Thurston swimmer wins Register-Guard girls Athlete of the Week

Posted by author March 6, 2025 Sports

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Thurston swimmer Madelyn Del Castillo is the winner of the Eugene-area high school girls Athlete of the Week, as voted by Register-Guard readers.

The freshman won an individual title in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 52.91 seconds and took third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.50) on Feb. 22 at the 5A swimming state championships at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.

Del Castillo received 56.9% of the reader poll votes. Creswell wrestler Chantell Noffsinger was second (42.28%).

Here are this week’s other nominees.

Vanessa Keller, Oakridge wrestling

Keller won her third individual state title. The junior defeated Scio’s Emily Zamudio by a 4-3 decision in the first round and followed that with a pair of pins to reach the final at 110 lbs. Keller then defeated reigning state champion Paxton Steele of Harrisburg by a 7-3 decision in the final match at the 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament Friday.

Diamond Wright, Willamette basketball

The senior scored 15 points Feb. 25 to help the Wolverines to a 56-36 win over Grants Pass to close out the regular season. Willamette clinched its first Class 6A league title since moving up classifications after the 2021-22 season.

Sailor Hall, Springfield basketball

Hall landed four 3-pointers for a team-high 17 points Feb. 28 in the Millers’ 74-44 loss to Crater.

Chantell Noffsinger, Creswell wrestling

Noffsinger had two pins and a technical fall to reach the final in the 145-pound bracket. The senior then pinned La Grande’s Paige Allen in 3:27 to win her first title Friday at the 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament.

Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Noriega_Edith.