Help us choose our high school Athletes of the Week

Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) 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 Sept. 16-21.

Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Vote as many times as you’d like until then at mercurynews.com and eastbaytimes.com without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.

Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.

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 highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.

On to the nominees:

GIRLS

McKenzie Anderson, James Logan volleyball: The Colts’ junior outside hitter had 60 kills, 43 digs and six aces in the Bishop O’Dowd Invitational. The Colts defeated Campolindo in the championship match thanks to Anderson’s 13 kills.

Sophia Casanas, Dublin volleyball: The senior had a team-high 16 digs and 26 serve receptions as the Gaels defeated Granada 3-0. Casanas also had three assists.

Charlie Schlanger, El Cerrito volleyball: The junior middle blocker had a team-high six aces in the Gauchos’ victory over Summit K2. El Cerrito has gotten off to a 7-2 start to the season.

Madison Evangelista, St. Ignatius field hockey: The senior had two goals and two assists in the Wildcats’ 13-0 victory over WCAL rival Valley Christian. That gave her four goals and two assists on the season.

Anylah Haynes, Antioch flag football: Haynes, a junior, rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown in Antioch’s 20-0 victory over Mt. Diablo.

Talia Heneghan, Branham field hockey: The junior goalkeeper had four saves in Branham’s 5-1 victory over Sobrato. She has two shutouts as Branham has started the season 5-1.

Ryleigh Longaker, Sacred Heart Prep flag football: The stellar quarterback threw for four touchdowns against St. Francis and another three TDs vs. Sequoia in two SHP victories. She also accounted for 60 rushing yards.

Yesenia Moffett, Pittsburg water polo: Moffett stood out in a game against Freedom, scoring seven goals and nabbing eight steals. At one point she was able to steal the ball and make a goal all in one play.

Elle Obenour, Leigh field hockey: The junior had a hat trick in the Longhorns’ 6-0 victory over Live Oak. She had three goals and is coming off a sophomore season in which she scored 18 goals.

Riah Paopao, Bethel volleyball: The sophomore had 25 kills and five digs as Bethel swept El Cerrito on Wednesday. On the season, Paopao has 142 kills in 33 sets.

BOYS

Mekhi Adanandus, Heritage football: The senior rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-0 homecoming game win over Terra Linda. Adanandus has rushed for a touchdown in each of Heritage’s four games this season.

Trey Caldwell, De La Salle cross country: Caldwell took first place in the 3-mile run at the De La Salle Nike Invitational with a time of 14:39.18.

Joseph Estes, Arroyo football: Estes, a junior, rushed for 276 yards and five touchdowns on 33 carries in Arroyo’s 41-13 win over St. Mary’s-Berkeley. Arroyo is off to a 3-1 start.

Jesse Herrera, Pioneer football: The senior rushed for 210 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in Pioneer’s 24-21 win over Leigh. Pioneer (2-2) will host Willow Glen in its next game.

Matthew Juul, Mills football: Juul totaled four touchdowns and 197 yards from scrimmage (114 rushing, 83 receiving) to lead Mills to its first win of the season in a 62-0 thumping against visiting Lynbrook. Mills will travel to Saratoga on Friday.

David Mhatre, Menlo football: Mhatre racked up 12 tackles and one sack in Menlo’s 38-28 win over Capuchino. Menlo is 4-0 and hosts Miramonte on Saturday.

Cason Mitchell, Menlo-Atherton cross country: Mitchell, a junior, crossed the finish line in 14:23 to win the 2.7-mile run at the Peninsula Athletic League Meet No. 1.

Myles Pagaduan, Independence football: The senior quarterback led Independence during its 21-point, fourth-quarter comeback win as he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. Independence (2-1) visits Prospect on Thursday.

Thomas Parrott, Acalanes water polo: Parrott totaled 10 goals, four steals and an assist in Acalanes’ 18-15 win over Ukiah. Acalanes (8-6) will play at James Logan on Tuesday.

Jojo Stallworth, De Anza football: Stallworth totaled four touchdowns and 185 yards rushing, leading De Anza to a 44-14 win over Fremont-Oakland. De Anza (1-3) will host St. Patrick-St. Vincent on Friday.

Colin Wright, Serra water polo: The sophomore scored six goals, dished out three assists and had two steals in Serra’s 13-8 win over St. Ignatius. Serra began this week 9-3-2.