Star Texas High School quarterback Cade Klubnik was named National Offensive Football Player of the Year at the 2022 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, which began on July 31.
Klubnik finished his career at Westlake High School with three Texas 6A state championships and no losses. The 6-foot-3 quarterback is larger than life in terms of excitement in his senior year, proving once again why he enrolled at Clemson and was ranked as the No. 1 QB recruit. for the Class of 2022. He gained 3,722 scrimmage yards. and 55 total tackles, while completing 71% of his passes.
Klubnik finished as Westlake’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, topping a list that included Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and Drew Brees. He was one of three finalists for the Offensive Football Player of the Year award. Others were scornful of Zach Rice, a senior from Liberty Christian Academy in Virginia; and running back Nicholas Singleton, a senior from Governor Mifflin High School in Pennsylvania.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Offensive Football Player of the Year!
The USA Today High School Sports Awards is the premier high school sports recognition program in the country. More than 800 athletes were honored with 29 sports and other special awards announced during the show, which was hosted by the NFL’s first Rob Gronkowski and Vernon Davis.
Here’s the full list of other award winners and results:
DEFEND THE SAP GAME OF THE YEAR
Winner: Walter Nolen III, Powell High School (Tennessee), senior
Why he won: USA TODAY’s No. 1 overall recruit for the Class of 2022, Nolen doubled down this fall when he joined the elite recruiting class at Texas A&M. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive end had 14 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. The transfer from St. Benedict in Memphis helped Powell High School close out an outstanding season with a 13-2 overall record and the Class 5A state championship.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Defensive Football Player of the Year!
Finalists: Travis Hunter, Collins Hill High School (Georgia), senior; Shawn Murphy, Unity Reed High School (Virginia), senior
CHILDREN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Kiki Rice, Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.), senior
Why he won: UCLA’s top-ranked basketball player, Rice’s resume includes notable honors such as MaxPreps National Athlete of the Year, McDonald’s All-America Game MVP and Naismith High School Player of the Year. The standout guard led national No. 1 Sidwell Friends to a District of Columbia Class 2A state championship and a national championship in the Broadcast a the State Champions. On top of that, Rice holds a pair of gold medals as an international player for USA Basketball.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Girls Basketball Player of the Year!
Finalists: Lauren Betts, Grandview High School (Colorado), senior; Gabriela Jaquez, Adolfo Camarillo High School (California), senior
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Nick Smith, North Little Rock High School (Arkansas), senior
Why he won: Smith used his 6-foot-5 frame to score goals with unmatched size, averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. He was dominant in the final state game, dropping 25 points to lead North Little Rock to the Arkansas Class 6A state championship. The middle of the University of Arkansas’s No.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Boys Basketball Player of the Year!
Finalists: Dereck Lively II, Westtown School (Pennsylvania), senior; Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge High School (Tennessee), senior
VOLLEYBALL KIDS OF THE YEAR
Winner: Audrey Rothman, Spain Park High School (Alabama), senior
Why he won: Rothman closed out her high school career in fitting fashion – hitting the final kill in Alabama’s 7A state championship game. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter was named the 7A MVP and recorded 24 kills and 12 digs in the state tournament. He helped lead Spain Park to a 47-4 overall record and is primed for big things at Florida State this fall.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Girls Volleyball Player of the Year!
Finalists: Averi Carlson, Lovejoy High School (Texas), senior; Jordan Middleton, Hamilton High School (Arizona), senior
BOY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Ryan Peluso, Winter Park High School (Florida), senior
Why he won: Known for his all-around play on the field, Ryan Peluso did little to help Winter Park go 8-0 in the postseason. The Long Beach State signee had 30 kills, 24 assists, 12 digs and two aces in a five-set win over Freedom High in the Florida State game. For the season, Peluso had a 60.4 kill percentage to go with 445 assists, 68 aces and 85 blocks. The Wildcats finished the year 28-2 and ranked No. 18 in the final USA Today’s Super 25 poll.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Boys Volleyball Player of the Year!
