Each week two athletes in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association are selected for the Performance of the Week Award, Powered by OrthoCarolina. These athletes are nominated by coaches, media, and school administrators for their outstanding performance.
The OrthoCarolina Performers of the Week for week one of the NCHSAA competition are Breanna Budzinski from West Henderson and Brayden Taylor from Bear Grass Charter.
Budzinski, a senior cross country runner, took first place at the WNC Cross Country Carnival with a personal best time of 19:04.3, 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. The win marks the first time a Falcon runner, male or female, has won this event.
Budzinski’s win powered West Henderson to a second-place finish in the team standings, the highest finish ever for the Falcons at the Carnival. According to the rankings at Athletic.net, Budzinski is ranked third in North Carolina and first among 3A contests.
Taylor, a senior two-way player, racked up five touchdowns as the Bears topped Union 43-22 on Friday night. Taylor ran for 138 years and four touchdowns, including a long of 54. He also threw for 31 yards and another touchdown. His five TDs tie the school record.
On defense, he picked off a pass and added a tackle.
Weekly recipients of the Performance of the Week award powered by OrthoCarolina will be recognized on the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Website and our Social Media pages. Get the orthopedic care you need in a way that works best for you: OrthoCarolina, your care, your way.
