Each week, The Herald-Tribune staff will select nominees for the Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc. Nominees are derived from scores and stats emailed in by Sarasota and Manatee county coaches during the week to htincoming@gmail.com. Readers can then vote in the online poll to determine the Girls Athlete of the Week.
The Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week sponsored by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for Feb. 23-28, 2026, was Riverview High lacrosse player Maria Berzins, who won the poll with 43% of the vote.
A poll will be posted at heraldtribune.com each Monday, and voting will end at 10 a.m. Friday each week.
To vote, scroll to the bottom or CLICK HERE.
The nominees for the Girls Athlete of the Week for March 2-7, 2026 are:
Beach Volleyball
Ryan Donlin, Sarasota Christian
Highlights: Donlin’s hustle, plus recording the first blocks in program history, helped her duo win their No. 1 court match vs. Classical Academy.
Softball
Dakota Guerro, Sarasota Christian
Highlights: Guerro went 3 for 3, including a double, with 2 runs scored and a stolen base over Riverview Academy
Jade Hendrickson, Sarasota
Highlights: Hendrickson had two hits and drove in four runs, including three with a bases-loaded double, scored a run, and had a steal in a win over Sumner.
Leighton Paul, Braden River
Highlights: Paul went 3 for 4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs in a win over Cardinal Mooney.
Barclay Warfield, Saint Stephen’s
Highlights: Warfield went 4 for 4 with 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases in a win over Bayshore and had a double and a triple, driving in one and scoring twice, including a steal of home, in a win vs Admiral Farragut.
Track
Kiki Bullas, Lakewood Ranch
Highlights: Bullas won the javelin at the Tarpon Classic with a throw of 31.99 meters.
Bianca Grindo, Parrish
Highlights: Grindo was a double winner in the throws at the Larry Richardson Invite, placing first in the shot put (11.10 meters) and discus (37.33).
Sanii Shield, Bayshore
Highlights: Shield swept the sprints at the Larry Richardson Invite, winning the 100 in 11.96 and the 200 in 24.51
Gabriella Smith, Saint Stephen’s
Highlights: Smith swept the hurdles at the Larry Richardson Invite, taking the 100 in 14.15 seconds and the 400 in 1:04.73.
Wrestling
Alexis Hutter, Braden River
Highlights: Hutter was sixth at 135 pounds in the state meet.
Ashlie Schlegel, Palmetto
Highlights: Schlegel was fifth at 100 pounds at the stat meet.
Kaja Williams, Parrish
Highlights: Williams was seventh at 130 pounds at the state meet.
Editor’s Note: We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VOTE for CFBHN/Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week for March 2-7
Reporting by Ed Reed, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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