Player of the Week: Avery Strickler, Central Catholic Indoor Track

Central Catholic freshman Avery Strickler has been selected as the Valley Sports Daily Player of the Week for Feb. 2 through Feb. 8. Strickler is the seventh student-athlete chosen as Player of the Week for the winter season.

The talented freshman dazzled at the Merrimack Valley Conference indoor track and field championships on Friday as a rare triple-winner. Compiling 131 points to win the team title, the Raiders benefited greatly from Strickler’s first-place finishes in the 300 (41.17) and the long jump (17-08.50). She also played a key role in capturing gold in the 4×400 with Leighton Hickey, Alyssa Furtado and Dinaya Balborda (4:05.48).

“Strickler, being a freshman, the sky is the limit at this point,” said Central Catholic head coach Shawn Dumas at the Reggie Lewis Center last Friday. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Strickler has been all over the leaderboards throughout the league meets this winter and will look to make her mark in the postseason events over the next few weeks.

The Player of the Week is selected by the Valley Sports Daily staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at 8:00 PM. There may be a poll posted on Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.