With 64 percent of the nearly 6,000 votes cast, Rocklin High quarterback Jimmy Laughrea was the readers’ choice for last week’s Placer Sports Athlete of the Week. Due to some logistical issues, the poll was actually extended for a full two-week period.

Laughrea out-polled Oakmont receiver Fred Mobley and Vista del Lago running back Trey Hairebedian by a significant margin.

The newest feature at our regional all-sports Web site continues this week with three new candidates chosen from the high schools throughout the Gold Country Media footprint – covering Placer County as well as the communities of Folsom and El Dorado Hills.

Voting will run from Monday through Sunday each week. Log on each week to check out the new nominees and cast your vote. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this week’s new candidates will also be available for your support for two weeks.

The new poll includes a trio of athletes near the end of very strong fall sports seasons.

Rocklin High sophomore Katelyn Ivy was a consistent force on the outside for the Thunder volleyball squad all the season. She helped Rocklin reach the section finals in Division II where the Thunder fell to St. Francis..

Breanne Mitchell led Bear River back to the CIF State Championships and claimed the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV individual title last week in Folsom. The junior finished the five-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 56 seconds to win by 10 seconds over Rebecca Hobby of Hughson. Bear River took third as a team.

Kyran Bennett helped lead Oak Ridge to the finals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II soccer tournament, where it lost to  Rocklin. Bennett leads the team in scoring with 10 goals, assisted on several others and created numerous scoring opportunities all year long. He was a key player as the Trojans upset Granite Bay in the section semifinals.

Which athlete do you prefer?  Log on to www.placersports.com and vote.