EVANSVILLE — The 2023-24 school year was another successful season in high school athletics for Southwestern Indiana.
A handful of individuals and teams won state championships, plus a dozen more finished runner-up. The number of talented athletes in the area would be too many list. This is where you come in. Who was your vote for the Courier & Press female high school athlete of the year?
More:The new IHSAA sectionals are out. Here are the changes for Southwestern Indiana.
Multi-sport athletes were given stronger consideration but not a requirement. Vote as often as you'd like until 10 a.m. CT on Friday. The story will be updated with the winner, but no physical award will be given. This is pure bragging rights.
Below is more info on each nominee determined by the sports staff, in alphabetical order:
Myla Browning, Memorial: A three-sport athlete. The junior was First Team All-SIAC and All-State in soccer for the regional champions. Second Team All-SIAC in basketball with 9.1 points and 3.9 assists. A member of the 4x800 winning relay in the City track meet.
Emma Bruggenschmidt, Castle: A two-sport star. Second Team All-SIAC in volleyball with 251 kills and 243 digs for the state runner-up. First Team All-SIAC and All-State in softball with a .484 average and 43 RBIs, plus single-season program records in hits and runs for the regional champions.
Jenna Donohoo, Tec*mseh: A three-sport star who competed in six state championship games during her career. First Team All-PAC in volleyball for the state runner-up. Second Team All-PAC selection in basketball. First Team All-State and Miss Softball Finalist in softball for the state runner-up. Signed with Evansville.
Addie Fullop, North Posey: A two-sport standout. First Team All-PAC and All-State in volleyball with 527 kills and 542 digs for the sectional champions. Second Team All-PAC pitcher a 1.97 earned run average and 149 strikeouts for the regional champions.
Ari Gerkin, Vincennes Lincoln: A two-sport standout. Second Team All-SIAC with 356 kills and 191 digs in volleyball. First Team All-SIAC in girls basketball with over 1,000 career points. Signed with Southern Connecticut State.
Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern: A three-sport standout. All-PAC goalkeeper (0.36 goals allowed per game) for the conference champions. All-PAC and All-State in basketball (17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds) for the state champions. Set a Class 3A championship record with six three-pointers against Norwell. Signed with Indiana Wesleyan.
Cordelia Hoover, Reitz: A standout distance runner. Won SIAC and sectional titles in cross country in addition to qualifying for the state championship. Earned SIAC and sectional title in the 3,200 meters in track & field before completing her career with a 24th-place finish at state. Signed with Southeast Missouri State.
Payge Johnson, Tec*mseh: A two-sport star. First Team All-PAC and All-State in volleyball with 330 kills, 118 aces, 335 digs and 569 assists for the state runner-up. A four-year outfield starter in softball who batted .339 with 22 RBIs for the state runner-up.
Katie Kopshever, Castle: One of the top volleyball players in Southern Indiana. First Team All-SIAC and All-State with 413 kills and 278 digs for the state runner-up. Only third player in program history with over 1,000 kills. . Signed with Eastern Illinois.
De'Janay Layne, North: The sophom*ore had a breakout track season that included four City, three SIAC, three sectional and three regional titles. Won the state championship in the 200 meters and helped the Huskies finish fifth in the 4x100 relay.
Jordan Mackey, Harrison: A three-sport athlete. The senior averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds this past winter and was second on the volleyball team in digs. One of the top hitters in SIAC with a .517 average and 17 RBIs. Signed with Southern Indiana.
Maddux Marshall, Southridge: A two-sport standout. Second Team All-PAC and double-digit scorer in basketball. First Team All-PAC and one of the top conference hitters in softball. Signed with Eastern Illinois.
Jahzara McAlister, Central: A two-sport athlete. First Team All-SIAC with a team-high 22 goals in soccer. The regional runner-up in the 100 meter dash and finished 17th at the state championship. Signed with IU Indianapolis.
Josie Page, Wood Memorial: A three-sport star. Second on the volleyball team in kills, aces, blocks and digs. A double-digit scorer for the regional champions in basketball. The state runner-up in the high jump in track & field, a year after winning the title in the event. Signed with Indiana.
Aleyna Quinn, Castle: A four-sport standout this school year (football, soccer, basketball, softball) and First-Team All-SIAC in soccer and basketball. First Team All-State and with 28 goals and 12 assists. Signed with Ball State.
Katie Reed, Washington: A three-sport athlete. The sophom*ore was led the volleyball team in blocks and fourth in kills. First Team All-PAC and Honorable Mention All-State in girls basketball with 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for the sectional champions. Led the softball team with a .339 average and 20 RBIs.
Carlee Rogers, Jasper: A third-sport standout. First Team All-SIAC in volleyball with 282 kills and 262 digs. Second Team All-SIAC and Honorable Mention All-State in basketball. The junior also batted .344 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in softball.
Maddy Shirley, Central: One of the top Class of 2026 basketball players in the state. First Team All-SIAC and Honorable Mention All-State. Futures Game All-Star. Averaged 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds with a single-season program record for points and blocks. .
Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern: One of the top Class of 2025 basketball players in the state. First Team All-PAC, Supreme 15 All-State and Junior All-Star. Averaged 19.3 points, 5.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds for the state champions. .
Mallory Watt, Princeton: A three-sport standout. A state qualifier and sectional individual runner-up in cross country. Honorable Mention All-PAC in basketball with 8.2 points. A three-event regional qualifier in track & field and finished 19th in the 1,600 meters at the state championship.
