Each week, our HomeTeam staffers nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover. Then we turn the voting over to readers. These nominations span Saturday, April 12 through Friday, April 18. The winners get a T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on all of our nominees then vote until noon Monday.
Female nominees
Angel Deng, East Lake tennis: The senior made the Class 4A individual singles final before losing to Newsome’s Kylie Moulin 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6-3). Deng and Kim Herrock made the overall doubles final before losing to Plant 6-1, 6-4.
Alexis Franco and Laurel Wanger, Largo tennis: The pair, playing doubles together for the first time this season, advanced to the finals of the Class 3A individual championship. After winning two matches in straight sets, the duo lost in the final 0-6, 6-4, 10-5 to Naples.
Alexis Kilfoyl, Academy at the Lakes softball: The seventh-grader had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning and struck out a season-high 12 in the Wildcats’ 5-1 Class 2A-7 district title victory over Cambridge Christian.
Paige Leavy, Tampa Prep tennis: The Terrapins’ No. 1 singles player won a pair of matches in straight sets to earn a spot in the Class A title match against Ransom Everglades’ Allegra Hanlon. Leavy lost the championship match 6-2, 6-4 and also made it to the No. 1 doubles semifinals.
Desiree’ Nathe, Bishop McLaughlin track: In her final season, the senior booked her first trip to state by setting a personal record — and winning height — in the high jump. She cleared 5 feet, 5 inches in the Class A, Region 3 meet.
Erica Oosterhout, Plant tennis: The standout junior breezed to two state championships — in singles and doubles, along with Gabrielle Rodriguez — at the Class 4A state tournament in Altamonte Springs.
Male nominees
Evan Holvoet, Canterbury tennis: The senior won the Class A individual singles championship by defeating Miami Country Day’s Shaun Berman 7-5, 6-1. He had to win four matches over two days to claim the title. Holvoet was unable to play for the overall singles title due to a back injury.
Devonte Luis, Anclote track: The senior will be heading to state after winning the triple jump (45-02) at the Class A, Region 3 meet and nabbing the final qualifying spot in the 300 hurdles.
Kevin Merrell, Steinbrenner track: The USF baseball commit won a pair of events at the Class 4A, District 10 track meet, leading the Warriors to their third straight district championship. Merrell, a shortstop on the baseball team, won the 100 in 10.83 before anchoring the winning 4x100 meter relay.
Agie Moreno, Wiregrass Ranch tennis: The sophomore won at No. 1 singles to help the Bulls tie for first in Class 3A — the first team title for Wiregrass — then topped Fort Myers’ John Carlin 6-1, 4-6, 10-3 for the overall singles crown.
Samson Moore, Gaither track: He junior both hurdles events at the Class 3A, District 9 meet and clocked a national elite time of 38.85 seconds in the 300 hurdles.
Dan Stefan, Boca Ciega tennis: The junior won his second straight overall state singles championship in the Class 2A tournament. Stefan defeated Miami Gulliver Prep’s Chase Perez-Blanco 6-2, 6-2. He did not lose a set in the district, regionals or state tournament.