Finalists: Dillon Klein, Loyola High School (Calif.), senior; Zach Rama, Sandra Day O’Connor High School (Arizona), senior
THE FIELD HOCKEY GAME OF THE YEAR
Winner: Ryleigh Heck, Eastern Regional High School (New Jersey), senior
Why he won: Heck took his goal scoring to a new high, his 125 goals set a new national record. The best part? Goal No. 125 capped his team’s victory in New Jersey’s Tournament of Champions. East High School thrived during Heck’s four years, amassing a combined 89-4 record, two undefeated seasons and two state championships. He finished his career with 323 total goals and is taking his talents to the University of North Carolina.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Field Hockey Player of the Year!
Finalists: Maci Bradford, Delmar High School (Delaware), junior; Alaina McVeigh Gwynedd Mercy Academy (Pennsylvania), senior
SOUTHERN COUNTRY BOY OF THE YEAR
Winner: Colin Sahlman, Newbury Park High School (Calif.), senior
Why he won: Sahlman finished his senior season with the highest ranking for the high school team in the country. Behind his kick-final mark, he claimed the California State I individual title before making history at the championship a the national Garmin RunningLane in Alabama – where he destroyed the US high school 5K that had stood for 20 years. Next, Sahlman will join the national championship men’s team at Northern Arizona University.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year!
Finalists: Riley Hough, Hartland High School (Michigan), senior; Leo Young, Newbury Park High School (California), junior
NATIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Natalie Cook, Flower Mound High School (Texas), senior
Why he won: In the Texas Class 6A state championship game, Cook was unhittable. In the country, he was not disputed. The first girl to win the Garmin RunningLane and Eastbay Cross Country Championships, Cook etched her name in the history books with a dream-like senior season. He won the 6A state race by 56 seconds, and his outstanding performance at RunningLane included the fastest MileSplit time recorded in the country. He will be a runner to watch in the coming years at Oklahoma State.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year!
Finalists: Angelina Perez, Lakeland Regional High School (New Jersey), senior; Riley Stewart, Cherry Creek High School (Colorado), senior
Winner: Kieryn Knox, West Orange High School (New Jersey), senior
Why he won: Knox pitched a complete game in the New Jersey state team championship and it was just the start of a postseason run for the books. of history. Knox’s 300-game hitting streak is the seventh of his career and 17th in state history. A few days later, as the No. 4 seed, he defeated the 5, 3, 2 and 1 seeds en route to winning the state crown. Knox will continue his bowling career at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Bowler of the Year!
Finalists: Ethan Caruso, Minooka Community High School (Illinois), second; Keaton Ostrowski, Rush-Henrietta Senior High School (New York), second
Winner: Jenna Hedgepath, Lipscomb Academy (Tennessee), senior
Why he won: Hedgepath closed out his high school bowling career. The Vanderbilt senior earned his second TSSAA state title in three years, and he did it in dominant fashion, scoring nine goals in the final game to no doubt. He then joined the boys, helping the Lipscomb co-ed bowling team win the program’s first championship in school history. Hedgepath rewrote the state history books during the team’s competition, setting state records for the individual game and the height.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Bowler of the Year!
Finalists: Victoria Varano, North Rockland High School (New York), senior; Emma Yoder, Triway High School (Ohio), second
HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY LOGISTICS PLUS
Winner: Alex Bump, Prior Lake High School (Minnesota), senior
Why he won: Bump’s scoring prowess was on full display in his senior year of high school as he scored 83 points in 31 games and was named The Associated Press Player of the Year for Minnesota. In the fall, Bump scored six goals in 14 games with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. Eligible for the NHL Draft, the University of Vermont signee is ranked No. 69 overall in North America.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for USA TODAY HSSA Hockey Player of the Year!
