Asotin's Josh Wilkinson has shouldered more of the offensive burden this year for the Panther football team, and done so with excellence.
Wilkinson threw for 183 yards and accounted for four TDs in his team's win over DeSales, earning the senior quarterback the Tribune's Prep Athlete of the Week award.
"The thing about Josh, it's nice to see his hard work rewarded," Asotin coach Jim Holman said. "He's put in a ton of time in order to get better."
Part of Wilkinson's evolution, Holman said, is him "maturing" into his role.
"You get older, stronger, more confident in what you're doing," Holman said, noting this is Wilkinson's second year at QB. "So he has more games under his belt and the big thing about him is his ability, when he struggles, to find his way out of it and get back on track."
Resiliency, Holman said, is an especially important ingredient in Wilkinson's success.
His teammates certainly recognize his leadership.
"This is the second year he'll be the team captain, which is voted on by his teammates," Holman said. "So that's always a nice honor."
Just as important to his QB's success, Holman said, is his unselfishness.
"He just wants to win and that's a pretty special trait to have.
"He's a good student, plays basketball and baseball as well, a prototypical high school athlete - good student, good kid, works hard, and has just been (nice) to watch him progress through things and be rewarded for his hard work."
Readers can vote on the Prep Athlete of the Week at www.lmtribune.com/sports. The latest candidates will be announced in Monday's edition.
