The LA Daily News recognizes the top athletes from each sport, with high school football, girls flag football, and volleyball each kicking off the 2026-27 campaign this past week.
Here are the Athletes of the Week from each sport, which include an offensive and defensive athlete of the week for flag football and tackle football.
Flag football – Annabelle O’Keefe (Westlake) and Cadi Kuntz (Notre Dame)
The two-way sophomore star O’Keefe guided Westlake to the Chargers and Oakley Flag Football Championship at Great Park in Irvine. O’Keefe threw for 1,300 yards and threw 15 touchdowns while dropping back in coverage to make three interceptions at safety in six games between Wednesday and Saturday. Westlake earned wins over Simi Valley, Redondo Union, Oxnard and Sierra Canyon. Kuntz threw for two touchdowns in Notre Dame’s season-opening win over Oaks Christian, 22-0, last Thursday after guiding the Knights to the Mission League title last season.
Tackle football – Arman Papazyan (Glendale) and Jaxson Dillard (Chaminade)
The junior running back Papazyan had a big game in Glendale’s 38-8 loss to Santa Fe. He rushed for 223 yards and a touchdown Friday. Dillard, a junior safety, made six tackles and had an interception return for a touchdown to lead Chaminade over Leilehua, 38-9, in Hawaii last Thursday.
Girls volleyball – Lucky Fasavalu (Sierra Canyon)
Fasavalu, one of the top 100 players in the country, led the No. 1 nationally ranked Trailblazers to the Ann Kang Invitational Tournament title in Honolulu. Fasavalu delivered 190 assists, 14 kills, 25 digs, nine blocks, and 11 aces and was voted tourney MVP. Sierra Canyon earned wins against Kahuku, Palos Verdes, Mira Costa, JSerra Catholic, San Juan Hills, Cornerstone Christian, Harvard-Westlake, and Iolani.