Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week: Ballots for Jan. 13-19

Welcome to Year 2 of the Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week voting by high school sports fans!

This is the fifth installment for the 2019-20 winter season.

This week, and every week during the three sports seasons, members of the public may vote for a top girls athlete and a top boys athlete (see below for this week's ballot).

How do I cast my vote?

All voting is through the two ballots (see below). We will not accept votes through email or through social media.

Voting began Monday, Jan. 13, and continues through midnight Thursday.

How do we learn who wins?

The two winners will be revealed Friday afternoon in a story posted at BurlingtonFreePress.com.

Vote here for Girls Athlete of the Week

More about each candidate:

Natalie Folland, Spaulding basketball: After a 12-point effort to help the Crimson Tide (4-5) edge Lyndon 47-42, Folland went for 11 points and eight rebounds in a stunning, 49-41 triumph over Rice.

Bella Gale, Middlebury hockey: After striking twice in a 3-1 win over Burr and Burton, including the go-ahead tally, Gale handed out an assist in another close triumph for the Tigers, a 3-2 victory over Champlain Valley.

Addie Petit, North Country/Lyndon hockey: Scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Kingdom Blades edged U-32 on Saturday. Also had two goals in a 7-4 setback to Champlain Valley.

Ashley Proteau, Harwood basketball: Proteau drilled the tying basket on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to highlight an 15-point performance as Harwood halted Lake Region in overtime. Proteau also dropped 10 points earlier in the week vs. Montpelier for the 7-0 Highlanders.

Emi Vaughan, Thetford basketball: Vaughn struck for 15 points as Thetford knocked off Springfield 51-44 and then tossed in eight points in a balanced attack in the 20-point triumph over Lyndon.

Vote here for Boys Athlete of the Week

More about each candidate:

James Danis, Essex wrestling: The reigning two-time champion at 182 pounds, the senior captured his weight division at his home invitational, the Michael J. Baker Classic, in a field that included out-of-state powers. Danis was named the meet's most outstanding wrestler.

Ethan Harvey, Champlain Valley basketball: After seeing an 18-point third quarter lead evaporate, Harvey came to the rescue with a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in a 61-58 win over St. Johnsbury on Monday. Harvey finished with a game-high 27 points. Harvey also dropped 13 first-quarter points in a 16-point effort to help CVU top Burr and Burton later in the week.

Jed Kurts, U-32 Nordic skiing: Kurts powered to victory in the third and final stage of the Tour de Chittenden, the hill climb at Cochrans Ski Area, with a time of 5 minutes, 10 seconds. Kurts' win helped U-32 finish runner-up in the boys team competition.

Carter Pelzel, U-32 basketball: The Raider standout racked up 15 points and played tight defense to guide the Division II power to a big win over Essex on Saturday.

Jacob Tassie, Williamstown basketball: Tassie reached 1,000 career points in style, doing so with his final point of the evening in a 24-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist performance during the 72-44 victory over Peoples. Tassie also tallied 20 points in a three-point win over BFA-Fairfax earlier in the week.

Athlete of the Week winners in '19-20

Winter

Jan. 6-12: BFA-St. Albans' Caitlyn Dasaro and South Burlington's Hunter Fay

Dec. 30-Jan. 5: Mount Abraham's Chloe Johnston and Mount Mansfield's Connor Philbrick

Dec. 23-29: Champlain Valley's Nicole Wright and St. Johnsbury's Logan Wendell

Dec. 16-22: Burlington/Colchester's Madison Chagnon and Essex's Jason Smith

Fall

Oct. 28-Nov. 3: Rice's Alex Dostie and Champlain Valley's Jacob Boliba

Oct. 21-27: Mount Mansfield's Jenna Symon and Essex's Luke Williams

Oct. 14-20: Champlain Valley's Jasmine Nails and Burlington's Wondu Summa

Oct. 7-13: South Burlington's Sam Crane and BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille's Jaxon Schaarschmidt

Sept. 30-Oct. 6: Champlain Valley's Hailey Chase and Milton's Caleb Barnier

Sept. 23-29: Rice's Amy Hester and Burr and Burton's Joey McCoy

Sept. 16-22: Harwood's Ava Thurston and Middlebury's Tyler Buxton

Sept. 9-15: Missisquoi's Ava Hubbard and Mount Anthony's Jack Ware

Aug. 30-Sept. 8: Champlain Valley's Alicia Veronneau and Brattleboro's Tyler Millerick

Become a member of the Vermont Varsity Insider Facebook group at https://bit.ly/2MGSfvX. 

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