A Hillsboro fourth-grader who started near the bottom of his group has climbed all the way to the Group Finals of a national youth sports competition — and the clock is ticking for Hillsboro to help push him over the top.
Avery, a 10-year-old Hillsboro resident, is competing in the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year competition, a nationwide contest where young athletes advance through rounds of public voting. He started in 57th place within his group. As of this week, his mother, Maria Brooks, confirmed he has advanced into the Group Finals.
The next 48 hours are critical.
The Group Finals round closes September 24. Avery needs to finish first in his group to move directly into the Quarterfinals. A second-place finish would still keep his run alive, sending him into the Wildcard Round, held September 25–27, for another shot at advancing.
"We are incredibly proud that he has made it all the way to the Group Finals," Brooks said.
He built his own campaign, door by door.
When Avery realized his family and friends could only carry his vote count so far, he decided to expand his support base himself. He went door-to-door through his Hillsboro neighborhood, introducing himself to neighbors, explaining the competition, and handing out a voting flyer he made himself.
He didn't stop at neighbors. Avery also approached his Taekwondo instructor directly and asked for help spreading the word. Brooks said the family is continuing to get the word out across the Hillsboro community as the deadline approaches.
His sports don't stop at football.
Football is Avery's main passion, but he also plays basketball and soccer, and recently took up Taekwondo. Brooks describes her son as competitive, hardworking and determined — and says his goal isn't just to advance another round.
He wants to win the whole competition.
The winner takes home a $25,000 prize, along with national recognition and opportunities tied to the title.
How to vote.
- Visit Avery's voting page: athleteoftheyear.org/2026/avery-a681
- Voting is completely free — no purchase or donation required
- Supporters can cast one vote every 24 hours
- Votes can be repeated daily through the September 24 deadline
- Avery's flyer includes a QR code linking directly to his voting page
"We are not asking our community to spend money," Brooks said. "We're simply hoping Hillsboro might rally behind one of its own young athletes."
