High School Sports
Who's the best? Vote now for the top Arkansas high school softball stars of 2025
As the home stretch of the high school softball season in Arkansas is winding down, we decided to take a look at some of the state’s best performers so far from the 2025 season. We have 25 of them here. We’ve included captions on each player and we’re asking you to read up on each […]


As the home stretch of the high school softball season in Arkansas is winding down, we decided to take a look at some of the state’s best performers so far from the 2025 season. We have 25 of them here. We’ve included captions on each player and we’re asking you to read up on each of them and then cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of the page to let us know who you think deserves to be considered the best.
From players who are batting over .750 nearly 30 games into the season to a pitcher who has 250 strikeouts and hasn’t allowed an earned run all season, The Natural State is brimming with talent. The future remains bright, too, as our list below features 18 underclassmen and seven seniors.
Please note this is not a ranking of our overall top 25 players for Arkansas. You may vote as many times as you like, and you are encouraged to share this poll. Voting ends Sunday, May 25 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
Disclaimer: Voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams. Unless expressly noted, there are no awards for winning the voting. Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll. You may vote as many times as you’d like and are encouraged to share our polls with others.
Emmarie Blackwell, soph., Little Rock Central
In 21 games this season, Blackwell leads the Lady Tigers with a .556 batting average (30-for-54) with six doubles, three triples, three home runs and 27 RBI. Blackwell gets on base at a .684 clip with 13 walks and only four strikeouts on her resume. She is also tied for the team lead with 26 stolen bases.
Ashtyn Bradley, soph., Walnut Ridge
Bradley has literally had her hand involved in all 15 of the Lady Bobcats’ wins. The star pitcher for Walnut Ridge (15-5), Bradley is 15-1 on the mound with a sparkling 1.15 ERA. A two-sport standout who also plays basketball, Bradley isn’t just slick with a crossover on the court. She has also crossed up batters by the bushel, racking up 195 strikeouts through 122 innings in the pitcher’s circle while holding opponents to a .135 average.
Rylee Brown, fr., Sloan-Hendrix (Imboden)
The Natural State has some talented freshmen showing out this year and Brown has been one of the best. A two-sport star who also plays guard for the Lady Greyhounds basketball team, Brown’s athleticism shines on the diamond where she already has 55 stolen bases in 24 games. Batting leadoff and playing third, she’s hitting .589 (43-for-73) with six home runs, five doubles, two triples, 22 RBI and has scored 38 runs.
Emma Buckner, soph., Des Arc
She bats leadoff but don’t let it fool you; Buckner has plenty of pop in her bat. She’s also a fine defender (.982 fielding) who contributes at multiple positions, racking up 38 putouts, 16 assists, two double plays and only one error while splitting time on the infield, in the outfield and at pitcher. At the dish Buckner has four home runs, 12 doubles and a triple with 16 RBI while slashing .534/.620/.983/1.603.
Linly Chapman, jr., Fayetteville
Chapman packs the power in Fayetteville’s potent lineup. Among the state’s leaders in home runs, Chapman has hit nine in 26 games so far this season while helping the Lady Bulldogs to a 16-11-2 record. She carries a .442 batting average with six doubles, 35 RBI and has scored 31 runs.
Mya Foster, jr., Heber Springs
A versatile athlete who can play a variety of positions while swinging an impact bat, Foster has been a force in the middle of Heber Springs’ lineup all year. Through 26 games, Foster is batting .500 (40-for-80) with 12 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 40 RBI. The Lady Panthers are 19-7.
Makenzie Freeman, sr., Hackett
Freeman is a two-way impact star for the Lady Hornets. She’s handled the pitching duties for Hackett this season, going 23-3 inside the pitcher’s circle with a sparkling 1.99 ERA in 126 innings, scattering 74 hits and 27 earned runs with 187 strikeouts and only 21 walks. Batting in the middle of Hackett’s potent offense, Freeman has helped herself to a .613 batting average (46-for-75) in 26 games with 15 doubles, two triples and 42 RBI.
Harley Grammer, soph., DeWitt
In her first game this season Grammer went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and 7 RBI, and she hasn’t stopped raking since. The starter at second base who hits third in the Dragonettes’ lineup, the sophomore also turned a 9-RBI performance in another blowout win this season and is batting .574 (39-for-68) with 11 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 45 RBI and has scored 45 runs in 23 games. She is coming off a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles an RBI and three runs scored in a blowout win over Drew Central on May 2.
Kirsten Holt, jr., Lonoke
One of two Lady Jackrabbits on this list, Holt is off to a fantastic start. She’s batting .569 through her first 25 games and is slashing .684/1.155/1.839. She has collected 13 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 37 RBI and scored 31 runs. Opponents don’t like pitching to her, as she’s drawn 26 walks and only struck out once in 90 plate appearances. Defensively, the first baseman carries a .966 fielding percentage with 132 putouts, 10 assists and seven double plays with five errors.
