Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Nov. 6-11.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Micah Avery, El Cerrito football: Rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns to lead top-seeded El Cerrito to a 61-14 victory over Berkeley in the first round of the NCS Division II playoffs.
Matthew Garibaldi, San Ramon Valley football: Scored the decisive touchdown on a 14-yard run in overtime as SRV survived to beat seventh-seeded Campolindo 38-31. Garibaldi finished with 122 yards and two TDs in 17 carries and caught six passes for 78 yards.
Evan Frampton, Woodside football: The sophomore ran for 144 yards and a touchdown in 15 carries as top-seeded Woodside rolled into the semifinals of CCS Division V playoffs with a 56-21 victory over Del Mar.
Willis Johnson, Menlo School football: The senior captain ran for 171 yards in 28 carries and a touchdown as fifth-seeded Menlo edged fourth-seeded Live Oak in the first round of the CCS Division II playoffs.
Declan Linnane, Piedmont water polo: Scored six goals and had two steals as Piedmont captured the NCS Division II championship with a 10-8 victory over Alameda in the final.
Jayden Macedo, California football: The senior passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 33 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Grizzlies to a 31-24 victory over Clayton Valley Charter in the opening round of the NCS Open/Division I playoffs.
Grant Morgenfeld, Palo Alto cross country: The senior won the Division II race at the CCS championships, covering the 2.95-mile Crystal Springs course in Belmont in 15 minutes, 5.2 seconds, the day’s second-fastest time behind only Division IV champion Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz (14:55.1).
Andrew Spencer, Sacred Heart Prep water polo: Scored three goals and handed out four assists as the Gatos captured the CCS Open Division championship on Saturday at Hollister High, beating Bellarmine 10-7.
Jaylen Thomas, Los Gatos football: The standout caught four passed for 120 yards and a touchdown and played in the defensive backfield to help lift the Wildcats to a 28-14 victory over Archbishop Riordan in the first round of the CCS Open/Division I playoffs.
Evan Vernon, Christopher football: Caught five passes for 67 yards and had 14 tackles and a fumble recovery to help lead Christopher to a dramatic 32-28 victory over top-seeded Archbishop Mitty and into the CCS Division II semifinals.
Elijah Walker, Wilcox football: The senior ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns in 25 carries and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown as seventh-seeded Wilcox stunned second-seeded St. Francis 52-28 in the first round of the CCS Open/Division I playoffs.