Athletes of the Year: Meet the top seniors from every Wichita-area high school
The Eagle and Varsity Kansas introduced a year-end Athletes of the Year sports honor roll for all schools in our coverage area in 2019, and it’s back for 2020.
Every school within an hour of downtown Wichita is included, with one senior boy and one senior girl selected.
Here are the 2019-20 selections.
Click here to see last year’s representatives.
Andale
Easton Hunter
All-Metro honors in football, basketball and track. One of the area’s best.
Morgan Bruna
A passionate but skillful volleyball and basketball player.
Andover
Ryan Kinnane
Signed with Auburn for cross country, an individual state champion.
Madison Slayton
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A Division I golfer staying home at Wichita State.
Andover Central
Xavier Bell
Earned All-Metro honors in basketball twice and football once.
Jadyn Barr
The Wichita area’s only female state champion bowler.
Arkansas City
Deston Miller
The best senior wrestler on one of the most historic wrestling teams.
Espy Daniels
A leader in basketball and a star in softball.
Augusta
Jaren Jackson
An under-the-radar athlete who stood out in baseball and basketball.
Sophie Johnston
A state champion last season who earned All-Metro honors as a junior.
Belle Plaine
Luke Baker
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The quarterback to one of Belle Plaine’s best football teams.
Madi Gooch
One of the best volleyball players to come out of Belle Plaine.
Berean Academy
Zac Koontz
Perhaps the top senior on a basketball team that went 19-3.
Brooke Wiebe
Berean’s lone All-Metro athlete in 2019-2020 as a cross country star.
Bishop Carroll
Tanner Mans
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A respected leader who helped Carroll to its first undefeated regular season.
Taryn Lubbers
A future Kansas State Wildcat who was as technically sound as they come in soccer.
Bluestem
Braeden Emmons
A three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball.
Emma Young
Bluestem’s senior leader in volleyball and girls basketball.
Buhler
Camrin Engelken
Won a state championship in doubles tennis with his brother in 2019.
Haley Miller
One of Kansas’ most consistent golfers over her career.
Burrton
Scott Baughman
A go-to running back and linebacker at Burrton.
Alexis Zehr
Arguably the best volleyball player to ever come out of Burrton.
Campus
Steele Chapman
Commanding on defense and inspirational in the locker room.
Yazmin Puentes
Full of flair on the soccer pitch, was poised for a big senior season.
Central Christian
Caleb Lambert
A leader who took Central Christian to a football state semifinal.
Josie Ibarra
One of Kansas’ top small school girls basketball players.
Cheney
Riley Petz
The best player on Cheney’s first football state semifinal team. Also a track state champ.
Cierra Harrison
Part of one of Class 3A’s top volleyball teams in 2019.
Circle
Ryan Derry
A future K-State cross country runner, who won a team title in 2018.
Mallory Cowman
A dominant basketball and volleyball player at 6-foot-2.
Classical
Cole Sinclair
A founding piece to Classical boys soccer and basketball leader.
Brenna Dolloff
A senior leader to Classical’s athletics teams.
Clearwater
Cole Bixler-Large
Earned All-Metro cross country honors, heading to Friends.
Ivy Berline
Was a key piece to Clearwater’s volleyball success.
Collegiate
Connor Allen
Stood out on the offensive and defensive lines as well as catcher in baseball.
Sallie Lair
Finished runner-up at state tennis in doubles.
Conway Springs
Dawson Martin
A unanimous All-League selection along the offensive line.
Kara Koester
One of Conway Springs’ best ever multi-sport athletes.
Derby
Tre Washington
Electrified in football to Top 11 honors as well as All-Metro twice.
Sydney Nilles
Maybe the best female athlete in the Wichita area, competed in volleyball, basketball and soccer.
Douglass
Sam Headrick
Earned Class 2A honorable mention honors as a remarkable defensive lineman.
Maranda Mitchell
Helped to carry on Douglass volleyball’s legacy with senior leadership.
East
Norman Massey
An outstanding athlete on the basketball floor and football field.
Astrid Dirkzwager
One of three Division I female swimmers out of the City League.
Eisenhower
Jordan Vincent
Shifty on the floor, he holds several Eisenhower basketball records.
Hannah Brisco
Helped establish Eisenhower as a real volleyball threat on her way to the college ranks.
El Dorado
Jake Knowles
An outstanding wrestler who finished in fourth in Class 4A.
Paiton Haga
One of El Dorado’s top volleyball players of all time.
Flinthills
Jack Donner
A power hitter who was set to contend for All-Metro baseball honors.
Sarah Sorum
A two-sport star in basketball and volleyball.
Garden Plain
Matt Pauly
Comes from an illustrious athletic family and quarterbacked the Owls.
Natasha Dooley
A two-time All-Metro volleyball selection and one-time champion.
Goddard
Jason Henschel
Won three individual state wrestling titles and four team championships.
Kade Hackerott
Heading to Division II basketball as one of the area’s most valuable players.
Halstead
Scott Grider
Hard-nosed running back who pushed Halstead to an 8-1 record.
Briana Winkle
On a young volleyball team, served as one of the senior leaders.
Haven
Wyatt Carmichael
An All-Class basketball selection who led Haven to the Class 3A tournament.
Faith Paramore
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One of the best small school basketball players in Kansas, heading to Division I.
Heights
Dylan Perry
A multi-sport athlete, who captained Heights’ regional title soccer team.
