The first week of the 2025-26 season has been completed and there already have been some memorable performances that includes a 200-yard rusher, a 300-yard passer and a cross country runner that was just eight seconds off his personal best in just the first meet of the season on a tough course.
They are among the 10 top performances highlighted in The Ledger’s Tremendous 10, which returns for the 22nd year.
Which performance do you think is the best? Let us know. Each week, readers, coaches or athletes can nominate athletes to be listed in the Tremendous 10.
Nominations can be sent to roy.fuoco@thledger.com by 9 a.m. every Monday. The story with the poll will be posted on Monday and readers can vote for the top performer each week. The poll will be opened until noon on Friday and the winner will be announced with the following week’s list of nominees.
1 Ridge Community senior running back Lavonski Tubbs (football) picked up where he left off by rushing for 275 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in the Bolts’ 35-21 victory over Davenport.
2 Geneva Classical junior Oliver Dempsey (boys cross country) ran 16:08.50 to win the 17th Jim Ryun FCA Invitational at Holloway Park. His time was eight seconds off his personal record.
3 Winter Haven senior Mike Kearney III (football) finished with 203 yards of total offense with 102 yards coming on 5 of 9 passing with one touchdown and one interception and 101 yards on just four carries with a long of 60 yards. The Blue Devils defeated Zephyrhills Christian 45-0.
4 Lakeland Christian junior Brody Brenneman (football) completed 19 of 29 passes for 306 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the loss to NSU University.
5 Quarterback Cru Slocum (football) threw for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 11 of 16 passing in the Storm’s 48-6 victory over Oxbridge.
6 All Saints sophomore Paige Lenderman (volleyball) piled up 14 kills and 17 digs in the Saints’ 25-15, 24-26, 25-19, 25-15 victory over Santa Fe Catholic.
7 George Jenkins senior linebacker Yomar Williamson (football) had eight total tackles, including 3.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception that he returned for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 28-20 victory over Lake Region.
8 Lake Wales junior wide receiver Kaneilius Purdy caught five passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Highlanders’ 55-8 victory over Specially Fit.
9 McKeel senior Mariana Kleinhenz (volleyball) had nine kills in the Wildcats’ 25-7, 25-16, 25-20 victory over Auburndale in the season-opening match for both teams.
10 Santa Fe Catholic senior quarterback Gabe Rivera (football) completed 12 of 14 passes for 153 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Crimson Hawks’ 27-20 victory over Out-of-Door.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tremendous 10 Poll: Ridge Community’s Tubbs leads 1st week of nominees. Vote now.
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
