Who Will Be Crowned the Top Athlete of 2025?

The year 2025 is wrapping up, and with it comes an exciting opportunity for sports fans to have their say. A poll is open to determine the Watertown Public Opinion-Aberdeen News Athlete of the Year. Twelve athletes from northeastern South Dakota are in the running, evenly split between boys and girls. To qualify, these athletes had to compete not just in the winter and spring but also in the fall and ongoing winter seasons. Voting is open until midnight on January 4, 2026. This is a chance for fans to recognize the dedication and hard work of these athletes. The regular weekly Athlete of the Week poll will resume after this special vote.Before the poll, several athletes were honored as Preseason Player of the Year. Olivia Anderson from Watertown Girls took the title in wrestling. Blake Thompson from Mobridge-Pollock was recognized in girls basketball, and Westyn Thorpe from Leola-Frederick Area Boys Basketball was also honored. In the latest Athlete of the Week poll, Katherine Prahl from Great Plains Lutheran Girls Basketball won the honor for the period of December 1-22. This poll is a great way to celebrate the achievements of local athletes and engage the community in sports.