Taylor Jameson
Earned All-Metro honors after working as a four-year point guard.
Hesston
Jacob Eilert
Another three-sport athlete, who was key to the Swathers’ football, basketball and baseball success.
Elise Kaiser
Under-the-radar basketball star and track state champion.
Hutchinson
Levi Allen
Stood out on the line in football and mat in wrestling.
Tina Robertson
Shined in volleyball and led the way in basketball for the Salthawks.
Hutchinson Trinity
Troy Zrubek
Dynamic playmaker on the outside in football and basketball.
Meg Friday
Trinity’s top three-sport athlete in volleyball, softball and basketball.
Independent
Aidan Scott
One of Kansas’ top swimmers, leading Independent to a team title.
Charlotte Taylor
Was a leader to Independent’s surprising girls basketball season.
Inman
Nicholas Martisko
Finished in the top four at Inman’s regional and state meets.
Rachel Harman
The driving force behind Inman’s girls basketball success.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Jairus Kennedy
The most versatile football player in the Wichita area.
Claudia Fury
A true leader on the soccer pitch and multi-time tennis state qualifier.
Kingman
Michial Milford
Earned All-Class and All-League football honors.
Carlie Kelley
A talented three-sport athlete in softball, basketball and volleyball.
Maize
Preven Christon
Won All-Metro football honors twice and won at state track.
Cassie Onwugbufor
Well-balanced as an athlete in basketball and track.
Maize South
Trevion Mitchell
One of Kansas’ true lockdown cornerbacks who earned All-Metro honors.
Katie Wagner
Division II basketball player who earned All-Metro honors twice.
McPherson
Cody Stufflebean
Top 11 football selection heading to K-State after back-to-back state semifinals.
Cassie Cooks
A passionate leader in basketball and powerful hitter in volleyball.
Moundridge
Brady Helms
Intimidating figure at 6-foot-3 in 8-man football and 1A basketball.
Katie Stucky
Led the Wildcats on the floor as a leader in basketball.
Mulvane
Cole Diffenbaugh
Lightning fast as a running back, state sprinter and outfielder.
Lexie Abasolo
Talented volleyball player who earned All-League honors.
Newton
Grant Treaster
Three-time individual wrestling champion following his brother to the Navy.
Keila Gillispie
Signed to K-State for soccer, was an All-Metro candidate in 2020.
Nickerson
Noah Salazar
Multi-sport athlete who was key to Nickerson’s state baseball title in 2019.
Morgan Stout
Headed to WSU volleyball, was an inspiring leader in basketball.
North
Michael Iyali
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Came in third place at North’s regional and state championship meets.
Evelyn Jimenez
Devastatingly fast winger on North’s regional championship team from 2019.
Northwest
Reagan Jones
Wichita’s top quarterback who earned Top 11 honors after back-to-back title games.
Josie Deckinger
Basketball, volleyball and softball standout with several All-League honors.
Norwich
Ethan Poe
Earned All-Class honorable mention honors after a strong football season.
Tori Poe
Was the top senior on a basketball team that reached state and finished 22-4.
Oxford
Andrew Hills
Oxford’s top basketball player who was also a key contributor in football.
Abby Moore
Led as a senior in basketball and volleyball.
Remington
Cole Sommers
Received All-League football honors at quarterback and defensive back.
Desiree Ingalsbe
Worked as a leader across several sports, including volleyball.
Rose Hill
Koby Campbell
Perhaps Rose Hill’s greatest-ever basketball player - took the Rockets to a semifinal.
Anayka Besco
Pioneered Rose Hill at the first state girls wrestling tournament, taking third.
Salina Central
Quinton Stewart
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A future Oklahoma State tight end who earned All-Class honors.
Kadyn Cobb
Was the go-to senior on one of the youngest basketball teams in Kansas.
Salina South
Ty Garrett
One of Kansas’ best receivers, heading to Washburn.
Victoria Maxton
Shocked Kansas with a pole vault title last year; also a basketball standout.
Sedgwick
Kale Schroeder
Was a key to Sedgwick’s devastating football offense.
Grace Thompson
An All-Metro track selection who also stood out in volleyball.
South
Malachi Karibo
One of Kansas’ most respected wrestling state champions.
Julie Shear
Placed at the Titans’ Class 6A regional and state bowling meets.
Southeast
Micah Jacques
One of the most consistent basketball players to come through Southeast in recent history.
Eleanor Breen
Won the first City League girls wrestling title and first match at state.
Trinity Academy
Kai Kan
The engine behind Trinity’s Class 4-1A soccer runner-up finish.
Lauren Matthews
A solid volleyball player who helped push the Knights to great success.
Valley Center
Tony Caldwell
Valley Center’s first wrestling state champion in 10 years.
Ellie Shank
Heading to LSU for beach volleyball after earning All-Metro honors.
Wellington
Kanden Young
Finished in third at state wrestling with a 44-2 record.
Kylie Aufdengarten
Won the Class 4A doubles tennis state championship.
West
Jaleel Montgomery
Arguably Kansas’ top hurdler after winning the 6A 110 meters last year.
Maci McCullough
Wichita West’s first girls swimming state champion in more than a decade.
Winfield
KC Crandall
One of Winfield’s best athletes in recent history, competing in football, basketball and baseball.
Emily Randall
An under-the-radar basketball player with several honors in her career.
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 4:35 PM.