Republican Herald honors 2025-26 Athletes of the Week
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Following a school year that produced multiple district and state champions, the Republican Herald's eighth annual Athlete of the Week Award Ceremony put the spotlight on local student-athletes who gave their all to help their teams reach incredible heights.
A total of 43 high school athletes from around Schuylkill County area were recognized on Tuesday evening at Penn State Schuylkill.
"The Republican Herald places a great deal of importance on the Athlete of the Week awards, and works hard to keep these young people's achievements in the forefront of community recognition," Republican Herald college sports columnist and master of ceremonies Geoffrey Maclaughlin said.
Larry Holeva, executive editor of the Republican Herald, Hazleton Standard Speaker, Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice and Scranton Times-Tribune, joined Maclaughlin to present medals to the athletes.
Among the honorees were Pine Grove softball teammates Callee Leffler and Jamie Dinger, who came following practice as the Cardinals prepared to take on Sharon in the PIAA Class 3A Championship Game on Thursday.
Several individual state champions were also honored.
Blue Mountain's Chase Guers won gold in the Class 3A 100-meter dash with a time of 10.61 seconds at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at the end of May, and Panther Valley's Brenda Banks capped her high school wrestling career with her fourth consecutive PIAA Championship.
Republican Herald content editor Ryan Sharp ended the evening with closing remarks.
"While everyone's athletic journey eventually comes to an end, if you are passionate enough, which I know you all are, sports will provide endless possibilities for you," he said. "You will find sports, and sports will find you, no matter where you're at in life."
2025-2026 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Aug. 26, 2025: Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic
Sept. 2, 2025: Paiten LaPoint, Minersville
Sept. 9, 2025: Leah Black, Tamaqua
Sept. 9, 2025: Greyson Murphy, Schuylkill Haven
Sept. 16, 2025: Tanner Kolb, Pine Grove
Sept. 23, 2025: Luke Miller, North Schuylkill
Sept. 30, 2025: Callie Melocheck, Tri-Valley
Oct. 7, 2025: Colton Reber, Schuylkill Haven
Oct. 14, 2025: Taylor Haag, Schuylkill Haven
Oct. 21, 2025: Drew Waschko, Blue Mountain
Oct. 28, 2025: Genevieve Dando, North Schuylkill
Nov. 4, 2025: Jordan Bowers, Minersville
Nov. 11, 2025: Kylie Siket, Schuylkill Haven
Nov. 18, 2025: Brady Shomper, Williams Valley
Dec. 2, 2025: Millie Black, Tamaqua
Dec. 9, 2025: Felicia Bro, Mahanoy Area
Dec. 16, 2025: Terrell McFarland, Pottsville
Dec. 23, 2025: Trey Keating, Nativity BVM
Dec. 30, 2025: Christian Alvarez, Pottsville
Jan. 6, 2026: Gabe Kamarousky, Blue Mountain
Jan. 13, 2026: Ian McKeegan , Weatherly
Jan. 20, 2026: Owen Wolfgang, Tri-Valley
Jan. 27, 2026: Shazier Bethea, Minersville
Feb. 3, 2026: Cadyn McGraw, North Schuylkill
Feb. 10, 2026: Mya Conti, North Schuylkill
Feb. 17, 2026: Audrey Hutchinson, Schuylkill Haven
Feb. 24, 2026: Arturo Reyes, Mahanoy Area
March 3, 2026: Alan Evans, Schuylkill Haven
March 10, 2026: Brenda Banks, Panther Valley
March 17, 2026: Lydia Strucko, Marian Catholic
March 17, 2026: Michael Strucko, Marian Catholic
March 24, 2026: Brigid Flynn, North Schuylkill
March 31, 2026: Jamie Dinger, Pine Grove
April 7, 2026: Chase Slotcavage, North Schuylkill
April 14, 2026: Chase McCole, Shenandoah Valley
April 21, 2026: Allison Scherer, Schuylkill Haven
April 28, 2026: Malina Letcher, Marian Catholic
May 5, 2026: Callee Leffler, Pine Grove
May 12, 2026: Alexa Giuffre-Cuculletto, Pottsville
May 19, 2026: Marley Zimmerman, Minersville
May 26, 2026: Chase Guers, Blue Mountain
June 2, 2026: Mya Schwalm, Tri-Valley
June 2, 2026: Chase Grier, Marian Catholic
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 6:57 PM.