It’s crunch time for the fall sports season, as playoffs have started for everything except football. On the gridiron, only one week of games is left before the playoffs. 

The stakes get higher, and the need to win increases as the competition gets more fierce. This can bring out the best in many athletes, including this week’s Athlete of the Week winners. 

Voting for Athlete of the Week runs from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday each week at lexingtonchronicle.com/athleteoftheweek. To submit a nominee for consideration, email a photo and short bio to sports@lexingtonchronicle.com.

Dante Caldwell 

Swansea running back Dante Caldwell has been a huge part of Swansea’s (8-1) start this season. 

The senior is one of the Tigers’ many threats in the backfield, and he has shown up each week when the team needed him. In this past game against Fox Creek, Caldwell ran for three touchdowns. 

Caldwell has been a crucial part of Swansea’s turnaround under head coach Willie Fox. The team has gone 15-5 over the past two seasons after going 0-10 the year before. 

Swansea has one game left on its schedule against the region leader, Newberry. The Tigers will look for Caldwell to have another big game and keep the team in contention for the region championship.

Kaylie Spires

Gilbert volleyball’s Kaylie Spires has earned Athlete of the Week again after helping the Indians win their opening round playoff game. 

Spires finished the match against Aiken with 27 assists, 13 digs, four kills and two aces. The Indians won the contest 3-1 and advanced to a second-round game against Gray this week. 

Gilbert lost that game to Gray, ending Spires’ sophomore season. She had a solid year, averaging by far the most assists on the team.

Spires had 10 games this season with at least 20 assists. She recorded at least 10 in all but four. Her season-high was 30 in a game against Gray in the regular season. 

She can return next year for her junior season.