Fort Mill’s Parker Hightower is The Herald’s high school athlete of the week

Fort Mill’s Parker Hightower is The Rock Hill Herald’s high school athlete of the week.

The Yellow Jackets’ sophomore swimmer finished as runner-up in the 100 butterfly, third-place in the 200 individual medley, while helping the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays to region titles at the Region III 5A championship meet at Rock Hill Aquatic Center on Oct. 4.

Hightower efforts’ also helped the Fort Mill boys’ swim team to a region title at the same meet.

Last week’s other finalists

Hannah Anderson, Rock Hill volleyball: The Bearcats’ junior right side had 78 kills and 29 blocks in four games at the Greenwood High tournament on Oct. 4

Anderson helped Rock Hill to a runner-up finish at Greenwood with wins over Palmetto Christian (2-0), White Knoll (2-0) and York (2-0) and a loss to host Greenwood (2-1) the same day.

Eva Mabey, Nation Ford girls’ tennis: The Falcons’ seventh-grader won 2-6, 7-5, 11-9 (in tiebreaker) at No. 4 singles to lead Nation Ford to a 4-2 win at Rock Hill on Oct. 1.

The next day, Mabey wont 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles to lead Nation Ford to a 5-1 victory over Indian Land.

Mabey is 12-0 in Region III, 5A singles’ matches for Nation Ford (8-1 in region play) this season.

Grant Martin, Clover boys’ swimming: The Blue Eagles’ sophomore won the 200 individual medley and finished runner-up in 100 breaststroke, breaking the school record times in both events at the Region III 5A championship at Rock Hill Aquatic Center on Oct. 4.

Martin also helped both the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay to runner-up finishes at the same meet.

Xavier Means, Northwestern football: The 6-foot, 155-pound junior quarterback went 26 for 31 for 331 yards passing and three touchdown throws, while also rushing for 84 yards and another score to lead Northwestern to 52-24 win at Clover on Oct. 3.

Means has passed for 1,502 yards and 16 touchdowns, while running for 516 yards and six more scores for Northwestern (6-1) this season.

Evan Rybacki, South Pointe boys’ cross-country: The Stallions’ senior ran a personal-best 15:56.80 to finish in 10th place at the Wendy’s Invitational at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte on Oct. 4.

Rybacki’s run helped the South Pointe cross-country team to a seventh-place finish at the same race.

Rybacki ran his previous personal best time of 15:59.70 at the Adidas Challenge at Wake Med Complex last month.

Kaitlyn Wood, Catawba Ridge girls’ tennis: The Copperheads’ freshman won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles to help Catawba Ridge to a 5-1 win over Northwestern on Sept. 30.

Wood is 6-2 in singles’ play for Catawba Ridge (4-4) this season.

Note: Information published today includes statistics through Oct. 4.

This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM.