By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Three area athletes had outstanding performances last week, allowing them all to earn Athlete of the Week honors.
Niles' Kaylynn Stephenson and Brandywine's Matt Beaver and Jeremy Hechtl have been chosen as the Niles Daily Star Athletes of the Week for Jan. 22-27.
Stephenson, a member of the Viking's volleyball team, had a strong performance against St. Joseph and at the Portage Northern invitational.
"She has really stepped up her game of late and led the team in kills on both dates," Niles volleyball coach Linda Goodrich said.
Stephenson had 12 kills and 12 digs against the Bears, and at the invitational, had 23 kills and 33 digs.
Beaver, a member of the Bobcats' basketball team, had one of his best performances of the season against Edwardsburg.
The 6-foot-2 senior nailed three first quarter 3-pointers to go along with a game high 18 points to help lift the Bobcats to a 75-52 road victory over the Eddies.
A Sunday morning breakfast with the coaches seems to inspire Beaver.
"We told him that he is not playing like Beaver can, we have been hard on him. He came out and did exactly what we asked of him. He was unbelievable" Bobcat head coach Nate Knapp said after the victory over Edwardsburg.
Hechtl, a member of the Bobcats' wrestling team, picked up his 100th career win during Brandywine's meet with Cassopolis. Hechtl pinned Lucas Costanza of the Rangers at 1:36.
Congratulations to this week's Athletes of the Week.
Athletes of the Week are chosen based on their outstanding performance in the previous week's game. More than one boy or girl may be chosen for the award.