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. 14 through Friday, Sept. 20. 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.
Editor's note: If voters cheat, the votes will be thrown out and the reporters will pick the winners.
Female nominees
Katherine Gabler, Plant volleyball: The junior had 12 kills in the Panthers’ 3-0 district win on the road against Bloomingdale on Tuesday.
Shea Hamilton, Clearwater Central Catholic volleyball: The junior outside hitter played a key role in the Marauders’ 4-1 showing at the OVA Showcase tournament in Orlando last weekend. Hamilton had 36 kills and 50 digs in five games. CCC’s only loss was to nationally ranked Winter Park.
Aileen Hnatiuk, Bishop McLaughlin volleyball: With star junior Alyssa Mathis out with a leg injury, Hnatiuk delivered 31 kills in a three-game sweep of Springstead. Coach Doug Chinchar called it one of the top 10 individual performances he’s ever seen.
Emily Kerns, Mitchell cross country: She earned the first cross country victory of her career last weekend, winning the Anclote Invitational (21:08) for the fifth-place Mustangs.
Olivia Kirkpatrick, Holy Names swimming: The sophomore won four events — 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and two relays — in AHN’s 204-111 win against Berkeley Prep on Tuesday.
Alexis Stevens, Boca Ciega cross country: At the Viking Invitational, Stevens surged to the front and held off other challengers to win the girls race in 20:06 for her first big win of the season.
Male nominees
Austin Carswell, Strawberry Crest football: In his first start under center — replacing Tristan Hyde, who tore his ACL — the junior threw four touchdown passes in a 46-0 win over Brandon.
Pierre Johnson, Pinellas Park football: The senior had his best game of the year, rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown, and picking off a pass in a 35-10 win over Seminole to keep the Patriots’ perfect season intact.
Hunter McCann, Osceola cross country: Since finishing second in his first race of the season, McCann has won three straight, including Thursday’s Viking Invitational in 16:42.
Isaiah McIntyre, Bloomingdale football: The sophomore quarterback threw three touchdowns and ran for two more in the Bulls’ near-upset win against Plant on Friday.
Emir Muratovic, Ridgewood swimming: The junior was a bright spot for the Rams in a loss to River Ridge. He won the 50 free in a blazing 21.56 seconds — more than a second faster than his regional time last year — and the 100 free in 47.5 seconds.
James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes football: The 6-foot-6 junior continued his breakout season by throwing for 271 yards and a touchdown in a 45-21 win over Mitchell. He also ran for a score to help his Gators stay perfect (4-0).