Oregon Teen Wins Athlete of the Week After Clutch OT Game

A senior guard's clutch performance in a nail-biting overtime game just earned him recognition from thousands of Oregon sports fans.

Kaeden Garcia of Elmira High School won the Active Chiropractic boys Athlete of the Week award after dominating the reader poll with 73% of votes. The landslide victory came after his standout January 20th game against Sisters High School, where he scored 23 points, dished five assists, and grabbed three steals to push the Falcons to a 68-64 overtime win.

The competition for the honor was fierce. Garcia beat out seven other talented nominees, including Thurston wrestler Jaxon Harada, who finished second with nearly 20% of votes after helping his team secure a state championship.

The other nominees showcased the depth of athletic talent across Oregon high schools. Brody Buzzard pinned his opponent in just 80 seconds to help Harrisburg win the Class 3A wrestling title. North Eugene's Jordan Gray dropped 29 points in a tough conference win, while Thurston's Leo Filipe shot an impressive 70% from the field in his team's blowout victory.

Why This Inspires

Reader-voted awards like this one do more than honor individual achievement. They bring entire communities together, celebrating young athletes who balance academics, athletics, and the pressure of senior year while representing their schools with excellence.

Garcia's overtime performance shows what happens when preparation meets opportunity. His all-around contribution (scoring, playmaking, and defense) demonstrates the kind of complete effort that coaches dream about and teammates rally around.

These weekly celebrations remind us that high school sports create moments that shape character and build confidence that lasts far beyond the final buzzer.

Young athletes across Oregon are getting the recognition they deserve, one clutch performance at a time.