There were a number of top performances from student-athletes in our coverage area to start the new year and now it’s up to readers to decide who will earn top honors for the month.

Nominees for September include:

• Emma Best, Senior, Cape Coral Seahawks: In the Seahawks’ victorious opening meet against Ida Baker, the senior swimmer had four first-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 400 medley relay.

• Gervaris Leaphart, Senior, Island Coast Gators: The senior running back had himself a day in a 27-0 win over Evangelical Christian. Leaphart rushed for 191 yards and four touchdowns, including a school-record 95-yard score in the third quarter.

• Frederick Harley Jr., Senior, Oasis Sharks: The Sharks running back has helped lead the team to a 2-0 start to the season, totaling five touchdowns in those games. Overall, the senior has tallied 146 rushing yards with four rushing scores, and 38 receiving yards with a touchdown.

• Jazlyn Forbes, Junior, Oasis Sharks: Forbes helped lead the Sharks to an overall win at the Lehigh Lightning Invitational. Forbes, who holds the state’s best time after two weeks, crossed the finish line in 18:19.7. That time was more than a minute better than the second-place finisher.

• Reed Verblaauw, Senior, Ida Baker Bulldogs: The senior accounted for all three of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns in a loss to Estero. Verblaauw had two receptions, both for scores, totaling 138 yards, and broke off a 72-yard run in the fourth quarter.

• Alejandra Figueroa, Junior, Cape Coral Seahawks: The junior swimmer had two individual first-place finishes at a tri-meet, being tops in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. She was also part of the Seahawks’ winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

• Angel Cruz, Junior, Mariner Tritons: Cruz earned his first cross country gold medal by winning the King’s Invitational at Southwest Florida Christian on Saturday. The junior took an early lead and won the race with a time of 16 minutes and 30 seconds, 45 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

• Jayden Reyes, Junior, Cape Coral Seahawks: The two-way player came up with big plays on both sides of the ball for the Seahawks in a win over Estero. Reyes collected three receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, while also recording two interceptions, including a 60-yard pick-six.

• Skye Persechino, Sophomore, Oasis Sharks: The young stand-out captured two individual first place finishes, and was part of two first-place relay teams vs Charlotte High School. The sophomore was tops in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, and swam with the winning 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams.

• Jayden Boyd, Junior, Cape Coral Seahawks: Boyd helped the Seahawks to a 36-14 win over Bonita Springs with a pair of explosive plays. The junior returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, and also scooped up a fumble and took it for a 27-yard score. He added two carries for 44 yards.

Athlete of the Month nominees are comprised of the Breeze’s staff-selected Athletes of the Week for that respective month.

To vote, click the “Vote Now” icon on the homepage of this website.