Prep athletes of the week

ALEKSA TATARYN

Benilde-St. Margaret's • soccer

The sophomore forward came up big in the Red Knights' run to their second consecutive Class 1A championship.

She scored a goal and assisted on three others in a 5-1 rout of Mankato West in the semifinals and scored the lone goal of the game — a 25-yard sniper shot to the upper right corner of the net with less than 10 minutes to go — in a 1-0 victory over Blake in the final.

The goal was so stunning that it even shocked Tataryn.

"Normally my goals are inside the [penalty] box. I hardly ever get shots off outside the box," she said. "Our coach tells us to visualize a lot. That's one of the shots I would visualize scoring."

The goal was the difference in the tight battle many expected, considering it was the third state championship-game meeting between the two teams.

"When there was about 15 minutes left, I remember thinking, 'It's going to go into overtime, just like last year,' " Tataryn said. "Getting that goal was unreal. Like our team would say, it's epic."

OBSA ALI

Richfield • cross-country

Putting the finishing touches on a dominant season, the senior pulled away in the final 800 meters to defeat Wayzata's Connor Olson and win the Class 2A individual championship. He covered the St. Olaf College course in a time of 15 minutes, 15.2 seconds.

ELIZABETH ENDY

Minnetonka • soccer

The Metro Player of the Year showed off her versatility in the Class 2A tournament. She scored a goal and assisted on another in a 3-2 semi­final victory over Eden Prairie, then split time between forward and defense as the Skippers beat Lake­ville North 1-0 in the championship game.

SEIK SEIK

St. Paul Como Park • soccer

Less than four years ago, he was living in Thailand. Now, he is the offensive hero of the first team from Como Park to win a state title. The senior scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Sartell in the Class 1A semifinals and the winner in a 2-1 championship victory over Hill-Murray.

JUSTIN OLIVER

North St. Paul • soccer

The recently named Mr. Soccer in Minnesota paced the Polars to their first Class 2A championship. He had an assist in a 2-1 semifinals victory over Andover and two goals in regulation and another in a shootout as North St. Paul beat Eastview 4-3 in the championship game.

JAMIAH NEWELL

Lakeville North • football

The heart and soul of the Panthers offense, the senior ran for 212 yards — his highest total of the season — and a touchdown as Lakeville North advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals with a 14-12 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall.

MEGAN PEKAREK
Osseo • volleyball

The Orioles offense revolves around the senior setter's ability to spread the ball around. Pekarek led Osseo to the Class 3A, Section 5 championship last week with 60 set assists and 19 digs in playoff victories over St. Michael-Albertville and Champlin Park.