The hunt for the next Marion County Athlete of the Week started weeks before the season began. Now, six weeks into the season and the offseason work is showing every time an Ocala-area athletes steps on the field of play.
This week we have 26 candidates who stood out from the crowds of athletic games last week. Dylan Harris’ production at defensive end earned him a spot this week. Hannah Parkin’s nomination comes from shattering three county swimming records at the Marion Athletic Conference swim meet.
This year’s Athlete of the Week system is a little different. The poll ends Friday at 12 p.m. and the winner will be announced shortly after on this page. The twist is the highlight video element displayed for nominees. If you’d like your highlight featured tag @OcalaPreps on X (formerly Twitter), Allen Pettigrew Jr. on Facebook or @allenpettigrew on TikTok.
Elizabeth Marshall, Volleyball, Meadowbrook Academy
67 kills, 10 aces, 23 digs in 9 sets
Iva Fearon, Volleyball, Meadowbrook Academy
91 assists, 12 aces, 1 block in 9 sets
Eneidys Maysonet, Volleyball, West Port
93 assists, 13 digs, 8 kills, 4 aces in 10 sets
Gaveena Smith, Volleyball, West Port
38 kills, 10 blocks in 10 sets
Avin Pickering, Football, West Port
2 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
Dennis Peacock, Football, West Port
2 rushing TDs
Damir Williams, Football, North Marion
School record 99-yard receiving TD
Margaret O’Farrell, Volleyball, Trinity Catholic
83 assists in 10 sets
Maddie Hewitson, Volleyball, Trinity Catholic
30 kills in 10 sets
Joey DeRiso, Football, Trinity Catholic
142 receiving yards. 1 receiving TD, 45 kick return yards, 2 PDs
Tia Hope, Volleyball, Belleview
18 kills, 7 aces, 20 blocks in 10 sets
Keondre Fillmore, Football, Belleview
124 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 76 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 231 all-purpose yards
Kez Rivers, Football, Forest
179 rushing yards, 18 receiving yards, 1 rushing TD
Cairyn Roberts, Football, Forest
35 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
LJ Woods, Football, Dunnellon
90-yard receiving TD
Dylan Harris, Football, Vanguard
2 sacks, 1 TFL
Lyla Halick, Cross Country, Forest
1st place at Villages Buffalo Invitational
Zach Vickerman, Cross Country, Forest
2nd place at Villages Buffalo Invitational
Brooklyn Smith, Cross Country, North Marion
4th place at Villages Buffalo Invitational
Ava Curtis, Cross Country, Vanguard
2nd place at NSB – Coach Joe McKinney Classic 2025
Emma Curtis, Cross Country, Vanguard
3rd place at NSB – Coach Joe McKinney Classic 2025
Jaylen Blackburn, Cross Country, Vanguard
2nd place at NSB – Coach Joe McKinney Classic 2025
Hannah Parkin, Swimming, West Port
Broke girls 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard backstroke, and 100-yard freestyle records at MAC swim championships
Seth Hyde, Swimming, West Port
Broke 200- and 400-yard freestyle county records at MAC swim championships
Evelyn Milak, Swimming, West Port
Broke 200-yard IM county record
Alex Gonzalez, Swimming, Vanguard
Broke 100-yard backstroke county record
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Vote! Decide this week’s Marion County Athlete of the Week with 26 nominees to choose from
Reporting by Allen Pettigrew Jr., Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
