Vote for the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Week in an open poll
Vote for the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Week in an open poll
Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning NewsTue, May 5, 2026 at 8:08 AM UTC
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The high school sports season is winding down in Georgia as teams and athletes make a final push in the postseason.
The Benedictine baseball team is the last squad standing in the GHSA playoffs, as Savannah Christian and Calvary Day lost in the second round of the state playoffs, while the Cadets advanced to the state quarterfinals.
In soccer, the Richmond Hill girls advanced to the state quarterfinals, along with the Savannah Arts boys, Islands boys and Benedictine squads.
There were a number of big-time performances in track and field led by Richmond Hill senior Kendrick Joshua, who set a state record in the 300 meter hurdles in a sectional qualifying meet for next week's state competition.
The St. Andrew's baseball team closed out its regular season as the Lions reached 20 wins for the first time in program history with the postseason starting this week.
This is a chance for readers to weigh in and select the Savannah Morning News high school athlete of the week in an open poll with no restrictions on the voting. The poll will close on Tuesday, May 12, at 11 a.m.
Here are this week's candidates.
Kendrick Joshua, Richmond Hill
The University of Georgia-bound senior set a Georgia state record with a time of 35.60 in the 300-meter hurdles to win his heat at the GHSA 6A Sectional A meet and qualify for the Class 6A State meet. His time is the second best in the nation this year.
He also had the top mark in the long jump at 24-8.5, while running a leg on the Wildcat 4x400 meter relay team that had the best qualifying time at 3:16.65.
Martin Melich, Savannah Arts
The senior goal keeper had eight saves on the night, and turned back three of four penalty kicks as the Panthers beat Appling County on PKs to advance to the Class 2A state quarterfinals. They are set to host Drew Charter on Tuesday, May 5th, at Savannah High, at 6:30 p.m.
Jacoby Pasley, Bradwell
The junior had the best qualifying times in three events at the Class 5A Sectional A meet in Evans as he earned berths in the state meet in the 100 meters (10.67), the 200 meters (21.39) and the 400 meters (48.14).
Ella Peterson, Richmond Hill
The senior, who is headed to play soccer at the the Virginia Military Institute, scored the first goal of the game in the first overtime and assisted on Aubrey Fanning's goal a few minutes later as the Wildcats beat visiting Norcross 2-0 to advance to the Class 6A soccer quarterfinals.
Parker DiTomasso, Benedictine
The freshman soccer standout had a pair of goals in a playoff win at Pace Academy. He netted the game winner from close range with 1:28 left in the second overtime to put the game away in a 4-3 victory that sent the Cadets to the state quarterfinals..
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Maleah Pritchett, Richmond Hill
The junior had the top qualifying time in the 300 meter hurdles at the 6A Sectional A meet with a time of 42.90. She had the third best time in the 100 meter hurdles in 14.41, and ran a leg on the Wildcat 4X400 meter relay team that qualified first in 3:47.43.
Kai Hernandez-Gambill, Benedictine
The junior went went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and four RBIs to help lead the Cadets to a playoff win in Game 1 of a sweep of visiting Allatoona.
Brody Schuman of Savannah Christian on the mound in a playoff game against visiting Mt. Paran on April 30, 2026.Brody Schuman, Savannah Christian
The senior pitched 9 2/3 innings, allowing allowing four hits and two runs as he struck out seven without walking a batter. He threw 104 pitches in a game the Raiders ended up losing in 11 innings to visiting Mt. Paran.
Chloe Miller, Richmond Hill
The sophomore qualified for the Class 6A state meet with the second best qualifying time in the 1,600 meters (5:06.19) and the fourth best time in the 800 meters (2:14.74).
Andrew McLaughlin, Islands
The sophomore had a hat trick as the Islands boys soccer team beat Chestatee 3-0 to advance to the Class 3A state soccer quarterfinals. The Sharks improved to 19-2 with the victory.
Ellis Kelley, St. Andrew's
The eight grader on the St. Andrew's baseball team struck out eight over five innings, allowing five hits and one run and also drove in a pair of runs in a 5-2 win over Thomas Jefferson Academy.
St. Andrew's pitcher Ellis Kelley on the mound in a game against Bulloch Academy on April 22, 2026.Myles Head, Richmond Hill
The senior qualified for the Class 6A State Meet with the second best time in two events at the Sectional Meet. He ran the 1,600 meters in 4:19.34 and the 3,200 in 9:31.41.
Trinity Perine, Richmond Hill
The standout freshman had a strong showing at the Sectional meet as she qualified for the state meet in three events. She was second in the 400 meters in 54.43 and eighth in the 200 meters (24.43), while running a leg on the Wildcat 4X400 meter relay team that qualified first in 3:47.43.
Tekla Thompson, St. Vincent's
The sophomore set a school record in the discus with a throw of 115-3 to win at the GHSA Class A-3A Private School Sectional A meet. She also qualified for the state meet with a second-place finish in the shot put (34-11.75).
Ralo Wesley, Bethesda
Nursing a hamstring injury, Wesley wasn't expected to compete in the SCISA Division II State Track and Field Meet. But he suited up and won the 100 meters with a time of 11:09 to help lead the Blazers to their second straight team title. He ran a personal best of 10.55 earlier this season.
Max Carson, Benedictine
The senior had the top qualifying mark in the shot put in the Class 4A Section A meet in the shot put with a throw of 51-3.25 and had the second best discus mark at 147-4 as he qualified for the state meet in both events.
Syraiah Wilkins, South Effingham
The junior had the seventh best qualifying time in the 100 meters (12.29), the fourth best in the 200 (24.91) and the second best long jump mark (17-8.5) as she qualified for the state meet in all three events at a Class 5A sectional meet.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Vote for the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Week in an open poll
Source: “AOL Sports”
