Vote: Who should be High School on SI National Girls Athlete of the Week? (1/12/2026)

Which athlete had the best performance in the nation from Jan. 5-11?

Ava Flippin. / Patrick Hite/The News Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Each week during the high school sports season, High School on SI will gather the best performances across the country with the help of fans, readers and staff.

Now, it’s your turn to choose a standout among the pack, the best of the best.

Here are the nominees for High School on SI’s National High School Girls Athlete of the Week for Jan. 5-11. Voting closes on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time). The winner will be announced in the following week’s National High School Girls Athlete of the Week post. 

The poll is below the write-ups on each athlete.

Congratulations to Addison Rhodes of Crestview (Ohio) basketball for winning last week’s National High School Girls Athlete of the Week poll. Rhodes became the all-time leading scorer in Crestview history with a 43-point explosion in a 72-65 win over Girard. The senior had 2,013 career points and counting after the game. 

Want to nominate an athlete? Email Bob Lundeberg at bob.lundeberg@gmail.com

High School on SI National Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

1. Cassiah Banks, fr., Clark (Nevada) flag football

Banks caught 11 passes for 138 yards and four touchdowns while picking off a pass on defense as Clark blanked Eldorado, 31-0. 

2. Alexis Bruyere, jr., Imlay City (Michigan) basketball

Bruyere recorded a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds in a 42-31 win over North Branch.

3. Emma Cardozo, sr., Stadium (Washington) flag football

Cardozo had seven receptions for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-28 victory over Auburn.

4. Fabiola Cisneros, sr., Armijo (California) soccer

Cisneros netted a hat trick in an 8-0 shutout of Florin. 

5. Sanai Cyrus, sr., Loganville Christian Academy (Georgia) basketball

Cyrus tallied a triple-double in a 76-21 rout of Creekside Christian Academy with 25 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. 

6. Braelyn Even, sr., Badin (Ohio) basketball

Even became Badin’s all-time leading scorer in a 58-36 loss at Carroll. The senior netted 14 points in the game, giving her 1,348 and counting for her career. 

7. Ava Flippin, jr., Stuarts Draft (Virginia) basketball

Flippin had 40 points — a new career-high — nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in an 81-45 win over Waynesboro. 

8. Piper Jenkins, jr., Village Christian (California) soccer

Jenkins recorded seven saves in a 1-0 shutout of Heritage Christian. Later in the week, the junior had 17 saves in a 2-0 loss to Valley Christian. 

9. Ava Lerman, sr., Wisdom (Maine) basketball

Lerman had 30 points as Wisdom blew by Madawaska, 52-19. 

10. Hayden Mayfield, fr., Calumet (Oklahoma) basketball

Mayfield erupted for a career-high 51 points in a 92-30 rout of Geary. She is the 11th girl in Oklahoma history to hit the 50-point mark, and the first freshman. 

11. Madison McDonald, sr., Westlake (California) basketball

McDonald netted a career-high 32 points to go along with two rebounds, two assists and three steals in a 51-34 victory over Agoura. Later in the week, she had 29 points in a 59-54 win over Calabasas. 

12. Leah Pike, sr., Anthony Wayne (Ohio) basketball

Pike scored 32 points in a road loss to Brush. 

13. Arianna Robinson, so., Plano East (Texas) basketball

Robinson exploded for 40 points — a new career-high — in a 67-53 victory over McKinney. 

14. Charli Taylor, fr., Liberty (Nevada) flag football

Taylor completed 18 of 25 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in a 40-6 romp over Basic. 

15. Kendra Tharp, sr., West Greene (Pennsylvania) basketball

Tharp scored 20 points — including the 1,000th of her prep career — in a 67-28 win over Avella. 

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting

High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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