Closing out their high school athletic careers in style, a quartet of Escalon High senior Cougars were recognized with the top awards for the Class of 2025.

Samuel Jimenez and Genevieve Casazza were selected as the Bob & Mark Loureiro Most Inspirational Senior Athletes, while Karisa McNeil and Ryan Lewis received honors as the Lloyd C. Engel Most Outstanding Senior Athletes.

The honors were presented as the final piece of the last sports awards night of the school year, highlighting spring sports as well as the top senior award recognition.

For Jimenez, it was a bittersweet moment, as he lost his entire senior season to injury, suffering a torn ACL at a football camp just prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. He was poised for a huge senior season but the devastating knee injury kept him off the playing field as a competitor for the entire football season last fall and basketball this past winter.

He remained with his teams, however, serving almost as an assistant coach on the football sidelines and the basketball bench, offering encouragement, support and guidance to his teammates.

“Gives me chills and even gets me a little bit choked up, just to start talking about this young man. It hurt every coach involved in this young man’s life on a personal level to see what he went through and what he lost this school year,” EHS Athletic Director and varsity head football coach Andrew Beam said of Jimenez. “Not because of his athletic abilities but the heartbreak of losing the memories that he was deprived of, of being a senior on the hardwood or the football field, which he had worked so hard for the last three years.”

While he was unable to play football, he remained a team captain, involved in every contest. On the basketball court, he was able to take one shot this season; it turned out to hit nothing but net and was an emotional moment for the team, the crowd and even their opponents that night, understanding the enormity of the swish.

He was key to the football team’s Section title win over Patterson during his junior season.

“He was one of the best basketball and football players to come through this school, period, regardless of his senior year,” Beam added.

Jimenez was humbled by the recognition.

“This means everything; I figured since I’m hurt, I can’t contribute on the field or on the court … I might as well try to do my best to contribute otherwise,” Jimenez said. “It was all tough but I’m glad it impacted people and I still got something out of it, it was a learning experience and I couldn’t be more happy, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Jimenez plans to attend MJC and will suit up for football, while study kinesiology in the classroom. He also feels that his senior year opened up the possibility of coaching in the future.

“It’s going to be part of my calling eventually,” he predicted.

For Casazza, her sports were golf in the fall, softball in the spring.

She was lauded by Beam for helping “lead our female golf team from a 1-11 record in 2023 to a 9-3 record, second place in the TVL in 2024.”

As a softball player, she was the lone senior on this year’s team, and her coach Caitlin Schulte said “she played a variety of positions, doing whatever was asked of her” to help the Lady Cougars.

She was described as “the ultimate team player and teammate,” said Beam.

Casazza said she doesn’t necessarily think of herself as inspirational; she just wants to be there for her teammates.

“When I play, I like to play for my teammates because when they do good, it makes me feel good because I know they’re having fun,” she admitted. “And if they’re having fun, I’m having fun too and when everybody is supportive, it just supports the team dynamic.”

She was coached in golf by her dad, Chris Casazza, and together they helped lead the team turnaround from a last place team to a TVL title contender.

“It was exciting, none of us were really expecting that at all,” she said, adding that there were many inexperienced players but they grew together as a team. “We definitely had to push each other; we had to believe in ourselves.”

Casazza is headed to UC Davis where she will major in Biological Sciences to go on to Pre-Med.

A four-year varsity soccer athlete and a four-year volleyball player, serving as a captain on both the pitch and the court, Karisa McNeil was described by Beam as “a competitor through and through” and one who was always there to support her teammates whether it was on the volleyball court in the fall or the soccer field in the winter season.

She is Escalon High School’s all-time leader in saves among female goalies and has been a stable force in front of the goal for four years; as well as a steadying presence on the court for her volleyball team.

“I was very shocked; I did not expect to get this award, but I’m very grateful for it and for anybody that voted for me but I was definitely very shocked that I got it,” admitted McNeil.

She added that soccer is her favorite sport, having played it since she was five years old.

“It’s always been part of my life,” she said. “I hope to continue to play some rec soccer when I go to college.”

McNeil will attend Cal State Monterey Bay and study psychology.

Recognized for his accomplishments in football and basketball, Ryan Lewis was a four-year varsity starter for the football Cougars and accumulated 56 varsity starts, never missing a game.

“He was a four-time first team All-League player, four-time All-District player, two-time TVL Defensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-State. Also, a two-time TVL champion, won three straight Section titles, played in three NorCal championships and played for one state title in 2022,” Beam said of Lewis.

He also played basketball for four years at EHS and was an integral part of the team.

“He will continue his (football) career at Fresno State, where we are all eager to watch him thrive,” Beam said.

Lewis – who previously signed his Letter of Intent to play for Fresno State – was appreciative of the Engel honor.

