December was the start of the winter sports season in earnest, and Patch selected five top performers from around the conference for our first Greater Metro Conference Athlete of the Month poll.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, based on their achievements in the calendar month. Voting closes Jan. 12. Share the link and vote for your favorite top performer.

Anthony Carroll, Tosa East boys basketball

The Red Raiders started the season 7-1, all in December, with the only loss against No. 1 Germantown. Carroll, a junior, led the team with a 14-point average, including 24 points against JP Tokoto and Menomonee Falls.

Billy Holz, Menomonee Falls wrestling

Holz, a freshman, is ranked No. 13 in the state at 113 pounds. He won the Gunslinger Invitational,  was runner-up at Badger State Invitational to an unbeaten junior from Waukesha South and posted a 6-1 record at Northern Exposure tournament, with his only loss an injury default.

Arike Ogunbowale, DSHA girls basketball

A freshman guard, she’s been big in big games with 26 points vs. Racine St. Catherine’s, 23 vs. Brookfield Central and 32 in a loss to then-unbeaten Menomonee Falls.

Will Sass, Brookfield swimming

A senior, Sass has the top diving score in the state by far this season, according to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. He scored 431.65 at a meet, almost 70 points better than the next-best. He was 11^th in the WIAA state meet last year.

JP Tokoto, Menomonee Falls boys basketball

His team didn’t get off to a great start, but the North Carolina recruit has been filling it up. He averaged 27.1 points per game in December as Falls finished 3-4. The first five games were against teams with a combined record of 26-9; the last two were victories in the Waterford Tournament, which the Indians won. And he can dunk, too.