Shaniya Jackson, fr., Lonoke
Starting at shortstop and batting leadoff for 17-7 Lonoke, it’s safe to say the Lady Jackrabbits like what they see from the young freshman. Setting the table for the team’s offense, Jackson’s average sits at .566 (47-for-83) through her first 25 games with 11 doubles, five triples and one home run with 19 RBI. With only two strikeouts on her resume, Jackson has drawn 16 walks, swiped 13 bases and scored 39 runs.
Madison Kellar, soph., Pottsville
Who needs doubles and triples when you can just hit dingers? That seems to be the stance Kellar has taken at the plate this season. She has 13 extra-base hits in 22 games and 11 of them are home runs. She is currently batting .500 (30-for-60) with two doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBI. She’s drawn 25 walks, including 11 in her last three games, and has struck out only twice all year.
Emma King, sr., Bauxite
The Lady Miners are off to an 18-11 start and King has packed quite a punch in the middle of their lineup. Batting third and playing third most days, King has played in 30 games in 2025, batting .488 (42-for-86) with 12 home runs, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 40 RBI and she has scored 33 runs.
Abi Koppein, sr., Mena
The Ladycats are off to a 16-4 start thanks in large part to Koppein’s dominance in the circle this year. It takes some tough luck to have three losses pinned on you despite a sub-1.00 ERA, but Koppein is 12-3 with a 0.84 ERA in 18 appearances this season. She piles up the strikeouts, punching out 164 batters so far with 40 walks in 97.1 innings. She has surrendered 54 hits and 35 runs, but only nine of those runs have been earned.
Kaylee McDonald, jr., Des Arc
It’s hard to quantify how dominant Kaylee McDonald is in the pitching circle. Coming off a year in which she struck out 346 and walked only 21 in 150.2 innings, McDonald is on pace to strike out 354 this year. She already leads the state with 229 strikeouts and has walked only 18 in 97.1 innings across 18 appearances while helping the Lady Eagles to a 16-7 record. McDonald has surrendered only 43 hits and 26 runs (nine earned) and opponents are batting .123 against her. At the plate she’s batting .482 with three home runs and three doubles.
Gracee McGuire, sr., Tuckerman
Splitting time at catcher and third base, McGuire has helped guide the Lady Bulldogs to a 24-5 start this season. She’s tops on the team with a .538 average while also slashing .589/1.677/1.088. With 49 hits in 91 at-bats, she’s clubbed 11 home runs, 12 doubles and one triple with 52 RBI and has stolen eight bases. Despite moving around, her defense hasn’t suffered any. She’s got a .987 fielding percentage with two errors in 149 chances. In 83 innings behind the plate, she’s caught 8-of-18 runners who have attempted to steal a base on her.
Myah McNutt, fr., Cotter
The ace of Cotter’s staff, McNutt has helped the Lady Warriors get out to a 15-5 start in her maiden voyage into varsity softball. Seemingly getting better as the season wears on, McNutt is 10-3 with a 1.88 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts). In 67 innings she has struck out 138 of the 293 batters she’s faced while allowing only 37 hits and 18 earned runs. She has stranded 64 runners, sports a 1.224 WHIP and opponents are batting just .170 against her.
Lillie-Faye McWhorter, sr., Woodlawn
McWhorter is having a whopper of a season for Woodlawn. It’s no surprise the Lady Bears are 28-4 with a player like her in tow. A two-way star, McWhorter has pitched in 23 games this season and is 20-0 inside the pitcher’s circle with a perfect 0.00 ERA. Yes, that’s correct. In 108 innings this season, McWhorter has not given up a single earned run while notching 250 strikeouts and just 30 walks. McWhorter has given up only 14 hits and nine unearned runs all year. She’s also been strong at the plate, where she’s batting .474 with five home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 32 RBI while drawing 21 walks, striking out only six times and scoring 16 runs in 32 games.
Sarena Myers, fr., Hector
While most players need a little time to adjust to the varsity level, Myers has hit the ground running in her first 15 varsity games. The freshman has handled all of Hector’s pitching duties and has helped her own cause in a big way. The young star is batting .630, with six home runs, nine doubles, four triples and 27 RBI while scoring 33 runs. She’s reached base safely 70.7% of the time and is a perfect 24-for-24 on stolen-base attempts. Her OPS is 2.098 and she’s slugging 1.391. In the circle she’s 10-3 with a 4.40 ERA, already racking up 150 strikeouts with only 28 walks on 73 hits in 76.1 innings.
Violet Nguyen, jr., Fayetteville
Fayetteville has a pair of sluggers helping pace its potent offense this season in Nguyen and Anniston Reith. In 26 games so far, Nguyen is batting .456 (31-for-68) with six home runs, 11 doubles, three triples and 33 RBI. Nguyen has a knack for getting on base, as she has also drawn 13 walks and scored 31 runs.
