The Thanksgiving turkey has been digested. The fall sports season has given way to the winter. And The Desert Sun's Athlete of the Week has returned.
This is where you get to vote for our Athlete of the Week.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTo all the coaches and parents of a winter sports athlete, we love to get nominations, so if you know an athlete who has had a particularly hot start to the new season, please e-mail us the details to [email protected].
Before we look at our first batch of winter sports candidates, let's give kudos to our final Athlete of the Week winner of the fall season. You voted and you chose Marley Winston, the Palm Desert boys' water polo goaltender for his excellent postseason performance.
Palm Desert goalie Marley Winston tries to make a save against Hemet during the CIF-SS Division 4 second-round playoff loss in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.This week's winner, as always, is up to you. Simply vote in the poll at the bottom of this article at desertsun.com and whichever athlete has the most votes at noon on Saturday will be the winner.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are this week's candidates listed in alphabetical order.
Shayla Bates, Palm Springs girls' basketball
What she did: Bates had a huge game against Desert Hot Springs as she racked up 26 points and 15 rebounds in an Indians win. The junior is off to a great start and is averaging a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) through five games.
David Cervantes, Desert Hot Springs soccer
What he did: In a 3-0 win over Indio early in the season, Cervantes had a pair of goals to lead the way for the Golden Eagles who are off to a 2-1 start with wins over the Rajahs and Palm Desert already on their ledger.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJacob Jauregui, Shadow Hills basketball
What he did: The junior had a big game in a win over Troy, racking up 25 points and eight rebounds. He's currently the Knights leading scorer through three games averaging 15 points per contest.
Edward Thomas, Indio wrestling
What he did: Thomas helped the Rajahs win a dual meet against DHS with the fastest pin of the night, won his match by pin against Cathedral City and finished second in his weight class at the John Rice Tournament. A good start for Thomas.
Wil Wilson, Palm Desert basketball
What he did: Wilson had a busy night with a team-high 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in the Aztecs' win over Royal on Monday. Wilson is averaging 16.4 points in the early going this season for Palm Desert which is now 4-1 on the year.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Desert Sun Athlete of the Week voting is now open
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