Janiyah Thomas Named Free Press Athlete of the Week for March 13

Janiyah Thomas of Center Line High School has been recognized as the Detroit Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Prep Athlete of the Week for the week of March 1-7, 2024. This accolade highlights her exceptional performance, contributing significantly to her team’s competitive efforts in the playoffs.

Outstanding Performances by Nominees

The voting for this week’s athlete spotlight featured five impressive nominees, showcasing talents from both basketball and wrestling. Notably, the poll closed at noon on March 13, allowing fans to support their favorite athletes.

Among the nominees was Alexis Bruyere from Imlay City, who delivered a remarkable performance by scoring 38 points and securing eight rebounds in her team’s 54-44 district semifinal victory against Croswell-Lexington on March 4. Despite a strong effort, Imlay City faced a setback in the district final, losing 42-32 to Yale on March 6.

In the wrestling category, Nakayla Dawson from Westland John Glenn made headlines by winning the 115-pound state championship at the MHSAA state finals on March 7. Overcoming earlier challenges with a knee injury, she made history as one of only three females to win a wrestling state championship four consecutive years.

Nyla Lake of South Lyon East played a pivotal role in her team’s success, leading them to their first district title since 2015. She recorded 24 points, alongside 10 rebounds and six steals in the decisive game, where South Lyon East defeated Northville 52-45 on March 6.

Janiyah Thomas’s Impressive Stats

Throughout the playoff week, Janiyah Thomas made significant contributions to her team. Although Center Line was eliminated by Detroit Country Day with a score of 76-23, Thomas’s performance was noteworthy. The senior guard averaged 19 points, 6.7 rebounds, two steals, and 3.3 blocks across her team’s playoff games, showcasing her skills and leadership on the court.

For those who missed the opportunity to nominate an athlete, submissions are open until 10:00 a.m. on Monday for the previous week’s performances. Fans can nominate athletes for the week of March 8-14 at freep.com/athlete. It is important to note that the nomination link is not for voting purposes; voting occurs through the provided poll.

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