It’s time to take a look at the standout high school performers from the Akron area last week.
Your vote will determine who will be the Akron-Area High School Athlete of the Week for Jan. 12-18. We will pick one girl and one boy. Each athlete’s credentials are listed above the poll — which will be live until 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22. The winners will be announced Friday morning, Jan. 23, on BeaconJournal.com.
Now, let’s meet the candidates.
Watch Ohio High School Sports Live on the NFHS Network all season
Here’s a look at the girls nominees, in alphabetical order:
Maya Cooper, Stow basketball
Scored a game-high 21 points in a 64-32 win over Ellet.
Alivia Goff, Norton basketball
Scored 21 points and had five rebounds in a 56-51 win over Canton Central Catholic.
Jaci Hutton, Twinsburg basketball
Scored a game-high 10 points in a 37-27 win over previously undefeated Wadsworth.
Brooklyn Krager, Green bowling
Rolled a three-game series total of 565 with a 217 high game in the Eastbury Sectional Warmup Tournament.
Evelyn McKnight, Copley basketball
Scored a game-high 37 points and had two assists in a 48-44 loss to Highland and then scored 25 points in a 77-7 win over Barberton.
Ashli Pearson, Hudson basketball
Scored a team-high 12 points in a 67-46 win over Stow and then scored a team-high 13 points in a 66-33 win over Mayfield.
Here’s a look at the boys nominees, in alphabetical order:
Brandon Bickerton, Highland wrestling
Prevailed in a battle of state champions to win the 120-pound championship at the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament.
Joel Brink, Green wrestling
Went 5-0 with three pins to win Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at 144 pounds.
Max Holley, Copley wrestling
Went 4-0 with two pins, a technical fall and major decision to win Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at 106 pounds.
Reggie Edwards, Garfield basketball
Collected 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots in a 40-34 win over Ellet to take command of the City Series race.
Jacob Igleheart, Woodridge wrestling
Went 4-0 with a pin to win the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at 285 pounds.
Jackson Phillips, Barberton wrestling
Went 5-0 with four pins to win the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at 215 pounds.
A look at the 2025-26 Akron-Area High School Athlete of the Week winners
Editor’s note: Winners of the Akron-Area Athlete of the Week in the winter are not eligible to win it again until the spring sports season begins. Coaches and athletic directors: Submit nominees for Akron-Area High School Athlete of the Week at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Who are the Akron-Area High School Athletes of the Week for Jan. 12-18? Vote now
Reporting by Richard Stallsmith, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

