VOTE: Volusia-Flagler Girls Athlete of the Week for May 4-9 presented by Halifax Health
The spring sports season is reaching its crescendo across Volusia and Flagler counties, and the intensity on the field is matched only by the passion of our readers in the voting booth. After a dominant performance last week from Seabreeze softball phenom Alyssa Checho, we are now ready to crown the next Halifax Health Volusia-Flagler Girls Athlete of the Week for the period of May 4-9.
Checho, a freshman pitcher for the Sandcrabs, earned 56% of the vote last week after delivering back-to-back shutouts against Pine Ridge and Bishop Moore. That performance not only secured a district title for Seabreeze but also set a high bar for excellence this month. Now, a new slate of athletes is vying for the spotlight, and the competition is fierce.
This week’s ballot features standouts from softball, track and field, girls lacrosse, and girls weightlifting. Each nominee has produced a stat line or a moment that demands recognition. But only one will walk away with the weekly crown, and that decision rests entirely in your hands. Let’s break down the contenders, analyze their performances, and give you the insight you need to cast an informed vote.
Meet the Nominees: Stars of the Week
Our staff, in collaboration with coaches and the Daytona Beach News-Journal sports desk, has curated a list of athletes who delivered extraordinary results between May 4 and May 9. These young women represent the best of Volusia-Flagler athletics, from clutch postseason heroics to record-breaking individual achievements.
Below are the nominees for this week’s poll. Read their stories, then scroll down to the online ballot to cast your vote. Remember, you can vote once per device per hour until the poll closes at 10 a.m. Saturday.
- Mackenzie Davis, Spruce Creek Softball – The senior shortstop went 5-for-7 with two home runs and seven RBIs in a critical district semifinal win over DeLand. Her power surge kept the Hawks alive in the postseason.
- Jasmine Reyes, Flagler Palm Coast Track & Field – Reyes shattered the school record in the 800-meter run at the FHSAA Class 4A regional meet, clocking a 2:13.45. She also anchored the 4×400 relay to a first-place finish.
- Olivia Grant, Seabreeze Girls Lacrosse – The junior attacker scored six goals and added three assists in a 15-10 victory over Matanzas, leading the Sandcrabs to the district championship game.
- Taylor Simmons, Mainland Softball – Simmons tossed a complete-game one-hitter against Atlantic, striking out 14 batters and walking just one. She also drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
- Kayla Brooks, Father Lopez Girls Weightlifting – Brooks posted a combined total of 375 pounds in the clean and jerk and bench press at the state qualifying meet, setting a new personal best and securing a spot at the FHSAA state championships.
Each of these athletes has a legitimate case for the title. But let’s dive deeper into the numbers and the context of their performances to see who truly stands out.
Expert Analysis: Breaking Down the Contenders
As a journalist who has covered high school sports in this region for over a decade, I can tell you that the May 4-9 window is often the most stressful and rewarding of the year. It’s the heart of the postseason for spring sports, and athletes are stepping up when it matters most. Here is my professional breakdown of the top candidates.
Mackenzie Davis (Spruce Creek Softball) – Davis has been the engine of the Hawks’ offense all season, but her performance against DeLand was a masterclass in clutch hitting. Two home runs in a district semifinal is no small feat, especially against a rival. The fact that she drove in seven of her team’s runs shows she is a true run producer. If Spruce Creek advances deep into the playoffs, her bat will be the reason why. She is a strong candidate for Athlete of the Week because her performance directly impacted a win-or-go-home scenario.
Jasmine Reyes (Flagler Palm Coast Track & Field) – Track athletes often get overlooked in these polls because their efforts are individual, not team-based. But Reyes’s 2:13.45 in the 800 meters is elite. That time would have placed her in the top five at last year’s state meet. She didn’t just win a race; she redefined the standard for her program. In a sport where hundredths of a second matter, her record-breaking run is a testament to months of training. If you value pure athletic achievement, Reyes is your vote.
Olivia Grant (Seabreeze Girls Lacrosse) – Lacrosse is growing rapidly in Volusia County, and Grant is one of its brightest stars. Six goals and three assists in a district semifinal is a stat line that screams dominance. She controlled the tempo of the game, fed her teammates, and finished with precision. Seabreeze is now in the district final, and Grant’s versatility makes her a nightmare for opposing defenses. She is a dark horse in this race, but her performance was undeniably elite.
