The Baker Gators competed Tuesday morning at the Okaloosa County Cross-Country Championship. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Paul Struwe, the Gators competed hard against some of the county’s top talent. Silas Jernigan led the way for Baker’s boys’ team with a time of 18:29.10 to finish in the middle of the pack, in 32nd place. Jernigan competes in both cross-country and track for the Gators, competing in long-distance events. Jernigan and the Gators have competed at only five meets this season. His ability to overcome the short season and place well at the county championship is what has earned him this week’s Baker High Athlete of the Week.

The Crestview Bulldogs competed at the Okaloosa County Cross-Country Championship this past Tuesday. While there, the girls’ team podiumed with a third-place finish. Leading the team was Lorelei Waller, who’s been a top finisher for the Bulldogs all season long. Waller finished her race with a final time of 22:37.50 to place 20^th out of 54 runners, just four seconds slower than her personal record of 22:33.04 that she set back in September. Waller’s consistency as one of Crestview’s top runners, while steadily improving throughout the season, is what’s earned her this week’s Crestview High Athlete of the Week.

The Baker Gators were once again in the Rural District Volleyball finals, facing top-ranked opponent Jay. Baker fought hard through each of their sets with an all-around team performance. Among the team, Mallory Lawson played an exceptional game. After taking a hard-struck ball to the face, Lawson shook it off, regained her composure, and remained in the game. Her determination continued out on the court with diving saves and strong attacks to help keep Baker in the game. Lawson’s “no quit” attitude, perseverance, and resilience are what have earned her this week’s Baker High Athlete of the Week.

The Crestview Bulldogs had a shootout when facing Niceville in football last week. Multiple times throughout the game, the two teams were tied. Crestview was able to stay in the fight mostly due to the Bulldogs’ passing game. Rayshaun Cargle had reliable hands all night for Crestview, securing multiple catches for big plays downfield. Cargle was there when Crestview needed him the most, cradling a catch for a touchdown on fourth down. Cargle’s reliability and ability to catch in traffic are what have earned him this week’s Crestview High Athlete of the Week.

The Baker Gators volleyball team was on a roll when facing Rocky Bayou on the road last week. Baker was off to a slow start, but Ellie Fleming took control and began finding opportunities. Fleming assisted in closing out the first set with pinpoint accurate serves. She later pushed the team on a six-point run in the second set when she returned to serve for the Gators. While on the court, Fleming made smart, calculated plays. She was able to find holes in Rocky Bayou’s defense and catch the Knights off guard with quick attacks to score points for the Gatos. Fleming’s all around performance is what has earned her this week’s Baker Athlete of the Week.

The Crestview volleyball team unfortunately didn’t get to host its senior night due to the arrival of Hurricane Isaias, but they were able to get in a final game at Choctaw during the week. In that match, Kaylee Wayer recorded seven kills against the Indians. Wayer has played a major role for Crestview volleyball this year and has stepped up when needed. The week prior at Bozeman, Wayer recorded nine kills, two serving aces, and 14 digs in the Bulldogs’ sweep over the Bucks, with an additional 27 successful serves received. Wayer’s ability to adapt is what has earned her this week’s Crestview High Athlete of the Week.

The Gators secured a homecoming victory last Friday after defeating FAMU DRS 50-16. Although Baker’s defense played a part in the margin of victory, it was Calvin Wilks’ ground game that opened the field for Baker. Wilks rushed for 145 yards on 17 carries along with two receptions for 74 yards with one rushing and one receiving touchdown. Most of Wilks’ rushing attempts were hard fought, and he made sure FAMU defenders paid for trying to prevent him from scoring. His work ethic and inability to quit are what have earned Wilks this week’s Baker High Athlete of the Week.

The Bulldogs took on a heavy-set quad match Sept. 26 featuring two district opponents in Pace and Navarre. Through the three games played, Codi Whitfield stood out on the stat sheet. When facing the Patriots, Whitfield led the team in hitting percentage with .375 and five digs. She also led the team versus Navarre with a .357 hitting percentage six kills and six assists. Lastly when going against West Florida, Whitfield topped the charts with five kills, three blocks, and eight digs. Whitfield’s performance that Saturday highlighted her inability to quit and willingness to win, earning her this week’s Crestview High Athlete of the Week.

The Baker Gators put up a strong performance against North Bay Haven last week. Among the many top performances, Chasen Lawrence played an all-around fantastic game. Offensively, Lawrence rushed for 88 yards on four carries with a touchdown. He also had a nine-yard reception for a second touchdown. On defense, Lawrence totaled six tackles and recovered a fumble for the Gators. Lawrence’s ability to play full speed on both sides of the ball while making an impact is what’s earned him this week’s Baker High Athlete of the Week.

Crestview didn’t quit after falling behind 21 points to Pace last week, and much of that has to do with the momentum created by Manwell Robinson. Not only did Robinson score the first touchdown for Crestview, but his ability also to create space and find an opening allowed Crestview to drive downfield and get in scoring position. Robinson would score again on Crestview’s opening drive out of halftime. Although the Bulldogs were down 41-27, Robinson continued to fight and scooped up an onside kick to give Crestview another shot at a comeback. Robinson’s fight and inability to quit, along with his stand out performance is what has earned him this week’s Crestview High Athlete of the Week.