Boerne volleyball's Lauren Magnus wins Athlete of the Week

Boerne volleyball’s Lauren Magnus, a junior setter, has been voted the Express-News Athlete of the Week. Magnus played a crucial role in the Greyhounds' recent success, helping the team take control of the District 26-5A volleyball race with two significant victories last week. She contributed a total of 67 assists in wins over Alamo Heights and Boerne Champion. Her standout performance included 36 assists in a four-set victory against the Chargers, propelling the Greyhounds to first place in the district with an unbeaten record.

The recognition came as she outperformed four other finalists in the Express-News weekly poll. Among these finalists was Harlan senior Nailah Randle, who was named Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday. Randle recorded an impressive 27 kills, 22 digs, and five blocks in a five-set match against Brennan, helping her team secure sole possession of first place in 29-6A. Additionally, she achieved 20 digs and six aces in a subsequent sweep over Stevens.

In football recognition, Kerrville Tivy sophomore quarterback Cohen Stehling earned the title of Offensive Player of the Week. He notably broke Heisman winner Johnny Manziel's school record for single-game passing yards, throwing for 515 yards and eight touchdowns in a remarkable 70-14 victory over Austin LBJ. Manziel’s previous record had stood at 503 yards.

Meanwhile, Jay senior Chris Balderas was recognized as Defensive Player of the Week after making 21 tackles, which included 12 solo stops, in a 26-13 win over South San. This marked the Mustangs' first victory of the season. Balderas also managed two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Furthermore, Lanier’s Erick Esparaza led a Voks rushing attack that totaled 657 yards with a personal contribution of 283 rushing yards and three touchdowns from 16 carries in a 46-14 win over Highlands.