Finalists: Rylee Bartz, Fargo North High School (North Dakota), junior; Max Giblin, Hudson High School (Wisconsin), senior
Winner: Madelynn Crow, Pike County High School (Georgia), senior
Why she won: History was made at Georgia’s gymnastics state championships when Crow posted an incredible total score of 39.7 out of 40. She posted perfect 10s in three events – the vault, beam and floor – and add 9.7 on bars. to win the Class A-5A individual state meet in a run. The only female state champion for athletics at her high school, Crow will continue to turn heads at the University of Georgia.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Gymnast of the Year!
Finalists: Ella Margheim, Olathe North High School (Kansas), senior; Karina Muñoz, East Brunswick High School (New Jersey), senior
Winner: Nick Feldman, Malvern Prep (Pennsylvania), senior
Why he won: The most popular wrestler in the country, Nick Feldman won league, state and national championships while to an undefeated senior season. Best known for his 285-pound frame on the mat, Feldman is known to both his peers and scouts for his friendly and outgoing personality. He is the No. 1 national wrestler by MatScouts and FloSports, and is destined for big things on the mat and beyond at Ohio State University.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Wrestler of the Year!
Finalists: Nic Bouzakis, Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania), senior; Casey Swiderski, Dundee High School (Michigan), senior
Winner: Shelby Moore, White River High School (Washington), junior
Why he won: It’s one thing to be undefeated on the wrestling mat – it’s another to pin down every opponent you face. Moore accomplished that feat with an undefeated season that culminated in a state championship at 130 pounds. It’s been a tremendous year for the White River High star, who has claimed five national championships in four months. Seeing the best female wrestlers in the country regardless of weight class, Moore’s next goal is to start competing. for world champions.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Wrestler of the Year!
Finalists: Audrey Jimenez, Sunnyside High School (Arizona), second; Haley Ward, Fort Osage High School (Missouri), junior
Winner: Aaron Pounds, The Woodlands Christian Academy (Texas), junior
Why he won: A rising star, the National High School Golf Association’s No. 1-ranked teams in the country, Pounds scored a 13-under-par 138 to win the Texas 5A Private state individual title. It was the culmination of a grueling tournament that included district and regional championships, and the first round at the Texas Junior Amateur in July. The Texas A&M commit will be a name to watch in the high school and junior division in 2023.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Golfer of the Year!
Finalists: Luke Clanton, American Heritage School (Florida), senior; Evan Woosley-Reed, Cascade High School (Tennessee), senior
Winner: Yana Wilson, Coronado High School (Nevada), second
Why he won: Four shots back after the first round of the Nevada Class 5A state tournament, Wilson shot a 6-under 65 in Round 2 to claim the individual title. two. Her finish helped Coronado capture the team title and state mark of 2-under par. As one of the top names to follow on the Junior circuit, the sky is the limit for Wilson, who is ranked by GolfWeek as the number 3 women’s golfer in the country.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Golfer of the Year!
Finalists: Sara Im, Lambert High School (Georgia), junior; Sophie Linder, Gordonsville High School (Tennessee), junior
BOYS LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Joey Spallina, Mount Sinai High School (New York), senior
Why he won: With 507 career goals, Spallina graduated as the all-time leading scorer in Long Island history. The Syracuse signee finished the 2022 season as No. 1 in the nation with 73 goals and 83 assists. Spallina’s strength on the field earned him a four-year partnership with Gait Lacrosse – making him the first high school lacrosse player in the country to sign a NIL contract.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year!
Finalist: Riley Figueiras, St. John’s College High School (Washington, D.C.), senior; Bo Lockwood, Hartland High School (Michigan), senior
GIRLS LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Fran Frieri, Lockport High School (Illinois), senior
Why he won: Frieri rewrote the American high school record books by posting 200 goals this season – a feat no one else has accomplished yet. bees in the game, male or female. He also had 40 assists and 137 ground balls. His four-year total of 545 career goals now ranks as the No. 1 high school in the country, according to NFHS records. The Lockport academic and athletic standout will continue his career at Notre Dame.
