Jess Bridle may not be faster than a speeding bullet but she is awfully close. The Tewksbury High track star is a key piece in a team that won its seventh straight Merrimack Valley Conference title this spring. Even without a home track to train and compete on, Bridle and her teammates are ready to make a run at a sectional championship.

The Tewksbury High softball team, thought to be in a rebuilding mode at the start of the season, is headed back to the State Tournament. One of the big reasons has been the consistent effort of pitcher Kayla Benvenuto. Game in and game out, Benvenuto has put the Redmen in position to have a chance to win. For that reason, she is Tewksbury Patch Athlete of the Week.

The pressure on Matt Luppi last spring had to have been intense. After a stellar sophomore season, Luppi was recruited to play college baseball at the University of Connecticut. But with high expectations following him into his junior campaign, Luppi contracted an unusual illness that sapped his strength and rendered him ineffective for the entire 2010 baseball season. Instead of being the team's ace, Luppi became a frustrating question mark in the minds of everyone who followed Tewksbury High baseball. What was wrong? Where did his strength go? Will he ever be the same again? Fortunately, a …

A crucial piece of the Redmen girls' squad this season, Kelli Sugrue's play as a sophomore in 2010-11 offers plenty of hope for the future of Tewksbury basketball. The tallest girl on the team, Sugrue brings a strong low-post presence to the table and is the go-to option in the paint. Along with sophomore captain Nicole Chaet, Sugrue and the Redmen have a solid core foundation to build off of next season as they rebound from a state tournament loss to North Andover. And she is Tewksbury Patch's Athlete of the Week.

After graduating eight seniors last season, the Redmen girls' basketball team looked for leaders to step up. Sophomore wing player Nicole Chaet answered that call, helping lead the team into the State Tournament. The mature Chaet was more than up for the task and was named a captain of the team prior to the season. Her leadership and game-changing abilities have propeled the Redmen all year. And she is Tewksbury Patch's Athlete of the Week.

Currently sporting a 14-4-1 record, Tewksbury backstop Niko Cunha has anchored the Redmen defense this season while stopping nearly 90 percent of all shot attempts. His goals against average is a miniscule 1.54, helping Tewksbury maintain its powerhouse status in the MVC. And he is Tewksbury Patch's  Athlete of the Week.

After struggling to find the level of play he wanted to be at early in his career, center Sean Gorman's desire and passion for the game of basketball have guided him as he rounds out a brilliant career with the Redmen in which he emerged as a leader and two-year captain. While under-sized for his position, Gorman's gritty attitude allows him to be a focal point of the Tewksbury offense while becoming a defensive threat in the paint. He has an offer to play at Newbury College but is weighing his options and may try to make the D-2 UMass-Lowell team as a walk-on.And he is Tewksbury Patch's …

After giving up basketball following her freshman year, Ally Greene found a home on the Redmen indoor track and field team. The sprinter has found her niche on the track and was part of a state-best 4x4 relay team.  Her attitude, leadership, and sense of humor have guided Tewksbury High thus far in 2010-2011. She'll be attending UMass-Lowell in the fall to play softball. And she is Tewksbury Patch's Athlete of the Week.

A force on the Redmen indoor track and field team, Richard Kirby is midway through a phenomenal senior season. His attitude, leadership, and competitive desire have guided Tewksbury High in 2010-2011. Throughout his career, Kirby has worked his way up to the top level of competition on the track and field scene and continues to amaze, becoming one of the most reliable players on the team. And he is Tewksbury Patch's Athlete of the Week.

Currently leading the league in points, Ryan Doherty  is midway through an extraordinary senior season with the Tewksbury High ice hockey team. His leadership has ensured that the Redmen have gotten off to a great start. The forward had 15 goals and 13 assists through his first 10 games. Throughout his career, Doherty has worked his way up to the top line and continues to improve, becoming one of the most reliable players on the team. And he is Tewksbury Patch's second Athlete of the Week.

Mike Davidian is off to a tremendous start in his junior season with the Tewksbury High wrestling team. He has become a pinfall machine and is quickly establishing himself as a state contender. But it hasn't always come so easy for Davidian, who has worked his way up from the J.V. squad as a freshman to become one of Coach Brian Alyward's most relaible grapplers. And he is Tewksbury Patch's first Athlete of the Week.