October is right around the corner in the Pensacola area, even as high temperatures still rove around 90 degrees.
Volleyball, golf and cross country only have a couple weeks left in the regular season. Area swimmers competed in the Panama City Beach High School Invitational on Sept. 27, the biggest meet before the postseason.
It’s time to vote in Week 6 of the PNJ Athlete of the Week Poll, sponsored by Florida Power & Light. For the first time this season, we’re splitting the vote into a boys and girls athlete of the week poll.
Every week until the end of the 2025-26 high school season, the PNJ will release a poll with area athletes who had the best performance in the previous week.
But that’s where we need you. Vote on who you think should win the award each week.
The polls will be open each week until Saturday at 11 a.m. of that week. Each weekly winner will be awarded a PNJ Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS. The poll is exclusively on PNJ.com.
The winner will be announced each Monday after the poll closes. Nominations for Athlete of the Week should be submitted by Sunday night to be in the next week’s poll.
Nominees are accepted via email or phone but will be selected by staff in the absence of submission. The poll is decided by the PNJ. Nominations for each week need to be sent by Sunday night.
Pensacola Christian Academy cross country’s Isaiah Manderson is the Week 5 winner after receiving 38.47 percent of the vote.
Here are the girls nominees for Week 6, chosen through available information.
Golf
Abby Vernier, West Florida: Shot 36 in a tri-match with Altheia Christian Academy and Escambia on Sept. 23.
Swimming
Taylor Clements, West Florida: Clements won the 50-yard freestyle (24.70), the 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.11) and swam the breaststroke leg on the Jaguars first place 200-yard medley relay (1:59.74) at the Panama City Beach High School Invitational on Sept. 27.
Volleyball
Torrie Garrett, Tate: Garrett recorded 34 kills and 15 digs in wins over Navarre and Milton.
Darby Godwin, Jay: Godwin recorded 16 kills in a sweep of Milton on Sept. 23 and 24 kills and nine digs in a 3-1 loss to Baker on Sept. 25
Marley Manning, Pace: Manning recorded 16 kills, seven digs and two aces in the Patriots 3-0 win over Niceville on Sept. 22.
Emma Ward, Booker T Washington: Ward tallied 40 assists, 12 digs and four aces in the Wildcats 3-1 win over Arnold on Sept. 23.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida Power & Light PNJ Girls Athlete of the Week, who should win for Sept. 22-28?
Reporting by Justin Fitzgerald, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
