Rock Hill, South Carolina, October 1, 2025
News Summary
The Herald has announced the nominees for this week’s High School Athlete of the Week. Polls are open for voting until Sunday at noon. Athletes like Libba Faircloth, Jamol Horton, Carson Pinti, and others have showcased remarkable achievements in cross country, football, tennis, golf, and swimming. These talented students are contributing significantly to their teams’ successes, and the community can support them through voting. The reported statistics reflect data through September 27.
Rock Hill, South Carolina – The Herald has announced the nominees for this week’s High School Athlete of the Week, and polls are now open for voting, which will close on Sunday at noon. Students from various schools have shown exceptional talent in their respective sports, each making impressive contributions to their teams.
Libba Faircloth, a junior from South Pointe girls’ cross-country, has made headlines for winning the Cavalier Classic 5k with a time of 19 minutes, 36.16 seconds on September 27. Her strong performance helped the team secure a fourth-place finish overall.
Meanwhile, Jamol Horton, a senior running back from Indian Land football, has generated buzz following a season-high of 160 rushing yards on 28 carries during a 33-9 triumph over Rock Hill on September 26. With a total of 474 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season, Horton has been a key player in leading his team to an undefeated 5-0 record.
Carson Pinti, a senior middle linebacker from Clover football, contributed significantly to his team’s narrow 27-26 victory over Fort Mill on September 26, recording 13 tackles, including two for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. Clover currently boasts a 4-2 record this season.
In tennis, Ahilyn Ramurez Guttierez from Lancaster competed at No. 3 singles against Richland Northeast on September 25, securing a victory with scores of 6-4 and 6-2, despite her team falling 4-3 in the match. Remarkably, Guttierez has only been playing for six months.
Moreover, Lillian Rivers from Northwestern girls’ golf shot an even-par 36 to earn medalist honors in a match that led her team to victory over Clover and York. She continued her impressive showing with a 3-over-par 39 the following day against Clover and Nation Ford.
Jane Rohrmeier, a sophomore from Catawba Ridge girls’ tennis, also made headlines with her performance at No. 5 singles in victories over Clover on September 24 and Fort Mill on September 26, bringing her season record to 6-1.
In football, Nigel Smith from Northwestern rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns during a 56-20 win against Catawba Ridge on September 26. To date, he has accumulated 541 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season.
In cross country, Ellis Spencer, a junior from York, won his home meet with a time of 16:37.90 on September 25, displaying an outstanding performance as part of his season.
Finally, Carson Wolf, a senior captain on the Fort Mill swimming team, showed his versatility by finishing third in the 200 individual medley and second in the 100 breaststroke at the Fort Mill Fallout meet, contributing to his team’s overall success.
Those interested in voting for the High School Athlete of the Week can do so by typing “yes” to reveal the voting box, which can be refreshed for additional votes. The statistics reported reflect data through September 27.
FAQ
When does the poll for The Herald’s High School Athlete of the Week close?
The poll for The Herald’s High School Athlete of the Week will close Sunday at noon.
Who won the Cavalier Classic 5k?
Libba Faircloth, a junior from South Pointe girls’ cross-country, won the Cavalier Classic 5k with a time of 19 minutes, 36.16 seconds on Sept. 27, leading South Pointe to a fourth-place finish.
What were Jamol Horton’s rushing statistics this season?
Jamol Horton, a senior running back from Indian Land football, had a season-high 160 yards on 28 carries in a 33-9 victory over Rock Hill on Sept. 26, totaling 474 rushing yards and six touchdowns for the season (5-0 record).
Key Features
| Athlete | Sport | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Libba Faircloth | Cross-Country | Won Cavalier Classic 5k—19:36.16 |
| Jamol Horton | Football | 160 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns |
| Carson Pinti | Football | 13 tackles, 1 sack in win |
| Ahilyn Ramurez Guttierez | Tennis | Won match in first season |
| Lillian Rivers | Golf | Medalist honors in two matches |
| Jane Rohrmeier | Tennis | 6-1 season record |
| Nigel Smith | Football | 153 yards, 3 touchdowns |
| Ellis Spencer | Cross-Country | Won home meet—16:37.90 |
| Carson Wolf | Swimming | Top finishes in multiple events |
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Additional Resources
- Herald Online – High School Athlete of the Week
- Wikipedia: Cross Country Running
- Grosse Pointe News – North-South Cross Country Success
- Google Search: Cross country athletes
- Charlotte Observer – High School Sports Highlights
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Sports
- Island Packet – Local High School Sports News
- Google News: High school cross country
- C & G News – Grosse Pointe South Cross Country
- Google Scholar: High School Athletics
- High Point Panthers – Cross Country Preseason Polls
- Google Search: Sports polling
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