Bay Area News Group boys high school athlete of the week: Rudy Cruz, Hayward soccer

Hayward soccer player Rudy Cruz is the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for Jan. 2-7 after he had received 51.96% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.

Dougherty Valley basketball player Blake Hudson (44.33%) finished second and Newark Memorial soccer player Ricardo Aceves took third.

Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.

Cruz scored a hat trick — three goals — as Hayward defeated crosstown rival Tennyson 7-1 to run its record to 7-2-2 overall and 5-0 in league play. The junior began this week with six goals and two assists for the season.

To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com by Monday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.

We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.

Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.

Past winners

Dec. 12-17: Nicholas Ruiz, Benicia soccer

Dec. 5-10: Eli Roth, Acalanes soccer

Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Austin Shelton, San Ramon Valley football

Nov. 21-26: Jae’Von Reels, Bellarmine football

Nov. 14-19: Dashiell Weaver, Campolindo football

Nov. 7-12: Nate Bell, Liberty football

Oct. 31-Nov. 5: Angel Barraza, Dublin football

Oct. 24-29: Zachariah Norton, Hayward football

Oct. 17-22: Shane Timmons, Saratoga football

Oct 10-15: Owen Neitzel, Leigh water polo

Oct. 3-8: Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose football

Sept. 26-Oct. 1: Antonio Arenas, El Camino football

Sept. 19-24: Nic Austen, College Park water polo

Sept. 12-17: John Ben Pau Mendoza, San Ramon Valley football

Sept. 5-10: Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley football

Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Luke Llabres, Willow Glen water polo

Aug. 22-27: Mikhail Popov, College Park water polo