The Gadsden Times continues its ritual of soliciting public endorsement for individual athletic achievements, presenting weekly polls that highlight a curated selection of "top performers" from the preceding seven days. These nominations, drawn from various high school sports across the region, manifest as a cyclical performance review, punctuated by reader engagement. The process, which separates male and female athletes into distinct voting streams, appears to have been a consistent practice across multiple academic years, with specific weeks highlighted for nomination and voting.
The core mechanism involves the Gadsden Times identifying athletes based on their "top performances" from the previous week, then presenting these individuals for a public vote via online polls. This procedure is framed as a recurring event, a fixture in the local sports reporting calendar.
Recent cycles of this electoral sport underscore the ongoing nature of these selections. For the week of March 14-20, nominees included Dayton Porter (Boaz) for his offensive contributions with hits and RBIs, Gavin Lang (Collinsville) for his strikeouts and RBIs, and Jaycee Gibbs (Gaston) for his strikeouts. Similarly, the week prior, March 7-13, saw nominations for Sage Bennett (Boaz) for significant RBIs and runs, Jeremiah Killian (Collinsville) for his RBIs, and Brodie Johnson (Westbrook Christian) for pitching and hitting prowess. The most recent published cycle, March 24-28, featured Colton Shields (Hokes Bluff) for his RBIs and strikeouts, Tyler Pierce (Boaz) for pitching dominance, Jameson Scissum (Etowah) for strikeouts and RBIs, Aiden Johnson (Glencoe) for pitching, Alex Brewer (Southside) for offensive output, and Dylan Rainey (Westbrook Christian) for RBIs.
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The Gadsden Times' engagement with this nomination and voting framework extends beyond these recent instances. During the August 22-23 period, football performances were highlighted, with nominees like Jamon Williams (Ashville) and Presley Fant (Boaz) recognized for their rushing yards and touchdowns. In September 29 - October 3, football again took center stage, with nominees such as Mason McAteer (Collinsville) and Zyan Gibson (Gadsden City) noted for passing and receiving statistics. Later in the year, November 15-21, the focus shifted back to football nominations, though specific athletes were not detailed in the provided information. The athletic year also appears to culminate in a broader selection, with the 2024-25 Gadsden Times Boys Athlete of the Year poll featuring a substantial list of 125 nominees that closed on June 26th of the preceding year. An earlier poll for January 10-16 noted nominees JB Potter (Ashville) and Carson McGraw (Southside) for their scoring contributions in basketball.
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The Mechanics of Recognition
The publication states that nominees are derived from the "top performers the week before." Coaches are invited to submit nominations via email to [email protected], though votes themselves are not accepted through this channel. The selection process appears to be a consistent, recurring feature, as indicated by phrases like "It's that time again" appearing across multiple announcements. The separation of boys' and girls' polls is also a noted structural element of this annual reporting.
Context and Continuity
The consistent implementation of these athlete of the week polls across different seasons and sports—from football in the fall to basketball in winter and baseball/track in spring—suggests a deliberate strategy by the Gadsden Times to maintain reader engagement with local high school athletics. The extensive list of nominees for the Athlete of the Year award further points to a comprehensive attempt to catalogue and acknowledge a wide range of athletic talent within the designated area. This ongoing practice serves as a public ledger of celebrated performances, subject to the shifting tides of public opinion via online voting.
Read More: Gadsden Times Girls Athlete of the Week poll for March 14-20
