State championship season is here and boys athletes around the Salem-Keizer area are competing for district and state glory as the 2026 OSAA spring sports season begins to close.
Every week, you get to vote for the Statesman Journal’s Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Maps Credit Union.
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Here are the nominees for this week’s boys Athlete of the Week.
Mason Bowlby, McNary track and field
Anders Hagen, West Salem track and field
Grant Hemelstrand, Cascade golf
Wyatt Metzger, Silverton track and field
Owen Mitzel, Stayton baseball
Derek Olivo, McNary track and field
Braxton Singleton, North Salem track and field
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Athlete of the Week
Mason Bowlby, McNary track and field
Bowldy, a senior, won the 100-meter dash in 10.67 seconds and the 200 in 21.76 May 22 at the Central Valley Conference district meet.
McNary’s Mason Bowlby, center, wins the boys 100 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Salem, Ore.
Anders Hagen, West Salem track and field
Hagen, a senior, won the 800 in a Class 6A second-best 1:56.01 and the 1,500 in 4:07.08 May 22 at the Central Valley Conference district meet.
West Salem’s Anders Hagen wins the 800 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Salem, Ore.
Grant Hemelstrand, Cascade golf
Hemelstrand, a junior, earned a fourth-place finish May 19 at the OSAA 4A state championships by shooting a 155 (+11) across two days at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.
Cascade’s Grant Hemelstrand putts on the 11th green during the OSAA 4A boys golf state championships on May 19, 2026, at Emerald Valley Golf & Resort in Creswell, Oregon.
Wyatt Metzger, Silverton track and field
Metzger, a senior, won the 100 in 10.74 for a new school record and the 200 in 22.30 May 22 at the Mid-Willamatte Conference district meet.
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Owen Mitzel, Stayton baseball
Mitzel, a senior, smacked two hits for five RBIs to help the Eagles claim an Oregon West Conference championship May 21 in a 13-5 win over Sweet Home.
McNary’s Derek Olivo wins boys javelin during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Salem, Ore.
Derek Olivo, McNary track and field
Olivo, a junior, won javelin with a Class 6A-best 210-foot, 5-inch toss and won discus (175-2) May 22 at the Central Valley Conference district meet.
North Salem’s Braxton Singleton wins the 300 meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Salem, Ore.
Braxton Singleton, North Salem track and field
Singleton, a senior, won the 110 hurdles in a Class 6A-best 14.33 seconds and 300 hurdles in 40.04 May 22 at the Central Valley Conference district meet.
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Athletes observe the national anthem before the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Athletes observe the national anthem before the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union boys Athlete of the Week?
McNary’s Derek Olivo wins boys javelin during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Derek Olivo, left, and Gary Olivo talk during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
West Salem’s Madelyn Miller wins girls shot put during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Gary Olivo wins second place in boys javelin during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
West Salem wins the boys 4×100 relay during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary wins the girls 4×100 relay during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
West Salem’s Anders Hagen, right, wins the boys 1,500 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
West Salem’s Avery Meier wins the girls 1,500 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union boys Athlete of the Week?
McNary’s Mason Bowlby, center, wins the boys 100 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
McNary’s Madison Herring, left center, wins the girls 100 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Madison Herring, left, hugs a teammate after winning the girls 100 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Joey Elston, center, wins the boys 400 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
Sprague’s Jovi Johnson wins the girls 400 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
North Salem’s Braxton Singleton, center, wins the boys 110-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
West Salem’s Ella Johnson, center, wins the girls 100-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
West Salem’s Ella Johnson, left center, celebrates winning the girls 100-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Sprague runners congratulate West Salem’s Ella Johnson after winning the girls 100-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Athletes compete in the boys 800 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union boys Athlete of the Week?
West Salem’s Anders Hagen wins the boys 800 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Athletes compete in the girls 800 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
Sprague’s Jovi Johnson wins the girls 800 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Mason Bowlby, center, wins the boys 200 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week?
Sprague’s Carly Skogstad, right, beats McNary’s Courtney Corron in the girls 200 meters during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The boys 300-meter hurdlers are introduced before their race during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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Vote! Who should be Maps Credit Union boys Athlete of the Week?
North Salem’s Braxton Singleton wins the boys 300-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
North Salem’s Braxton Singleton is celebrated by teammates after winning the boys 300-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
McNary’s Kali Ellis, right, is celebrated by her peers after winning girls 300-meter hurdles during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The boys 4×400 relay teams receive instructions before their race during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The McNary boys 4×400 relay team defeats West Salem with a time of 3:16.94, the fastest time in the state this season, during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The McNary boys 4×400 relay team celebrates after winning and posting the state’s fastest time of 3:16.94 during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The Sprague girls 4×400 relay team crosses the finish line to win during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The Sprague girls 4×400 relay team celebrates after winning the event during the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
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See photos as athletes compete at CVC track and field district meet
The West Salem boys and girls track and field teams celebrate their team titles with a victory lap after the CVC Track and Field District Championships at McCulloch Stadium on May 22 in Salem.
(Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal)
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett@statesmanjournal.com or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
