​Eighteen athletes from across the High Desert are in the running for the Joe Orthodontics High School Athlete of the Week.Each week throughout the 2026-27 school year, the Daily Press will recognize one standout student-athlete from the High Desert as Athlete of the Week for their performance on the field, court, course or wherever they compete.Athletes are selected for the ballot through nominations submitted by coaches, along with our own research. Nominations are limited to varsity athletes.You can vote for your favorite high school athlete as often as you’d like. Just refresh the page between votes. The poll closes at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.Here are this week’s nominees, based on performances from Sept. 14 through Sept. 19.More: High Desert Football Week 4, Hesperia improves to 5-0 on the seasonAlexis Bitonti, Oak Hills volleyball — Bitonti recorded 13 kills, two blocks and 12 digs in a 3-0 victory over Sultana on Sept. 15. She added 13 kills, six aces, 12 digs and an assist in a 3-1 victory over Burroughs on Sept. 17.Alton Agulto, Barstow football — Agulto took nine carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-7 victory over Burroughs on Sept. 18.Amanaki Felila, Oak Hills football — Felila rushed for two touchdowns, including a fourth-and-goal score, and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Deegan Johnson in a 57-26 victory over Cajon on Sept. 18.Austin Koester, Hesperia Christian football — Koester completed 7 of 13 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 40-0 victory over Entrepreneur on Sept. 18. He also recorded five tackles on defense.Austin Mullinax, Sultana football — Mullinax completed 22 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-21 loss to Los Osos on Sept. 18.Belen Gonzalez, Oak Hills cross country — Gonzalez took first place in the blue junior and senior race at the 45th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic with a time of 17 minutes, 22.1 seconds on Sept. 19.Brin Bryant, Academy for Academic Excellence volleyball — Bryant recorded 24 kills, three aces, three blocks and 20 digs in a 3-1 victory over University Prep on Sept. 15. She added 10 kills, six aces, a block, four digs and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Academy of Careers & Exploration on Sept. 17.Davion Swan, Apple Valley football — Swan scored a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in a 43-21 victory over El Camino on Sept. 18.Dylanna Akwaboah, Hesperia volleyball — Akwaboah totaled 75 assists across three matches. She recorded 26 assists, 11 digs, a block, two aces and four kills in a 3-0 victory over Burroughs on Sept. 15. She added 22 assists, six digs and three kills in a 3-0 loss to Apple Valley on Sept. 17. She finished the week with 27 assists, 10 digs, a block, two aces and four kills in a 3-0 victory over Serrano on Sept. 18.Gabriel Zamora, Hesperia cross country — Zamora took second place in the blue varsity race at the 45th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Class