Plus: Meet the nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year!
Finalists: Kori Edmondson, McDonogh School (Maryland), senior; Peep Williams, Seton Catholic Central School (New York), senior
Winner: Aidan Payne, New Hanover High School (North Carolina), senior
Why he won: Payne powered New Hanover to a 27-0-1 season and the first state championship in program history. The All-American scored 54 goals, including a pair in his team’s 3-0 win over Hough High School in North Carolina’s 4A state final. He finished with three or more goals nine times this season and added 11 assists. Payne will continue at North Carolina State University.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Boys Soccer Player of the Year!
Finalists: Elyes Ellouz, Olathe West High School (Kansas), senior; Jacob Murrell, McDonogh School (Maryland), senior
Winner: Natalie Bain, Notre Dame Academy (Kentucky), senior
Why he won: The star of Notre Dame Academy’s back-line, Bain was named MVP of the district, regional and state games, leading a team that finished 28-0-1 and allowed goals four – total – per season. A corner kick specialist, Bain scored the game-winner against Frederick Douglass in the KHSAA state championship game. Bain is taking his professional talents to Xavier University.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for the All-USA Today HSSA Girls Soccer Player of the Year!
Finalists: Elise Evans, Woodside High School (California), senior; Eliza Rich, Lake Norman Charter (North Carolina), senior
BOYS SWIMMING & LIGHTNING OF THE YEAR
Winner: Baylor Nelson, Community School of Davidson (North Carolina), senior
Why he won: Nelson ended his high school swimming career with seven individual titles at the North Carolina state meet. At this year’s championships, he broke his own state record in the 200 Individual Medley and now ranks fourth-best in the event all-time according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Also for Texas A&M, Nelson added a second state record in the 100 fly.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Swimming & Feather Player of the Year!
Finals: Liam Custer, Riverview High School (Florida), senior; Josh Zuchowski, King’s Academy (Florida), senior
MY GIRL & LIGHTNING OF THE YEAR
Winner: Claire Curzan, Cardinal Gibbons High School (North Carolina), senior
Why he won: It was a breakout year in the pool for Curzan, the Stanford-bound phenom who set a national high school record in the 100 backstroke – and an All-American record in the 100 butterfly – in her high school final. championship match. At 17, she is the youngest swimmer on the roster for the US World National Team and will soon be looking to add to the silver medal she won at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Swimming & Feather Player of the Year!
Finalists: Leah Hayes, Kaneland Maple Park High School (Illinois), second; Lucy Thomas, Brookfield East High School (Wisconsin), junior
TENNIS ANSWER OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY WILSON SPORTING GOODS
Winner: Noey Do, Kempner High School (Texas), freshman
Why he won: Do played big in his first UIL tournament, sweeping the Texas state championships, Region 3 and District 24. He outscored his opponents 36-11. in total matches and did not drop a set in his three state matches to become the first state champion in Kempner history. A blue-collar prospect as a sophomore, Do finished his first season with a 20-0 record.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for Wilson-sponsored Tennis Player of the Year
Finalists: Nicholas Patrick, Alleman Catholic High School (Illinois), freshman; Masato Perera, San Marcos High School (Calif.), senior
CHILDREN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY WILSON SPORTING GOODS
Winner: Valeria Ray, Doral Academy (Florida), junior
Why he won: Ray added another chapter to his recent high school resume, completing an undefeated season and his second straight state championship. . The junior star was named the Class 4A Player of the Year and the 2022 Miss Florida Tennis. A commit for Vanderbilt out of high school, Ray has now amassed eight collegiate and individual state tennis championships in his three seasons at the Doral Academy.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for Girls Tennis Player of the Year sponsored by Wilson
Finalists: Alyssa Ahn, Torrey Pines High School (Calif.), freshman; Stephanie Yakoff, Fort Lee High School (New Jersey), junior
Winner: Druw Jones, Wesleyan School (Georgia), senior
Why he won: Jones’ superior talents on the baseball diamond made him the No. 2 overall pick in this summer’s MLB Draft. Displaying outstanding defense and speed, along with solid hitting at the plate, he led Wesleyan to a GHSA title this past season. Jones hit .570 with 13 home runs and 39 runs batted in, while swiping 32 steals on the basepath. The son of former MLB player Andruw Jones, Druw also recorded a 10-1 record on the mound this season with 53 hits.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Baseball Player of the Year!