Taylor Simmons (Mainland Softball) – Simmons did something rare: she dominated on both sides of the ball. A one-hitter with 14 strikeouts is a pitcher’s dream, but adding a walk-off RBI makes it legendary. In high school softball, complete-game gems are becoming less common as pitch counts are managed carefully. For Simmons to go the distance and deliver the decisive hit shows incredible composure. She is the definition of a two-way star.
Kayla Brooks (Father Lopez Girls Weightlifting) – Weightlifting is a sport of raw power and discipline. Brooks’s total of 375 pounds at the state qualifying meet is a massive achievement. To put it in perspective, that is more than double her body weight in combined lifts. She is now heading to the state championships with momentum. While weightlifting doesn’t always generate the same buzz as softball or track, Brooks’s accomplishment is objectively remarkable.
Predictions and Voting Strategy
Based on historical voting patterns in the Halifax Health Volusia-Flagler Girls Athlete of the Week polls, softball players tend to draw heavy support, especially during the postseason. Last week, Alyssa Checho’s 56% victory was fueled by a passionate Seabreeze fan base. This week, we have two softball nominees—Davis and Simmons—which could split the vote. That opens the door for a candidate like Reyes or Grant to sneak through.
My prediction: Jasmine Reyes has the best chance to win if her school’s track community rallies behind her. A record-breaking regional performance is the kind of story that resonates with voters who appreciate individual excellence. However, if Mainland’s Taylor Simmons gets the full support of her softball program and its alumni, she could replicate Checho’s success from last week. It will come down to which school can mobilize its fan base most effectively.
Here is my expert ranking of the nominees by likelihood of winning, based on performance impact and voting momentum:
- Taylor Simmons – Dominant pitching + game-winning hit = a compelling narrative.
- Jasmine Reyes – Record-breaking track star with a strong regional showing.
- Mackenzie Davis – Two homers in a playoff game is hard to ignore.
- Olivia Grant – Lacrosse is growing, but still has a smaller voting base.
- Kayla Brooks – Weightlifting deserves respect, but typically polls lower.
Remember, every vote counts. The poll will close at 10 a.m. Saturday, and you can vote once per device per hour. Emailed votes will not be counted, so make sure you use the online ballot below.
How to Nominate Future Athletes
Are you a coach, parent, or fan who wants to see your favorite athlete on next week’s ballot? The process is simple. The Daytona Beach News-Journal gathers nominees for upcoming polls from across the area. You can submit a player’s name, school, and notable statistics for a given week via email to cvinel@usatodayco.com. Submissions are due no later than 8 a.m. every Monday.
To round out the ballot, our staff also picks athletes from scores and stats posted online or submitted by local coaches. Athletes from all in-season sports are eligible, including softball, baseball, track and field, lacrosse, tennis, weightlifting, and more. If an athlete delivers a performance that makes you say “wow,” we want to know about it.
This is your chance to shine a light on the incredible young women competing in Volusia and Flagler counties. Whether it’s a pitcher tossing a no-hitter, a sprinter breaking a tape, or a weightlifter setting a new personal best, every achievement deserves recognition.
Strong Conclusion: The Power of Your Vote
As we wrap up this week’s analysis, I want to emphasize one thing: these athletes are more than just numbers on a stat sheet. They are students, teammates, and leaders who have dedicated countless hours to their craft. The Halifax Health Volusia-Flagler Girls Athlete of the Week award is a small token of appreciation for their hard work, but it carries immense weight in the community. It builds school spirit, motivates younger athletes, and creates lasting memories.
Last week, Alyssa Checho’s victory sent a message that Seabreeze softball is back and hungry. This week, the next star will emerge. Will it be Taylor Simmons, the two-way hero from Mainland? Or Jasmine Reyes, the record-breaking runner from Flagler Palm Coast? Perhaps Mackenzie Davis, Olivia Grant, or Kayla Brooks will surge ahead with a late vote push.
The only way to find out is to cast your ballot. Vote now, share the poll with your friends and family, and make your voice heard. The poll closes at 10 a.m. Saturday, so don’t wait. Every hour brings a new opportunity to support your favorite athlete.
Thank you to Halifax Health for sponsoring this award and for their continued commitment to the health and wellness of our student-athletes. And thank you to the coaches, parents, and fans who make this community special. Now, go vote.
Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.
