girls Athlete of the Week Poll for Oct. 19

Marion Harding soccer's Shelby Durain scored the golden goal in the 100th minute to lift her team by Licking Valley and win its first tournament match.

Marion Harding volleyball's Timia Jones hit 17 kills and three blocks in a tournament victory over Centennial.

Pleasant volleyball's Macy Hamper scored 16 points with 16 assists in a tournament win over Fredericktown.

Elgin volleyball's Maycee Muselin hit 21 kills in a tournament win over Northmor.

Pleasant cross country's Madisyn Ruhe won the Division III district race in 19:05.

Northmor cross country's Vada Walters was runner-up in the Division III district race in 19:32.

North Union cross country's Kailin McElroy was fourth in the Division III district race in 19:48.

Cardington-Lincoln cross country's Mickenzie White won the Division IV district race in 19:21.

Mount Gilead cross country's Gwen Hershner was runner-up in the Division IV district race in 19:30.

Latest Best of the Week column: Marion Harding girls soccer makes history, plus more OHSAA tourney results

Latest cross country results: Two teams, four runners claim district cross country championships

Marion Star Boys Athlete of the Week Poll for Oct. 19

Marion Harding soccer's Jeffrey Stimson scored a hat trick in a tournament win over Beechcroft.

Pleasant soccer's Gael Gomez produced two assists to help the Spartans to their first tournament win in nine years, beating London.

Pleasant cross country's Joey Dietsch won the Division III district race in 16:04.

River Valley cross country's Kael Swartz was runner-up in the Division III district race in 16:21.

North Union cross country's Felix Plouck was third in the Division III district race in 16:30.

Mount Gilead cross country's Henry Bartlett won the Division IV district race in 15:49.

Northmor cross country's Jack Dean was runner-up in the Division IV district race in 16:32.

Last week's winners

In last week's boys poll, there were 3,037 votes with 1,544 (51 percent) going to River Valley soccer's Riley Hummel to win it after he scored two goals in a win over Genoa Christian. Other nominees were Ridgedale cross country's Elliot Weston, Dietsch, Marion Harding soccer's Omari Palmer, Swartz, Plouck and Bartlett.

In last week's girls poll, there were 1,868 votes with 931 (50 percent) going to Marion Harding cross country's Noel Stidham to win it after she finished second in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference race in 19:45. Other nominees were Pleasant volleyball's Lexi Hutchinson, Elgin volleyball's Kadence Gear, Elgin cross country's Isabelle Mathews, River Valley soccer's Kiley Facione, Ridgedale volleyball's Callie Comer, River Valley volleyball's Myla Kenney, McElroy, Marion Harding soccer's Joshuany De La Cruz Gomez, White, North Union soccer's Sam Price and Walters.

rmccurdy@usatodayco.com

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Star Athlete of the Week Polls for Oct. 19, vote now