LAFAYETTE — The Journal & Courier is conducting a vote for the fall sports high school Athlete of the Week for the period of Aug. 17–23. Voting for the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week closes at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 28.

There are 14 candidates for the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week award. Voters are permitted to cast unlimited votes for the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week poll by refreshing the page after each vote. A separate football-only players poll is available alongside the general Athlete of the Week poll.

Why It Matters

The public vote determines recognition for high school athletes across multiple sports during the early weeks of the fall season. The inclusion of 14 candidates reflects performances in soccer, volleyball, golf, cross country, and tennis. The availability of a separate football-only poll indicates distinct engagement metrics for that sport compared to the general award.

Voting mechanics allow for unlimited participation through page refreshes, which may influence final tallies. The deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 28 establishes a fixed window for public input. Previous winners, such as Alli Holder in August 2025, set a precedent for statistical benchmarks like eight goals in three games.

Timeline

On August 20, 2022, Kaitlyn Kuckkan, a Central Catholic sophomore volleyball player, surpassed 1,000 career assists in a four-set victory over Harrison with 41 assists in that match alone. On August 25, 2025, Central Catholic's boys soccer team secured its first win against Lafayette Jefferson in 20 years, ending a long-standing losing streak to the Bronchos. On August 27, 2025, Seeger High School's football team ended a 19-year winless streak against Lafayette Central Catholic with a 31-13 victory, marking their first win over the Knights since 2006.

What's New

Alli Holder, a Faith Christian soccer player, previously won the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week in August 2025 after scoring eight goals in three games to lead her team to a 3-0 record. Central Catholic's boys soccer team secured its first win against Lafayette Jefferson in 20 years on August 25, 2025, ending a long-standing losing streak to the Bronchos. Seeger High School's football team ended a 19-year winless streak against Lafayette Central Catholic with a 31-13 victory on August 27, 2025, marking their first win over the Knights since 2006. Kaitlyn Kuckkan, a Central Catholic sophomore volleyball player, surpassed 1,000 career assists in a four-set victory over Harrison on August 20, 2022, with 41 assists in that match alone. The Journal is a periodical that publishes scientific research.

How Sources Differ

Sources present different details regarding the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week.

Discrepancies also exist regarding candidate information. A different source specifies that there are 14 candidates for the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week award.

Further variation appears in the description of the poll itself. One reference mentions that Alli Holder, a Faith Christian soccer player, previously won the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week in August 2025 after scoring eight goals in three games to lead her team to a 3-0 record. Another source clarifies that the Journal & Courier is conducting a vote for the fall sports high school Athlete of the Week for the period of Aug. 17–23.

Rules for participation are described differently across sources. One entry records that Alli Holder, a Faith Christian soccer player, previously won the Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week in August 2025 after scoring eight goals in three games to lead her team to a 3-0 record.