The air in the gym hung thick with the scent of floor wax and teenage ambition last week, a familiar aroma across the New Orleans area as high school playoffs kicked into high gear. But beyond the squeak of sneakers and the roar of the crowd, something else was brewing: a quiet reckoning with what “outstanding” even means in high school sports. NOLA.com’s athlete of the week poll, a tradition meant to celebrate individual brilliance, is instead highlighting a fascinating tension – the difficulty of comparing apples and oranges when the stakes, and the stories, are so uniquely their own. This isn’t just about crowning a winner; it’s about how we value different kinds of athletic achievement, and what that says about our communities.
A Flood of Firsts and Personal Bests
The sheer volume of contenders this week is striking. Molly Avrard, a sophomore at Chapelle, didn’t just score 16 points against Carencro; she propelled her team to their first basketball playoff win since 2012, a drought broken by a single player’s performance. That kind of team lift carries a weight beyond individual statistics. Similarly, Mikayela Billiot of Haynes, with her 18 points and two crucial three-pointers in a first-round win against St. Charles, wasn’t just adding to the scoreboard – she was contributing to a team’s journey, a narrative of progress and possibility. These aren’t isolated incidents; across Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and the River Parishes, athletes are etching their names into school history, and the poll reflects that surge of momentum. Consider Stella Zippert of Dominican, rewriting the school record books with every goal, or Aaron Miles of St. Augustine, silencing a 16-game winning streak with six three-pointers.
Original reporting: NOLA.com.
The Individual Pursuit of Excellence
Yet, the list isn’t solely defined by team success. Athletes like Ja’ir Burks of Jesuit and Micah Green of Rummel are chasing personal bests on a different kind of stage. Burks’ 7.88-second victory in the 60-meter hurdles isn’t just a win; it’s a testament to relentless training and a dedication to shaving fractions of a second off a time. Green’s 6.79-second dash is similarly a solitary pursuit, a battle against the clock and one’s own physical limits. These individual triumphs, while less directly tied to team outcomes, represent a different kind of grit and determination. And they’re often stepping stones to something bigger – Burks, already a reigning outdoor champion, is building a resume that could lead to collegiate scholarships and beyond. The contrast is stark: a team lifting a school out of a decade-long slump versus an athlete pushing the boundaries of their own potential.
Beyond the Scoreboard: The Multi-Sport Athlete
What’s particularly compelling about this week’s nominees is the prevalence of multi-sport athletes. Damien Richard of Destrehan, a Louisiana Tech football signee, is simultaneously dominating the indoor track and field scene, winning both the long- and triple-jump championships. Stella Junius, committed to LSU for track and field, is also making waves on the soccer field, scoring crucial goals in the state semifinals. This challenges the increasingly specialized world of youth sports, where athletes are often pressured to focus on a single discipline early on. Richard and Junius represent a different path, one that emphasizes athleticism, versatility, and a broader range of physical skills. Their success begs the question: are we losing something by pushing young athletes to specialize too soon? The financial incentives for early specialization are clear – increased visibility for college recruiters – but the potential cost to overall athletic development is significant.
A Poll Reflecting Shifting Values
The NOLA.com poll, open until noon on Thursday, isn’t just a popularity contest. It’s a snapshot of what the community values in its young athletes. Will voters prioritize team success, individual brilliance, or the versatility of the multi-sport athlete? The fact that Christopher Dabe is actively soliciting submissions – asking readers to send their nominations by 5 p.m. Sunday – suggests an awareness that the official list might not capture the full scope of athletic achievement in the region. This is a deliberate attempt to broaden the conversation, to include those whose stories might otherwise go untold. The outcome of this poll, and the conversations it sparks, will reveal a lot about the evolving priorities of New Orleans area sports fans. Will the narrative be defined by the dramatic team victories, or the quiet dedication of athletes striving for personal excellence? And, crucially, will we start to recognize and celebrate the value of athletes who refuse to be confined by a single sport?