“I’ve been extremely blessed to be surrounded by amazing teammates, amazing coaching staffs throughout all my sports and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and I think I made the most of it for sure,” Lewis said. “We won a few (football) Section titles, which is awesome, a lot of people don’t even get the chance to do that at all so I’m just really happy that I was able to be involved in these games and have these opportunities; I’m just grateful and I’ll remember these the rest of my life.”

He is eager to start his time at Fresno State, embracing the experience and getting the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

The Engel award winners also each receive a $250 scholarship.

Beginning in September, the Standard-Times recognized some of the top high school performances by soliciting nominations and naming finalists for the City National Bank Athlete of the Week.

Weekly voting lasted throughout the school year and produced 36 Athletes of the Week.

Now, readers will have a chance to choose from those honorees to name a Standard-Times City National Bank Fan Favorite High School Athlete of the Year.

Voting will break down over two weeks beginning June 17 and will run Tuesday through Sunday each week, with voting wrapping up at noon every Monday.

The 16 athletes who receive the most votes this week will advance to the second round of voting beginning June 24.

Voting totals will reset each week.

The athletes represent schools of every size across West Texas. The City National Bank Fan Favorite Athlete of the year will be voted on and selected from the 16 finalists beginning June 24.

Each athlete is listed alphabetically with the sport they were chosen for Athlete of the Week. Take a look at the finalists and vote below for the 2024-2025 Standard-Times City National Bank Fan Favorite High School Athlete of the Year.

Nominees

Marianna Aguilar, Reagan County softball

Chris Alvizo, Lake View football

Chloe Becker, Veribest girls track and field

Caleb Braden, Wall baseball

Paxton Brake, Wall boys basketball

Jarrett Brown, Reagan County

Lorelei Bryant, Cornerstone girls basketball

Veronica Castro, Central softball

Chasen Doyal, Junction football

Christian “Squeaky” English, Central boys basketball and football

Acelyn Fowler, Irion County girls basketball

Christina Geary, Sterling City girls basketball

Gage Reichenau, Wall baseball

Leevi Knight, Reagan County boys tennis

JP Garza, Ozona baseball

Avery Hansen, Lake View girls soccer

Cameron Hash, Central boys track and field

Briggs Jones, Wall boys track and football

Jaxon Kennedy, Central baseball

Wyatt Killough, Sonora boys basketball

Thomas Leanos, Wall football

Johnny Menefield, Brady football

Colby Mitchell, Cornerstone boys basketball

Mia Obenhaus, Colorado City softball

Jezebel Pasillas, Sonora volleyball

Francisco Ramirez, Lake View football

Brooklenn Reyes, Reagan County softball

Landry Sanderson, Goldthwaite football

Luke Sanderson, Goldthwaite football

Aaron Segura, Sonora football

Casner Stribling, Central baseball

Kaidence Tambunga, Ozona girls basketball

Hunter Tucker, Veribest football

Water Valley girls 400 relay team

Baylor Wright, Coahoma track and field

Landon York, Wall football

Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.

Fifty-five athletes from the Missourian coverage area were named to the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams Monday.

St. Elizabeth, which is coming off its third MSHSAA Class 1 championship in four years, led the local teams with six all-staters. Now-graduated senior pitcher Gavin Williams was selected as the Class 1 player of the year and was joined on the first team by senior catcher Brady Kemna, junior infielder Eli Kemna and junior outfielder Sam Luetkemeyer. Senior designated hitter/utility Nolan Chipman was named to the second team, and sophomore infielder Kyson Green received honorable mention notice.

Eugene — which finished second in Class 2 — had four selections: first-team senior pitcher Drew Hart, first-team senior infielder Sam Schulte, second-team junior pitcher Chase Richard and second-team freshman catcher Jeffrey Schulte.

Tipton, which finished fourth in Class 2 for the second straight season, was represented by first-team senior pitcher Lucas Cashman, second-team sophomore pitcher Eli Higgins and second-team sophomore catcher Paxton Pyle.

Harrisburg senior DH/utility Ike DeMuth and Westran senior catcher Cooper Harvey were also Class 2 first-team honorees. Fayette junior DH/utility Payton Oeth and Harrisburg senior infielder Bryce Ott were named to the second team, and Van-Far senior infielder Carson Huff and senior DH/utility Reece Culwell received honorable mention notice.

Miller sophomore pitcher Jase Wilkinson was named the Class 2 player of the year. The left-hander helped the Cardinals to their first state championship in program history and has drawn interest from Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Oral Roberts.

Fatima placed five players on the Class 3 all-state list after winning the state championship. Senior DH/utility Brody Kleffner, junior pitcher Blake Kliethermes and junior catcher Colton Scheulen were named to the first team, while senior infielder Glenn Berhorst and sophomore DH/utility Bryce Wieberg were named to the second team.

South Callaway senior pitcher Tucker Jones and senior infielder Ethan Edwards as well as Warsaw senior DH/utility Kendall Bagley were honorable mention selections. Lone Jack senior pitcher and Wichita State signee Ethan Rogers was the Class 3 player of the year.

