Florida Power & Light Pensacola Girls Athlete of the Week Sept. 28-Oct. 3

October has begun and the fall sports season is gaining momentum. The Gulf Breeze girls volleyball team has managed to establish itself as the top team in the Pensacola area by convincingly defeating Pensacola Catholic on September 30. Jay, too, continues to demonstrate that it is a formidable team in the Rural classification, sweeping Baker at home on October 1. This marks the final week of the regular season for volleyball, with district tournaments commencing on October 12.

Area golf teams participated in the Miracle Strip Invitational in Fort Walton Beach on September 28, where Navarre secured the fourth position, leading the competition. At the Wildcat Invitational on October 3, local cross country teams engaged in a fierce battle, with Pace securing the runner-up position, just behind Niceville. West Florida and Navarre swimming teams also competed at the Panama City Beach High School Invitational on the same day, with the Jaguars finishing in fourth place and the Raiders in eighth.

This week, the nominees for Florida Power & Light PNJ Girls Athlete of the Week have been announced. Gulf Breeze swimming's Grace Walen has emerged victorious, garnering 82.8 percent of the votes. Following closely, Arthur Phillips from the Dolphins swimmers has been chosen as the boys' athlete of the week. Voting will remain open until 11 a.m. on Saturday, with winners being announced each Monday following the poll's closure.

Each weekly winner will receive a PNJ Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS. An athlete is only eligible to win once per season. Nominees can be submitted via phone or email, but the final decision rests with the PNJ staff; nominations must be submitted by Sunday night.