HILLSDALE COUNTY — Voting is now open for the winter sports Week 2 reader’s choice athlete of the week award. Week 1 saw David Maier of Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy win the poll, with Hillsdale girls bowler Ava Gimenez winning runner-up honors.
Voting will be open until Friday, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Readers can vote as many times as they want. Nominations can be made by every Sunday for the voting poll.
In addition, one nominee will be the winner of the Daily News choice athlete of the week honor. Week 1’s winner was Brody Arnold of Hillsdale wrestling. The Daily News choice winner will be announced at the conclusion of the athlete of the week poll and can be the same winner of the reader’s choice poll.
Polls are monitored for foreign IP addresses.
Nominees
- Brookes Beckman – Hillsdale Boys Basketball: Junior Brookes Beckman nearly had a triple-double in Hillsdale’s comeback win – 45-41 – over Ida in Week 2. Beckman had 15 points, 4-for-5 from the free throw line, and added nine blocks and nine rebounds. He scored eight points in the game against Hudson, including two 3-pointers.
- Talon Hugenall – Hillsdale Wrestling: Senior wrestler Talon Hugenall won an 11-4 decision in the Battle for M-99 rivalry dual against Jonesville, helping the team retain the coveted trophy another season. The grappler then took second at the Sand Creek Holiday tournament in the 165-weight class. He earned two pinfall wins to make the championship final, where he lost via decision. Fellow senior Josh Herring also took second place at 175.
- Ben Champion – Hillsdale Boys Bowling: While playing boys basketball, Ben Champion is also dominating the bowling lanes for Hillsdale. The senior had a series high of 413 in the team’s 23-7 victory over Onsted.
- Megan Lee – Jonesville Girls Basketball: Megan Lee had a strong start to the 2025 season for Jonesville girls basketball. Lee scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, three steals and two assists against Adrian Madison. She helped her team defeat Vandercook Lake with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. She also added three steals and two assists.
- Caleb Bills – Litchfield Boys Basketball: The Litchfield Terriers stayed undefeated in Week 2, winning against Jackson Christian, Calhoun Christian and Will Carleton Academy all by double digits. Against WCA, Bills led the Terriers with 18 points, five boards and two steals. He had five steals, eight rebounds and six points against Jackson Christian.
- Abby Bills – Litchfield Girls Basketball: The senior made her return from injury and the team’s return from a hiatus with a standout night against Vandercook Lake in a 61-35 victory. Bills had a triple-double, just missing a quadruple-double, with 27 points, 13 rebounds, 11 steals and eight assists. Bills set a new single-game steals record for Litchfield Terrier girls basketball.
- Gage Cain – North Adams-Jerome Boys Basketball: Gage Cain helped lead North Adams-Jerome to a 64-54 win over Will Carleton Academy in Week 2. He scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He added 23 points, nine rebounds, one block and two steals against Pittsford. He went 9-for-11 from the free throw line and 17-for-21 for the week.
- Hunter Peiffer – Pittsford Boys Basketball: Hunter Peiffer helped lead Pittsford to a 54-28 win over Athens and a 76-53 win over North Adams-Jerome. Peiffer had 11 points against Athens, including three 3-pointers. He led the team with 21 points against North Adams-Jerome, where he sank four more 3s.
- Alexis Bryner – Pittsford Girls Basketball: Sophomore Alexis Bryner helped lead Pittsford to a 2-0 start to the season. The team beat Sand Creek 35-18 and North Adams-Jerome 44-5. Bryner had 12 points in both games and a total of 12 rebounds.
- Bria Wiler – Reading Girls Basketball: Reading girls basketball has won its first three games by double digits, including a 47-37 win over Colon. Wiler had two 21-point games and a total of 49 points for the week, 24 rebounds, three blocked shots and nine steals.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Vote for the Hillsdale County Week 2 winter sports Athlete of the Week
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