There is just one week left in the winter sports season, and with only a few competitions left, only the best-of-the-best are still competing. 

This week’s Athlete of the Week winners have not shied away from the spotlight and elevated their play in the most clutch moments. Whether it’s on the basketball court or the wrestling mat, these two showed why they’re competing this late into the year. 

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.

Jayden Rowe 

Gray Collegiate’s Jayden Rowe is trying to help the War Eagles basketball team get back to the top. 

The team played its first playoff games last week, beating South Florence and Midland Valley in rounds one and two. Rowe excelled on both ends of the floor, making plays and helping Gray coast to victory. 

In the game against South Florence, he recorded eight points and a game-high seven steals. Against Midland Valley, he scored 16 points. 

Gray’s playoff journey continued this week against North Augusta. If the War Eagles win that game and their next one, the team would be back in the championship game for the first time since joining the 4A classification. Rowe would be a big reason why they got back there. 

Kyrra Shipman-Lutz

River Bluff wrestler Kyrra Shipman-Lutz made history last week. 

The junior won the girls state championship in the 190-pound weight class, becoming the first Gator in program history to win an individual state title. Shipman-Lutz pinned her opponent in the final seconds of the second period to clinch the win. 

Shipman-Lutz was wrestling up 30 pounds from where she actually weighed in at, but the difference in size was only a minor obstacle on her journey.

She previously finished third at the Lower State tournament and was awarded the sixth-seed at finals. She knocked off the No. 3-seed in her first match and won her second to earn a spot in the championship. 

In the championship bout, Shipman-Lutz and her opponent were gridlocked until she got the advantageous position and secured the pin.