Bay Area News Group boys high school athlete of the week: Rudy Cruz, Hayward soccer
Hayward's Rudy Cruz scores a hat trick in a victory over Tennyson.
Hayward soccer player Rudy Cruz is the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for Jan. 2-7 after he had received 51.96% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.
Dougherty Valley basketball player Blake Hudson (44.33%) finished second and Newark Memorial soccer player Ricardo Aceves took third.
Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.
Cruz scored a hat trick — three goals — as Hayward defeated crosstown rival Tennyson 7-1 to run its record to 7-2-2 overall and 5-0 in league play. The junior began this week with six goals and two assists for the season.
To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.
Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.
Past winners
Dec. 12-17: Nicholas Ruiz, Benicia soccer
Dec. 5-10: Eli Roth, Acalanes soccer
Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Austin Shelton, San Ramon Valley football
Nov. 21-26: Jae’Von Reels, Bellarmine football
Nov. 14-19: Dashiell Weaver, Campolindo football
Nov. 7-12: Nate Bell, Liberty football
Oct. 31-Nov. 5: Angel Barraza, Dublin football
Oct. 24-29: Zachariah Norton, Hayward football
Oct. 17-22: Shane Timmons, Saratoga football
Oct 10-15: Owen Neitzel, Leigh water polo
Oct. 3-8: Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose football
Sept. 26-Oct. 1: Antonio Arenas, El Camino football
Sept. 19-24: Nic Austen, College Park water polo
Sept. 12-17: John Ben Pau Mendoza, San Ramon Valley football
Sept. 5-10: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley football
Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Luke Llabres, Willow Glen water polo
Aug. 22-27: Mikhail Popov, College Park water polo