Vote now for Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week: Ballots for June 3-9

Welcome to the eighth and final installment of the 2024 spring season for the Vermont Varsity Insider Athletes of the Week voting by high school sports fans.

This week, and every week during the sports seasons, members of the public may vote for a top girls athlete and a top boys athlete.

Varsity Insider Athletes of the week: Winners for the 2023-24 school year

How do I cast my vote?

All voting is through the two ballots at burlingtonfreepress.com. We will not accept votes through email or through social media.

Voting began June 10, and continues through 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

How do we learn who wins?

The two winners will be announced in a story published at burlingtonfreepress.com on Friday.

Athlete of the week feature to return in the fall

This is the final athlete of the week ballot for the 2023-24 school year. The long-running feature will return in the fall for the 2024-25 school year. We accept nominations via email: sports@burlingtonfreepress.com (Subject Line: Athletes of the Week nomination).

Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

More on this week’s candidates:

Trinity Anaya, Essex softball: The junior tossed a pair of complete games to lead Essex into the D-I semifinals. She hurled a two-hitter while going 2-for-3 at the plate in a 14-0 win over South Burlington. Then in the quarterfinals, Anaya yielded six hits and one earned run over seven innings to eliminate host Colchester 5-1.

Iris Cloutier, Stowe lacrosse: After a six-goal splurge in Stowe’s 17-7 playdown win over Lamoille, Cloutier struck for a hat trick in a 5-4 road triumph over Mount Abraham/Vergennes in the quarterfinals of the D-II playoffs.

Ava Kingsbury, Blue Mountain softball: Kingsbury hit for the cycle with two home runs and seven RBIs in a 5-for-5 performance at the plate during Blue Mountain’s 22-2 D-IV quarterfinal win over Twinfield/Danville/Cabot.

Hayley Raiche, West Rutland softball: Raiche’s 4-for-4 day at the plate included a double, triple and a trio of RBIs as West Rutland dispatched Leland & Gray 18-0 in the D-IV quarterfinals.

Finley Strong, Rice softball: The junior smacked the game-winning homer in the top of the seventh inning as Rice ousted Middlebury on the road 3-2 in the D-II quarterfinals. In the playdowns, Strong also doubled twice and drove in a run.

Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

More on this week’s candidates:

Nick Casey, Harwood baseball: Casey tossed a three-hitter with two earned runs and eight strikeouts over five innings in Harwood’s 7-5 D-II playdown win over Lake Region. He also doubled in the first-round playoff game and then went 2-for-4 with another double with three RBIs in Harwood’s 10-0 shutout of Milton in the quarterfinals.

Ezra Mock, Hartford lacrosse: The multi-sport standout registered a team-best four goals as Hartford dropped Mount Anthony 12-7 in the D-II quarterfinals.

Griffin Piconi, Woodstock lacrosse: Piconi’s three-goal, three-assist performance included the game-winning goal in overtime as Woodstock outlasted South Burlington on the road in the D-I quarterfinals.

Wyatt Smith, Montpelier Ultimate: After tallying six goals and two assists in a 15-7 playdown victory over Rice, Smith had three goals, two assists and two blocks on defense in Montpelier’s 11-9 triumph over South Burlington in the quarterfinal round.

Travis Stroh, Champlain Valley baseball: Stroh went 1-for-3 with a triple and RBI in a 6-0 win over Rice in the D-I playdowns. Then in the quarterfinals, Stroh doubled twice with two RBIs in a 3-for-3 effort as the Redhawks blanked Brattleboro 10-0.