Each week, our HomeTeam staffers will nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover, then we turn the voting over to our readers. These nominations span Saturday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 13. The winners get a free T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on what made our nominees stand out, then vote until noon Monday at tampabay.com/hometeam.
Editor's note: If voters cheat, the votes will be thrown out and the reporters will pick the winners.
Female nominees
Krystin Dempsher, Land O’Lakes swimming: She won the 200 free (2:06.8) and 100 free (0:59.8) to lead the Gators to an impressive victory over Mitchell in a matchup of Pasco County’s two top programs.
Addison Harden, Berkeley Prep volleyball: The senior middle blocker had 15 kills in the Buccaneers’ 3-1 rivalry win against Tampa Prep on Wednesday, and she was a bright spot for the home team through an early rough patch of serving and hitting errors.
Kelly Harris, Sunlake golf: She had one of the week’s best rounds – a 34 against Mitchell – and followed that with a match-low 37 in a tri-meet against Land O’Lakes and Gulf.
Shelby Mahaz, Calvary Christian volleyball: The setter was clutch in the Warriors’ five-game upset win over Academy of the Holy Names Thursday night. She had 32 assists, 12 digs and two aces to help Calvary improve to 6-4.
Annie Quinn, Durant volleyball: The junior libero’s passing, coach Brittany Wilson said, helped the Cougars beat Holy Names 2-1 in the championship match of the AHN Volleyball Invitational last weekend. Durant went 5-0 in the two-day tournament.
Olivia Suski, Seminole cross country: The junior won the girls race at the Cougar Invitational in 20:00 and helped the Warhawks to their second straight team title in big meets.
Male nominees
Josh Black, Sickles football: The senior linebacker led a defense that allowed Newsome just one touchdown Thursday night, its lowest output at home in more than four years. Sickles went on to win 27-7.
Danny Giordano, Calvary Christian football: In a 34-6 win over Northside Christian, the running back had the first five-touchdown game of his career, scoring four times on the ground and returning a fumble for another.
Tyler Kaminski, Palm Harbor University football: The senior quarterback accounted for every score in a 38-7 win over Clearwater with five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). He also kicked all five extra points and made a 36-yard field goal.
Ben Perdomo, River Ridge football: The senior running back scored his team’s first two offensive touchdowns of the season — and rushed for 221 yards on 24 carries — to lead the Royal Knights to a 21-14 upset victory over Wiregrass Ranch.
Zack Russell, Hudson football: The senior rushed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown and added two interceptions on defense. The final one, with 3:16 left, helped seal a 35-22 win over Weeki Wachee.
Garrett Young, Cambridge Christian football: The junior quarterback scored six times — three passing, three rushing — to account for 340 total yards in the Lancers’ 48-21 victory over Bishop McLaughlin.