Finals: Jackson Holliday, Stillwater High School (Oklahoma), senior; Termar Johnson, Walton High School (Georgia), senior
Winner: Keagan Rothrock, Roncalli High School (Indiana), junior
Why he won: A future Florida Gator, Rothrock showed why he is currently ranked as Softball America’s No. He led the Royals to an undefeated 33-0 record and an IHSAA state title, sporting a 0.70 ERA in the pitcher’s circle and an impressive .382 strikeouts. The junior also hit .523 at the plate with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Softball Player of the Year!
Finalists: Maci Bergeron, Notre Dame High School (Louisiana), senior; Ava Brown, Lake Creek High School (Texas), junior
CHILDREN CHILDREN & SHOW OF THE YEAR
Winner: Rodrick Pleasant, Junipero Serra High School (California), junior
Why he won: Pleasant’s speed was on display at the CIF state championships, where he swept both sprint events to earn an individual pair. His time of 10.14 seconds set a new state record in the 100 meter dash. Pleasant also ran the 200 meters this season, posting a No. 2 national ranking in the California Southern Conference.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Track & Play Game of the Year!
Finalists: Casey Helm, Madison High School (Kansas), senior; Colin Sahlman, Newbury Park High School (California), senior
CHILDREN CHILDREN & SHOW OF THE YEAR
Winner: Juliette Whittaker, Mount De Sales Academy (Maryland), senior
Why he won: Whittaker’s 800-meter time of 1 minute, 59.80 seconds at the Trials of Miles Track Night in New York City ranked as US No. 1 this year and is the second-fastest time ever recorded. The future Stanford Cardinal added a US No. 3 time in the mile run at the Brooks PR invitational, after taking gold in three events at the IAA Maryland state championship meet.
Plus: Meet all 24 nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Track & Play Game of the Year!
Finalists: Adaejah Hodge, Alexander High School (Georgia), second; Gracelyn Leiseth, Hamlin High School (South Dakota), junior
FEMALE SHOW OF THE YEAR
Winner: Claire Curzan, Cardinal Gibbons High School (North Carolina), senior
Why he won: Already one of Team USA’s standout players, Curzan enters his senior year at Cardinal Gibbons as a freshman. still at his first Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won the silver medal in the 4×100 meter-relay at the age of 17. 10th place in 100 butterfly. He was true to form at the North Carolina High School State Championships this year, setting the nation’s high school record in the 100 backstroke in 49.61 seconds and setting an all-American record. in the 100 fly of 49.24 seconds. She has gone from strength to strength since her high school season ended – winning five gold medals at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, this summer.
Finalists: Kiki Rice, Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.), senior; Juliette Whittaker, Mount De Sales Academy (Maryland), senior
BOY SHOW OF THE YEAR
Winner: Druw Jones, Wesleyan School (Georgia), senior
Why he won: In July, shortly after graduating from Wesleyan School in Georgia, Jones was selected No. 2 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Reminiscent of his father, Atlanta Braves legend Andruw Jones, Druw’s speed and skills in center field earned him the 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove Award. And while his slugging numbers were through the roof — he hit .570 with 65 hits and 13 home runs — his willingness to step in as a pitcher helped propel Wesleyan to Georgia’s Class A Private state title. It was Druw’s first high school championship ring and Wesleyan’s first in seven years.
