The week of April 12-18 was a busy one for boys spring sports featuring teams and athletes from the Des Moines metro area.
Area boys track and field athletes made their final push to qualify for the Drake Relays, which will be held this week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. There were several exciting boys soccer games and tennis matches, and some standout performances by area boys golfers during the week.
Here are the Des Moines Register’s male Athlete of the Week candidates from the Des Moines metro area for the week of April 12-18. DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Leighton Hukee, Valley
Hukee picked up a hat-trick in scoring all three goals for the West Des Moines boys soccer team during its 3-0 victory over Marshalltown on April 17 in West Des Moines.
Hukee converted all three of his shots on goal to account for all of the scoring in the game.
Daxon Kiesau, Urbandale
Kiesau had the best discus throw in the state according to Varsity Bound during the Norwalk Invitational boys track and field meet on April 13 at Norwalk.
Kiesau won the meet with an impressive throw of 192 feet, six inches. That distance is nearly 10 feet farther than any other high school boys throw in Iowa up to this point.
Zane Johnson, ADM
Johnson placed first in the boys 200-meter dash at the Tiger Invitational boys track and field meet on April 16 at Adel.
Johnson won the race in 21.61 seconds. That ranks second in the state according to Varsity Bound.
Ty Haisman, North Polk
Haisman turned in an impressive medalist round for the North Polk boys golf team during the Woodward-Granger Invitational on April 16 at the Woodward Golf Club.
Haisman tied Ballard’s Jamin Colvin for the top individual 18-hole round during the tournament after shooting a 2-under par score of 68. That score ties him for the fifth-best 18-hole round in the state, according to Varsity Bound.
Jacob McPherren, Saydel
McPherren won a pair of No. 1 singles matches and two doubles matches for the Saydel boys tennis team during meets against Clarke and Chariton.
McPherren defeated Clarke’s Casey Wade by an 8-2 score during the Eagles’ 7-2 victory over the Indians on April 13 at Clarke. He also teamed with Leland Timblin to earn an 8-2 win over Clarke’s Easton Brokaw and Johnathan Galvaz in the No. 2 doubles match.
McPherren scored a decisive 8-1 win over Chariton’s Jonathan Pyatak in the No. 1 singles match during the Eagles’ 8-1 victory over the Chargers on April 14 at Chariton. He and Timblin won the No. 3 doubles match over Chariton’s River Sibert and Andrew Free.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Vote for the Register male Athlete of the Week for April 12-18
Reporting by Joe Randleman, Des Moines Register / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
