The Post-Dispatch Athletes of the Week is compiled by Chris Gove based off stats reported to . Please send nominations to cgove@stltoday.com by noon each Monday.
Sam Deen, Vianney football
The Golden Griffins are off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season after a 38-13 victory against Union that was led by Deen’s area-leading 433-yard passing performance. A 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior quarterback, Deen hit on 20 of 32 passes with four touchdowns in Vianney’s victory — a 70-yarder to Cole Adair in the first quarter, strikes of 27 and 73 yards to Anthony Cullen in the second and a 31-yarder to Noah Williams in the third. For the season, Deen has completed 35 of 50 passes for 568 yards and eight TDs. He assumed the starting quarterback job midway through his sophomore season, which he completed with 1,228 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
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Lucy Goellner, Summit field hockey
A junior midfielder, Goellner helped the Falcons win three games to capture the championship of the Lafayette Tournament. Summit opened the tournament with a 5-0 victory against Edwardsville and then topped host Lafayette 2-0 in the semifinals before beating another Rockwood rival, Marquette, in the title game by a 3-2 score. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, and in the 1v1s tiebreaker to determine a champion, Goellner dramatically delivered the decisive goal in the 10th round. Goellner is a second-year varsity player for the Falcons. She scored three goals during her junior season as Summit posted an 11-7-2 record.
Ben Long, Lutheran South football
A 6-foot-4 and 205-pound senior and two-way starter, Long had a hand in all six touchdowns of the Lancers’ 42-20 road victory against Cabool as they improved to 2-0. Long completed 15 of 22 passes for 150 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Samuel Catlett, and also rushed 15 times for 130 yards and TDs of 15 and 48 yards. He also made two solo tackles and one assist on defense. In South’s season-opening victory against Affton, Long rushed for three TDs and passed for another. Long is in his fourth season as the Lancers’ starting strong safety and his first full season as starting quarterback after moving under center during his junior campaign.
Tyson Rakers, Highland football
A second-year starting tailback and strong safety, Rakers turned in a standout two-way performance to help the Bulldogs pull out a 42-41 victory against Mahomet-Seymour in double overtime after trailing 20-0 at halftime. Rakers rushed 23 times for 147 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-tying 2-yard run in the second OT; Rome Wallace’s extra point gave Highland the comeback victory. Rakers also had 13 solo tackles, caught three passes for 31 yards and his 59-yard TD run early in the third quarter triggered the rally. For the season, Rakers has 289 rushing yards and 22 solo tackles. He finished fourth in Class 2A at 150 pounds at the state wrestling tournament as a junior.
Jordan Rowe, St. Charles football
Trailing by 15 points at halftime against a team they suffered shutout losses against the last two seasons, the Pirates rallied behind Rowe for a 34-30 victory at Francis Howell North to earn their first 2-0 start since 2016. A 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior who is in his fourth year as St. Charles’ starter under center, Rowe passed for 283 yards and one touchdown (to Ryan Hayes) and rushed 16 times for 227 yards and four TDs, including the game winner with four seconds to play. Rowe is the area’s leading rusher through two weeks this season with 358 yards and sits third with 44 points. He has rushed for 2,961 yards in his career and passed for 1,805.
Claire Sandstrom, Columbia volleyball
A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Sandstrom was named MVP after helping the Eagles win five matches to capture the championship of the Edwardsville Tournament. Three of Columbia’s victories went the maximum three sets before a 25-22, 25-23 victory in the title match against Breese Central, which featured nine kills, five digs and two block assists from Sandstrom. She totaled 40 kills, 33 digs and eight block assists in the tournament, including nine kills and 10 digs in a three-set semifinal win over Lincoln-Way West. For the season, Sandstrom has 109 kills for an average of 3.52 per set. She also was named all-tournament the opening weekend of the season in the MICDS Brace for Impact event.
Henry Thompson, Webster Groves soccer
A starting center back in his first season of high school soccer, Thompson has helped the Statesmen get off to their first 4-0 start since 2014, which was the program’s first state championship campaign. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Thompson previously played for the Lou Fusz MLS NEXT Academy team. He’s stepped right into a key role for Webster Groves, which has allowed only two goals in four games. That includes a 3-0 win last week over previously unbeaten Clayton, which has scored 14 goals in four other games, and a 3-1 win over Summit to kick off Suburban Conference Yellow Pool action.