Finalists: Gabe Escobedo, Miami High School (Arizona), senior; Colin Sahlman, Newbury Park High (California), senior
Winner: Newbury Park High School (Calif.) cross country
Why they won: Led by two pairs of brothers – the Sahlmans and the Youngs – Newbury Park broke state and national records. their approach to high school in local history. The Panthers swept the top four and scored a state-record 16 points in the California Division I state championship, their team’s 73 minutes , 23 seconds of the escape game. They set their sights higher entering the Garmin RunningLane Nationals in Huntsville, Alabama, and ran a 5K national record time of 14 minutes, 10 seconds. Three Newbury Park runners have broken that mark, which stood for 20 years. Sahlman, a senior, was the leading finisher, finishing with a national record time of 14-minutes, 3.29 seconds. Twin brothers Leo and Lex Young were close behind, both finishing in 14 minutes, 5 seconds. Those are the times high school historians are calling the 2021-22 Newbury Park High School cross country team the best of all time.
Final: Saint Mary’s Prep (Michigan) Baseball; Westlake High School (Texas) football
Winner: Lake Creek High School (Texas) softball
Why they won: Behind junior pitcher and slugger Ava Brown, Lake Creek was perfect in every sense of the word in the 2022 season — just three years into the school year. the varsity competition. On their way to a 41-0 game and the No. 1 national ranking in the USA TODAY Super 25, the Lions were outscored 337-33. Their 19th shutout of the season, a 7-0 victory over Georgetown, clinched the Texas 5A state title and the first football championship in school history. What happened was Brown, a Florida native who pitched a 1-hitter with no walks and eight strikeouts in the state game. Head coach Michell Rochinski directed another young star in shortstop Maddie McKee, who hit .511 at the plate and hurt opposing pitchers with 77 stolen bases. But there were plenty of standouts in the Lions’ consistent lineup that combined for a club-record 29 hits, 16 triples and 71 doubles. With only three seniors on the 2022 roster, Lake Creek will look to build on its current 79-game winning streak.
Finals: Marymount High School (Calif.) girls volleyball; Hazel Green High School (Alabama) girls basketball
Winner: Jaren Kanak, Hays High School (Kansas), senior
Why he won: Recruited by the University of Oklahoma to play linebacker, Kanak’s impressive mark on a quarterback draft game which was announced during the game against Maize High School in November.
Known for his blazing speed on the soccer field, Kanak ran 41 national best times in the 100 meter dash during the spring and track seasons. He proved that he also packs a lot of energy, during the high school football season in November. He didn’t pick up a pickup, but he tackled five different defenders and cracked one touchdown on his way to a jaw-dropping, 61-yard touchdown. in a simulation game.
Finalists: Diego Leon, Dowling Catholic High School (Iowa), senior; Maci Neely Cameron High School (West Virginia), new
Recipient: Tate Myre, Oxford High School (Michigan), junior
Tate Myre 2022 Courage Award winner at the High School Sports Awards.
Oxford High School student Tate Myre is the 2022 Courage winner at the Detroit High School Sports Awards. Myre was 1 of 4 students shot and killed Nov. 30, 2021.
Why he won: Myre was one of four Oxford students who died after being shot at school by a fellow student on Nov. 30. Some students said they saw Myre, a football and baseball player, running in the direction of the gun while others ran away from the school.
“Knowing Tate, knowing the way he grew up, he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t think twice,” said Ross Wingert, who coached Myre at the football and wrestling. “And he will.”
Juniors are rarely captains, but Myre is a player and a teammate. He was an instant standout and was taken to university as a freshman. Oxford coach, Zach Line, is determined to ensure that Myre is not forgotten, especially the bravery he showed at other times in his life.
“Next year will be interesting, but I think Tate will be with us,” said Line. “Eventually we learn to walk with Tate without a cloud over our heads, which I think will give this team a lot of energy.”
