FAN VOTE: SouthCoast High School Male Athlete of the 2023-24 School Year

Looking back on the 2023-24 school year, there were some memorable performances from high school males athletes on the SouthCoast.

We’re working on a project that you, our readers, can help with.

We want to select a 2023-24 Male High School Athlete of the Year from the SouthCoast.

We’re also selecting a High School Sports Team of the Year, High School Coach of the Year and a Female High School Athlete of the Year. These all cover the fall, winter and spring seasons for the 2023-24 school year.

For Male Athlete of the Year, we've narrowed the list down to nine choices — one from each of the area’s schools.

Now we'd like you to vote for the person you think should be crowned the Male Athlete of the Year. Your vote will be part of the formula we use to select the winner. Our staff will also weigh in and we'll wind up with an overall winner.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by school.

(Editor's Note: Voting will end at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30.)

Nathan Levesque, Apponequet, Senior

Levesque dominated on the mound in the spring, earning Standard-Times Baseball Player of the Year honors as he led the Lakers to just their second state semifinal appearance in school history. He went 7-1 and pitched 60 innings, striking out 81 while allowing only four earned runs with eight walks and an ERA of 0.47. He recorded 14 scoreless innings in the MIAA tournament. In the winter, Levesque was a force in the post for Apponequet’s basketball team and averaged 15 points and 14.5 rebounds to be named to the Super Team. In the fall, Levesque was a Super Teamer for cross country with a season-best 17:53 over a 5K.

Lowell Copps, Bishop Stang, Junior

A three-season runner, Copps was hard to catch this year in distance events. He was named the Standard-Times Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year with the fastest finish among locals at states by running under 17 minutes for a 5K. He also won the Catholic Central League championship to be named CCL MVP. He also shined in indoor and outdoor track. In the winter, he won both the mile and 2-mile at the CCL championship and was named to the Super Team. He took third in the 2-mile at the Div. 4 meet. In the spring, he was sixth in the mile at the Div. 5 meet.

Jackson Hart, Dartmouth, Junior

Hart was a force on the football field for Dartmouth High as he led the team to an undefeated regular season and a trip to the Div. 3 Elite 8. The second-year starting quarterback carried the ball 101 times for 737 yards (7.3 yard average) and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He also completed 71 of 113 pass attempts for 942 yards (63%) and connected on 16 scoring strikes while throwing just two interceptions. He was named to the Super Team. In the spring, Hart stood out for lacrosse with 52 goals and 33 assists in 13 games. He surpassed 100 career goals.

2024 Blue Devils schedule:Fairhaven football set for state title defense

Justin Marques, Fairhaven, Junior

Marques powered Fairhaven football to the program’s fourth Super Bowl championship and first since 2000 with a record-setting season in which he broke his own Fairhaven High single-season touchdown record with 38 scores — 36 rushing and two receiving. He finished the year as the school’s all-time career touchdown leader with 68 TDs, breaking Nate Pickup’s mark of 41 set in 1992. He was named the Standard-Times Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. In the winter, he helped ORR/Fairhaven’s hockey team reach the Div. 4 Sweet 16. In the spring, Marques had 29 goals and 23 assists in addition to taking faceoffs as Fairhaven boys lacrosse enjoyed a breakthrough season.

Jhaden Reis, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior

Reis was a standout in football, basketball and baseball at GNB Voc-Tech to cap off his high school career. In the fall, he earned SCC All-Star honors as he carried the ball 96 times for 630 yards and found the end zone three times. He also threw for 675 yards and 10 passing TDs as a dual-threat quarterback. In the winter, Reis led a young Voc-Tech basketball team by averaging 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists. In the spring, Reis emerged as the Bears’ most complete player. The SCC All-Star pitched 34 ⅔ innings with an ERA of 2.01. He also contributed at the plate, batting .283 with 17 hits and four RBIs.

Carter Barbosa, New Bedford, Senior

Barbosa directed New Bedford boys volleyball to its first undefeated regular season since 2007. The senior setter set school records for career assists (1,868) and assists in a single season (609), earning Standard-Times Boys Volleyball Player of the Year honors. In the fall, Barbosa was one of the area’s top center fullbacks, earning Southeast Conference MVP honors as well as a spot on the Super Team. He was also a first team Eastern Mass All-Star.

In complete command:Meet the 2024 Baseball Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars

Stu Burnham, Old Colony, Senior

Burnham made contributions across the field for Old Colony’s football team as he had 122 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, one sack and 12 passes defended as an outside linebacker. He also blocked two punts. On offense, the Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star and Div. 8 All-State player carried the ball 94 times for 902 yards (9.6 yards per carry), 12 touchdowns and three 2-point conversions. Burnham averaged 34 yards as the team’s kick returner and took one to the house for a score. In the spring, Burnham was an impact player for lacrosse. Despite missing half the season with injury, he had 24 goals and 30 assists to earn MAC All-Star honors. He also surpassed 300 career points.

Tyler Young, Old Rochester, Senior

Young was one of the SouthCoast’s top distance runners this school year, competing in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. In the fall, Young earned his third selection to the Super Team for cross country as he was named the South Coast Conference MVP after winning the SCC championship. He had a season-best 16.11.6 for a 5K. In the winter, Young was named the South Coast Conference MVP after he set a new school mark in the 1,000 meters at the New England Championships with a time of 2:31.96. He also took fourth in the 1,000 (2:33.14) at the Meet of Champions and was named a Super Teamer. In the spring, Young placed third at the Div. 5 meet in the mile.

Ajay Lopes, Wareham, Senior

Lopes called off his impressive high school career by leading the Vikings to a second-straight Div. 4 state championship in basketball. He was named the Standard-Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the third straight season after surpassing 1,000 career points and averaging 17.4 points, 7.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals. In the fall, Lopes took the Mayflower League by storm in football, earning MAC Small MVP and Super Team honors. He carried the ball 103 times for 1,336 yards (13 yards per carry) and scored 17 touchdowns and three 2-point conversions. He also caught 10 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions. The versatile Lopes completed three passes for 92 yards and a touchdown and had eight returns for 244 yards and two more touchdowns on kickoff/punt returns. In the spring, Lopes excelled in the triple jump.