Vote for Argus Leader Athlete of the Week from Feb. 16-21

There was no shortage of big performances from athletes all over the Sioux Falls area this week, and now it’s time for you to choose who stood out.

Here are the nominees for the Argus Leader’s high school Athletes of the Week for Feb. 16-21. ArgusLeader.com readers vote to decide this week’s winner. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27.

Athletes are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Girls

Josie Biteler, So., Sioux Falls Washington

Washington Warriors guard Josie Biteler (30) shoots the ball from the three-point line during game against the Roosevelt Rough Riders on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Biteler scored 14 points in the Warriors’ win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Friday, Feb. 20. The sophomore guard scored seven points in the third quarter, when Washington started opening the game up.

Finley Evjen, Fr., Canton

Evjen earned a bye into the 125-pound semifinals of the SDHSAA Region 2 Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. She then pinned Brandon Valley’s Cordelia Hofer and beat Sioux Falls Washington’s Olivia Kolbrek by tech fall to win the title.

Kalli Harris, So., Sioux Falls Roosevelt

Roosevelt Rough Riders forward Kalli Harris (51) drives to the basket during game against the Washington Warriors on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Harris went for 19 points in a loss to Washington on Friday, Feb. 20. The 6-foot-3 sophomore scored 10 points in the first half, including a 3-pointer.

Alyvia Padgett, Sr., Brandon Valley

Brandon Valley's Alyvia Padgett, left, handles the ball in front of Marshall's Taleigha Bigler on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, South Dakota. Padgett scored 25 points in the Lynx' 69-68 win over Marshall (MN).

Padgett scored 47 points over two days to help Brandon Valley remain unbeaten. The senior point guard scored 21 in a 56-21 win over Spearfish on Friday, Feb. 20, then put up 26 in a 64-24 win over Douglas on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Aliyah Steveson, Seventh Grade, Tea Area

Steveson won the 100-pound weight class in the SDHSAA Region 1 Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. She earned a bye into the semifinals, then beat Brookings’ Claire Milliron and Sisseton’s Clara Iverson by pin to take first.

Boys

Sam Ericsson, Sr., Sioux Falls Lincoln

Lincoln Patriots guard Sam Ericsson (11) shoots the ball from the three-point line during game against the Roosevelt Rough Riders on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Ericsson got hot from deep in Lincoln’s statement win over Roosevelt on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The senior sharpshooter made five 3-pointers and finished the night with 15 points.

Brendon Oehme, Jr., Brandon Valley

Oehme won the 120-pound weight class at the SDHSAA Region 2A Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. The junior rattled off a pin of Yankton’s Brooks DeLozier in the semis and a tech fall of Beresford/Alcester-Hudson’s Owen Serck after getting a bye through the quarterfinals.

Rip Siemonsma, Sr., O’Gorman

Siemonsma ripped off three big wins to take first in the 285-pound weight class at the SDHSAA Region 1A Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. The senior heavyweight pinned West Central’s Kash Garry and Dell Rapids’ Charlie Becker before winning by tech fall over Millbank’s Lawson Novy to claim first.

Tyler Woodring, Sr., Tea Area

Woodring took first place in the 138-pound weight class at the SDHSAA Region 1A Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. He won by forfeit in the quarterfinals, pinned West Central’s Alex Siemonsma in the semis and won by tech fall over Watertown’s Kutler Swenson in the title match.

Jhace Woods, Sr., Sioux Falls Washington

Washington Warriors forward Jhace Woods (22) celebrates after scoring during game against Roosevelt Rough Riders on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Woods made the game-winning shot in Washington’s upset win over Roosevelt on Friday, Feb. 20. The senior’s and-one with less than a minute to go put the Warriors up for good, and Woods finished with 10 points.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Vote for Argus Leader Athlete of the Week from Feb. 16-21

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