THE SPECIAL YEAR OF THE YEAR
Recipient: Kamari Graham, Homestead Senior High School (Florida), second
Why he won: Graham is not only mentally disabled, but at a young age he suffered injuries from a rock accident that left him without his left arm. A participant in Special Sports since he was a student at Homestead Middle School, Graham participated in many sports and was part of the team that won the the FHSAA state champion in the Unified Flag. He then helped Homestead become a two-time national champion, earning a crucial pass to the semifinals of the 2022 US Games in Orlando. Homestead represented Florida at the Games and brought home a gold medal. Graham is also a leader in the classroom, serving as the Vice President of her school’s Independent Club.
Winner: Dee Lockett, Stillwater High School (Oklahoma), freshman
Why he won: Months before his first high school wrestling match, Lockett delivered a pair of statement wins at the U15 National Championships . He defeated his opponents 51-8 in the Freestyle tournament and was named the Outstanding Wrestler, placing him with a national team. Lockett rode that momentum into his first high school experience, winning the prestigious Ironman Tour in Ohio. He capped his freshman season with Oklahoma’s 6A state title at 145 pounds, losing as a junior and senior on his way to fourth. results. He will enter a promising second season with a top 10 national ranking at 152 pounds by FloSports.
Plus: Meet the nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Rising Star of the Year!
Final: Cameron Boozer, Columbus High School (Florida), freshman; Bryce Underwood, Belleville High School (Michigan), freshman
Winner: Joyce Edwards, Camden High School (South Carolina), second
Why it won: The Camden High School girls basketball team has a new leader in Edwards, who surpassed the 2,000-point mark a’ leading Camden into the South Carolina 3A state tournament. The top basketball player in the Class of 2024, Edwards saw his first varsity games as a seventh grader and this year averaged 23.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. With Division 1 college basketball offers rolling in, including Oregon and Oregon State, Edwards will be a name to watch in 2023 and beyond.
Plus: Meet the nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Rising Star of the Year!
Finalists: Jaloni Cambridge, Ensworth School (Tennessee), second; ZaKiyah Johnson, Sacred Heart Academy (Kentucky), freshman
CHILDREN’S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, SPONSORED BY MUNICIPAL
Winner: Vito Campanile of Bergen Catholic High School (New Jersey) football
Why he won: Coaching at a school where state championships are expected, not the goal, Campanile earned his first ring as head coach at Bergen Catholic on the back of a 12-0 season. It was the football team’s first perfect season in 24 years. The Crusaders finished the year with an impressive win over Don Bosco in New Jersey’s Non-Public A state tournament. It finished No. 3 in USA TODAY’s final Super 25 poll, behind only California prep power Mater Dei and Texas Class 6A powerhouse Westlake High. Few give their programs the kind of personal investment as Campanile, who was named a finalist for the All-American Bowl’s Coach of the Year honor and is soon to be take the credit from himself to his players, especially his seniors.
Finalists: David Peavy of Duncanville (Texas) High School boys basketball; David Zimmerman is a Conestoga High School (Pennsylvania) football player
TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WOMEN’S EDUCATION, SPONSORED BY MUNICIPAL
Winner: Tamika Dudley of Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.) girls basketball
Why they won: Dudley’s basketball program scored a hat trick this season – winning three separate tournament titles en route to a 30-0 season. The Quakers’ postseason haul included a national championship at the inaugural State Champions Invitational in Tampa, Florida, and notable performances in the state championship game. Independent School League and D.C. State Athletic Association. With his program now established as a national powerhouse, Dudley won the prestigious Naismith Coach of the Year Award, considered one of the highest honors in prep and college basketball.
Finalists: Sue Butz-Stavin of Emmaus High School (Pennsylvania) hockey; Valorie McKenzie is the Horizon High School (Arizona) girls volleyball player
