South Eugene soccer player Eva Kato is the winner of the Eugene-Springfield area high school girls Athlete of the Week, as voted by Register-Guard readers.

A senior midfielder, Kato earned first-team all-Southwest Conference honors after helping lead the Axe to a 9-5-3 season that included a trip to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Kato received 37.34% of the reader poll votes. South Eugene water polo player Nola Cox was second (29.4%).

Here are the other nominees.

Payton Buschelman, North Eugene soccer

North Eugene junior midfielder Payton Buschelman was named the Midwestern League player of the year for the second season in a row. She helped lead the Highlanders to the Class 5A state title game and a 17-1 overall record.

Nola Cox, South Eugene water polo

South Eugene sen

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