Tolton led the local Class 4 contingent with four all-staters after finishing fourth in the state tournament. Senior infielder and Saint Louis signee Lucas Wietholder was a first-team selection, senior outfielder Matthew States was picked to the second team, and senior outfielder Karter Ball and junior infielder Carter Henke received honorable mention notice.

Boonville senior pitcher Evan Bishop and Moberly senior infielder Jackson Engel were also first-team honorees. Blair Oaks senior catcher Nolan Laughlin, Fulton senior pitcher Ethan Millius, Moberly junior outfielder Kyler Fanning and Southern Boone senior DH/utility Brayden Beckmann and freshman infielder Nolan Ash were also named to the second team. Blair Oaks sophomore pitcher Wyatt Libbert and sophomore DH/utility Vander Halford, Eldon sophomore infielder Drew Hinds, Fulton senior catcher Justin Case and Moberly senior pitcher Cade Bohm were honorable mention selections.

St. Charles West senior DH/utility Brenan Goering was named the Class 4 player of the year.

Jefferson City had four seniors make the Class 5 list, headlined by the first-team battery of catcher Jackson Koch and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and Arkansas signee Jordan Martin. Pitcher Ethan Lipp and infielder Mason Wall were second-team selections.

Camdenton senior DH/utility and Wichita State signee Karson Durnin was also picked to the first team, and Helias senior outfielder Cam Hoelscher received honorable mention notice. Platte County junior infielder Brennan McLaughlin was tabbed the Class 5 player of the year after helping the Pirates to the state championship.

Rock Bridge paced the local Class 6 contingent with three second-team seniors: outfielder Will Kimes, pitcher Jake Musick and catcher Crew Norden. Hickman junior infielder Jackson Shults and Rolla junior outfielder Colton Petersmith — a Nebraska commit — and junior DH/utility Jenson Thomas were also second-team honorees. Kewpies senior pitcher and Evansville signee Tanner Graham was an honorable mention selection.

Staley senior DH/utility Brody Irlbeck was named the Class 6 player of the year. The Iowa signee allowed just three earned runs all season and had a stretch of 55 consecutive scoreless innings, finishing 11-0 with a 0.27 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 104 strikeouts. He also hit .347 with 19 extra-base hits and 38 RBI for the Falcons, who finished as the Class 6 runners-up.

SHELBY — Several Shelby students are helping make a difference in their district and community.

The high school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter organized numerous events for students this past school year, including a distracted driving program and a veterans appreciation night.

Shelby High School FCCLA members Olivia Byrd and Sophie Penn presented achievements from 2024-2025 to the Shelby Board of Education during Monday’s meeting. Kelly Jung, FCCLA advisor, was also in attendance.

“I think it’s extremely valuable for them to have the opportunities that they have through FCCLA,” Jung said.

Shelby FCCLA was awarded a $1,200 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office to assist with the distracted driving event, Penn said.

Weeks prior to the event, students created one-of-a-kind cars out of cardboard boxes donated by Shelby’s Carton Service. Staff at Shelby voted on the four top designs, which earned a spot in a race around the high school gymnasium.

Each lap of the race was completed by a different student, who had to complete a different distracted driving task — including eating, makeup and hair, texting and drunk driving.

The event included a powerful message from school resource officer Hannah Hall.

Shelby High School FCCLA member Olivia Byrd presents to the Shelby Board of Education on Monday night. Credit: Hayden Gray

Honor our Heroes Night

Byrd said the chapter also organized an “Honor our Heroes Night” during a home Shelby football game last fall.

Prior to the game, all Shelby High School students were invited to write messages on American flags — which were later displayed near the entrance of the Whippet Athletic Complex.

The FCCLA also welcomed veterans and their families to a pregame tailgate, she said.

“We raised $900 and bought a POW (prisoners of war) chair, which is being installed this summer and we will have a dedication for it Sept. 19,” Byrd said.

.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title{font-size: 1.2em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta{display: flex;flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;margin-top: 0.5em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta{font-size: 0.8em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar{height: 25px;width: 25px;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail{margin: 0;margin-bottom: 0.25em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail img{height: auto;width: 100%;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail figcaption{margin-bottom: 0.5em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles p{margin: 0.5em 0;}

Accessibility to menstrual products

In early March, Byrd said she met with Shelby Superintendent Michael Browning to discuss access to menstrual products in district bathrooms.

When Ohio lawmakers passed House Bill 33 in 2023, included legislation made it a requirement for districts to provide free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms for grades six through 12.

Byrd surveyed Shelby middle and high school students to learn more about their thoughts on what is available to them at school.

She found that 90 percent of respondents said they struggle to find feminine hygiene products and 85 percent said having access to these products would help them return to their class more quickly.

Kim Nadolsky, vice president of the Shelby Board of Education, said she liked the survey Byrd conducted and specified its value to district students.