Supporting local athletes just took a couch-sized step forward.
Gulf Coast Media is set to premiere a new initiative in sports coverage called Athlete of the Week, thanks to community partner and presenting sponsor Seacrest Furniture.
The math for local athletes is simple: show out on the field during the week, and you'll be entered into a free online voting competition with a chance to be named the Seacrest Furniture Athlete of the Week.
The online poll will be open to the public at gulfcoastmedia.com/athlete and is set to launch a new round every Monday at noon for 24 hours. GCM Sports Editor Cole McNanna will choose finalists with the help of area coaches across all sports. After voting is closed, the winner will be announced each Wednesday online and on social media as well as in every Friday's print edition of The Baldwin Times. By then, more athletes will have made noteworthy performances to be voted on the following week.
"We are so thankful to Seacrest Furniture in partnering with our efforts to highlight local athletes. Now, fans will have their chance to vote to earn extra bragging rights following a big win," McNanna said. "We're fired up to get started with this fall sports season that has some exciting storylines and can't wait to see who the first Seacrest Furniture Athlete of the Week will be."
Any high school student-athlete in any sport can be nominated as a finalist. Athletes can be nominated more than once but can only win once.
Voting is open to the public, meaning no subscription to Gulf Coast Media is required to participate.
At the end of the year, all of the weekly winners will be entered into an Athlete of the Year bracket where one winner will be selected.
Follow Gulf Coast Media Sports (@GCMSportsAL) on Facebook, Instagram and X for more details and further coverage of the sports scene around Baldwin County.
