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When sophomore Alex Dougherty erupted for six touchdowns in Telstar’s 60-30 semifinal win over Sacopee in November, one of his classmates immediately went to work making sure the performance didn’t go unnoticed.

Watching from the sidelines was Telstar girls soccer goalie Mya Buck, who decided the moment needed amplification. She led the effort to get him named Eastern Maine Sports Male Athlete of the Week.

“I went and watched his game and he did outstanding. I knew that someone had to make it a big deal, so I was the one to make sure,” she said. “I contacted Athlete’s First Media and I told him Alex’s stats, and I sent him a picture of Alex so he could post it and make it big, and he posted it on all social medias and that got everyone’s attention.”

Soon, the post spread across the community. Local fans pushed it further, Buck said, sharing it widely and voting Dougherty in as Eastern Maine Sports Male Athlete of the Week.

“That’s what he deserves after such a great game,” she said.

Dougherty finished with 3,913 votes to win the honor. Dougherty was the first student-athlete from Telstar High School to be named Athlete of the Week.

Dougherty said he didn’t want to comment, but his history and civics teacher Dee Johannesen put things in perspective when she said, “685 people vote in the Bethel town elections. If people voted for politics like they voted for you, we’d have a different country.”