Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Lila Ekholdt

By Ray Hamill — Two seniors who are playing an elite level make up our Athletes of the Week, which is sponsored as always by College of the Redwoods Athletics.

St. Bernard’s Wyatt Simoni enjoyed another monster game against Ukiah this past week and continues to be one of the most productive players in the entire North Coast Section.

And he’s doing it on both sides of the ball.

Whether he’s lining up at running back or defensive end, Simoni is making plays and appears to be determined to close out his high school career with a bang.

Likewise with Eureka senior Lila Ekholdt.

The Loggers soccer standout is also playing at an elite level this season and has the Eureka girls on course to retain their league title and perhaps more.

Ekholdt and the Loggers were held to a 2-2 tie at Arcata on Tuesday, but she and her teammates responded in perfect fashion with their most complete performance of the season in a rebound victory at McKinleyville on Thursday.

And Ekholdt played a big part in that.

For our Team of the Week, we switch to girls golf, where the Arcata Tigers are cruising toward another league championship.

Under the guidance of head coach Troy Ghisetti, the Tigers opened up a 91-stroke lead over the rest of the H-DNL with their fourth team win in five rounds of league play in Fortuna this week.

Madyson Nelson leads the way for the Tigers and is also well on course to win the individual league crown.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Lila Ekholdt

Eureka Soccer, Senior

Ekholdt has arguably been the best player on a very talented Eureka roster this fall and scored the decisive goal in Thursdays’ win at McKinleyville as she continues to play an MVP level.

The senior attacking midfielder is a playmaker and leads the team with 12 goals and 10 assists in eight games.

For more on Ekholdt, see Loggers play ‘most complete’ game yet against improving Panthers …

Wyatt Simoni

St. Bernard’s Football, Senior

Simoni is having a senior season to remember and leads the Crusaders in multiple statistical categories.

He has posted team-highs in receiving yards per game (98.6), rushing yards per game (135.2) and tackles (8.4), and is second in the NCS with 10.5 sacks and third in section with 15 touchdowns.

And for good measure he also has three forced fumbles.

Against Ukiah he had 10 receptions for 293 yards and three TDs.

For more on Simoni’s big week, see Crusaders lose a wild one, as Ukiah Wildcats rally late …

Submitted photo – From left to right, Ash Osceola, Toni Diaz, Lily Cunningham, Lucia Hernandez and Madyson Nelson.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Arcata Girls Golf

The Arcata girls are well on course to retain their league title after another big round this week that saw them stretch their league lead to 91 strokes with two rounds remaining.

In addition to Nelson, teammates Lily Cunningham and Ash Osceola are both also in contention for one of the seven coveted all-league spots.

Lucia Hernandez and Toni Diaz also are enjoying big seasons for the Tigers.

For more on their big week, see Nelson wins again to take control in H-DNL girls golf …