As fall playoffs cross over with the beginning of the winter season to create a sports equinox, Gulf Coast Media’s next Athlete of the Week poll is currently live on our website.

Four athletes from Baldwin County will be included in the voting each week, which will open at noon on Mondays and close at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Individuals can only vote for their chosen athlete once, with the winner being announced on GCM’s website and social media pages soon after polling concludes.

This week, we have a male and female standout from the gridiron, a Tournament MVP manning the nets and a young phenom in the pools making up the list of candidates.

To start off, Foley’s offense couldn’t stop lighting up the scoreboard against St. Michael on Friday, and running back Bryson Garcia was a major reason why.

The junior carried the ball 11 times for 65 yards, hauled in three passes for 138 receiving yards and found the end zone twice, with one of those scores being a 93-yarder that set the school record for longest touchdown pass.

Bryson and his brother, Brayden, form a dynamic one-two punch in the Lions’ backfield.

Meanwhile, Baldwin County’s flag football team capped its regular season with a 39-13 win over Robertsdale, and the Lady Tigers were led by one of their stars. Junior Shiyla Kirkland racked up over 130 all-purpose yards, added four offensive touchdowns and even intercepted a trio of passes defensively, one of which she returned for another score. Baldwin County takes an 8-4 record into the postseason, and Kirkland’s team will host Hueytown in their playoff-opener Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Robertsdale freshman swimmer Farrah Green has been among the highest point-earners on her team in every meet this season, and she maintained that trend last week. During a Tuesday competition, Green recorded a personal-best season time of 30.60 in the 50-yard freestyle, which earned her a fifth-place finish overall.

Lastly, Spanish Fort’s prestigious volleyball program earned its sixth state title all-time and third in a row last Thursday in Birmingham. And while a plethora of Lady Toros contributed to bringing another trophy home, 5A Tournament MVP Natalie Maxwell spearheaded the team’s efforts. The junior middle stuffed the stat sheet with 13 kills and four blocks in that title bout against Jasper, and she added nine kills in Spanish Fort’s semifinal win over Mountain Brook.

Vote at the link below to support your favorite local athlete, and be sure to share the poll with family and friends!

And if you would like to nominate an athlete for this weekly polling, email parker@gulfcoastmedia.com or message our social media pages (@GCMSportsAL) with information on their accomplishments, applicable personal info (grade, position, etc.) and a photo(s).

With that being said, GCM is also always happy to share any other local sports content from Baldwin County. To any coach, parent or athlete, feel free to send over any written work, photos or videos through the same mediums.