It was spring break week in Lexington County, with many teams taking the time off to enjoy some rest before the season’s final push to the playoffs. 

While the break was an opportunity to take a pause, some teams decided to keep playing, participating in friendly non-region matches to test their skills against unfamiliar competition. 

These games gave the area’s top local athletes a chance to put on a show in front of a crowd that may not have been familiar with their skills. 

This week’s Athlete of the Week winners did just that, shining on a new stage and putting up big numbers in the process. 

Voting for Athlete of the Week runs from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday each week at lexingtonchronicle.com/athleteoftheweek. To submit a nominee for consideration, email a photo and short bio to sports@lexingtonchronicle.com.

Jason Gonzalez-Hernandez

Gray Collegiate’s Jason Gonzalez-Hernandez is excelling in an increased role this season. 

The sophomore leads Gray in goals this season with 19 in 19 games played. He also has nine assists, good enough for second-best on the team. 

Last week, Gonzalez-Hernandez helped Gray go (2-0-1) at the 2026 Nike Palmetto Cup. He scored a goal in every game of the tournament to lead Gray to a runner-up finish. 

Entering this week, Gonzalez-Hernandez has scored in four straight games. He will look to keep that streak going this week, as Gray returns to the field for region play with games against Airport and South Aiken. 

A few more big performances from Gonzalez-Hernandez and the rest of the team, and Gray will lock up the region title and a high seed in the playoffs. 

Ashleigh Fronden

American Leadership Academy’s Ashleigh Fronden has been having a great season for the Patriots. 

The senior is hitting 0.400 for the year and is near the top of many statistical categories for American Leadership. 

Last week, the Patriots played three games in the Grand Strand Softball Classic in Myrtle Beach. Fronden led the team, going 6-11 from the plate while also drawing two walks and a hit by pitch. 

This season, Fronden has 26 hits, 22 RBIs and seven home runs. Her play down the stretch will be crucial to determining how well American Leadership ends its season.