Vote for Arizona High School Athletes of the Week

Nominees for Feb. 9-14 include standout performances in soccer and basketball

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Arizona Republic is holding a poll for its high school athletes of the week, sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath. Nominees are based on performances in Arizona Interscholastic Association-sanctioned sports from Feb. 9-14, 2026. Voting will close on Thursday, Feb. 19, and winners will be announced the next day.

Why it matters

The athlete of the week poll highlights exceptional high school sports talent across Arizona, recognizing players who have made significant contributions to their teams' success. This helps promote school spirit, community engagement, and awareness of rising athletic stars in the state.

The details

This week's nominees include Ava Thornton of Glendale Mountain Ridge soccer, Trynity Dominguez of Safford soccer, Sage Henry of Chandler Hamilton basketball, Josiah Reynaga of Buckeye Verrado soccer, Carter Bagley of Phoenix St. Mary's basketball, and Talan Speir of Queen Creek Ben Franklin basketball. Their standout performances ranged from scoring multiple goals, recording double-doubles, and draining 3-pointers.

  • Voting will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
  • Winners will be announced on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.

The players

Ava Thornton

A junior soccer player at Glendale Mountain Ridge High School.

Trynity Dominguez

A senior soccer player at Safford High School.

Sage Henry

A senior basketball player at Chandler Hamilton High School.

Josiah Reynaga

A senior soccer player at Buckeye Verrado High School.

Carter Bagley

A sophomore basketball player at Phoenix St. Mary's High School.

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What’s next

Voting will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, and winners will be announced the next day on azcentral.com and in The Republic on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

The takeaway

The athlete of the week poll showcases the exceptional talent and dedication of high school athletes across Arizona, inspiring school pride and community support for the next generation of sports stars.