Anniston Reith, sr., Fayetteville
The thunder to Violet Nguyen’s lightning in Fayetteville’s lineup, Reith is also having a tremendous season at the plate. Like Nguyen, Reith has also played in 26 games so far this season where she’s batting .418 (28-for-67) with 11 home runs, seven doubles, 39 RBI and has scored 19 runs.
Bethany Roper, jr., White Hall
The Lady Bulldogs are off to a 20-10-1 start this season and Roper has been the straw that stirs the offense’s drink. She leads the team with a .548 average through 28 games (40-for-73) with 12 doubles, two triples and five home runs. She’s driven in 27 runs and scored 21 times while slashing .642/973/1.615. She’s also made 16 appearances on the mound and is 0-0 with a 1.68 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 19 walks in 79 innings.
Ainsley Tippen, sr., Perryville
Tippen is having a strong senior campaign for the Lady Mustangs. Through 21 starts she is 14-4 with three no-decisions and a 2.23 ERA. Tippen is holding opponents to a .155 average while surrendering 35 earned runs on 62 hits while racking up 202 strikeouts with 53 walks in 109.2 innings. The veteran is also third on the team in batting with a .453 average, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Kallie Thornton, jr., Melbourne
It can’t be fun standing in the box against Kallie Thornton. She’s tough on opposing hitters, holding them to a .154 average this year. In 21 starts she’s gone 17-4 with a 1.18 ERA, striking out 195 batters and walking 33 while surrendering 64 hits and 19 earned runs in 112.1 innings. She’s been credited with 19 complete games, six shutouts, four no-hitters and one perfect game. She’s also batting .339 (21-for-62) at the plate.
Kendall Watson, jr., Malvern
Watson has been a one-woman wrecking crew for Malvern. She’s batting .742 (49-for-66) in 23 games this season. She has crushed 14 home runs and has eight doubles, four triples and 57 RBI. Watson has drawn 18 walks and struck out only twice in 86 plate appearances. She gets on base at a .774 clip, slugs 1.609 and carries a 2.383 OPS. She’s stolen 11 bases and on defense has 22 putouts, 23 assists and two double plays without an error. She can pitch, too. She’s 13-3 in the circle in 22 appearances with a 3.72 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 87 innings.
Bristen Wheeler, soph., Tuckerman
Tuckerman is 25-5 to start the season and Wheeler is having a monster year. Batting cleanup and playing the hot corner for the Lady Bulldogs this season, Wheeler has played in 30 games so far and is batting .500 (46-for-92) with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 54 RBI this season. She has scored 42 runs and stole 11 bases with an OPS of 1.615 while slugging 1.076.
High School Sports
Helping student athletes with annual Memorial Mile
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Members of the Lansing community gathered at Everett High School on Sunday for the 2nd annual Memorial Mile. The Memorial Mile is a competitive run or walk that loops around the school’s campus to help raise money for the track and field equipment for the Lansing school district. Claude Thomas, who’s […]


LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Members of the Lansing community gathered at Everett High School on Sunday for the 2nd annual Memorial Mile.
The Memorial Mile is a competitive run or walk that loops around the school’s campus to help raise money for the track and field equipment for the Lansing school district.
Claude Thomas, who’s Lansing Everett’s track and field Head coach, said it was nice to see everyone having a good time.
“Everybody’s in a happy, jovial mood,” said Thomas. “A lot of people here know each other, friends, and they get to get together again and have a nice one-mile run.”
Plans for next year’s run are already in the works.
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High School Sports
Knicks vs. Pacers score, live updates
That last Aaron Nesmith 3 is one of the reasons Tyrese Haliburton is one of the best transition players in the league. Usually, we think about pure speed when it comes to the break, the ability to get yourself or your teammates a layup or a dunk instantly. However, with Karl-Anthony Towns standing in his […]

That last Aaron Nesmith 3 is one of the reasons Tyrese Haliburton is one of the best transition players in the league. Usually, we think about pure speed when it comes to the break, the ability to get yourself or your teammates a layup or a dunk instantly.
However, with Karl-Anthony Towns standing in his way — and with four fouls, making him an inviting target to attack — Haliburton pulled the ball out, with the Knicks sprinting back to help control the paint. Nesmith was the uncovered trailer, and Haliburton got him an open look. Sometimes the right decision is waiting a beat, and nobody makes the right decision on the move more often than Haliburton.
GO FURTHER
WATCH: How Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton breaks the conventions of basketball
High School Sports
Sports gives both fans and participants shot at greatness
A look back at highlights and stories of a captivating year in high school sports FARMINGTON – Journalists, particularly those who cover sports, are not supposed to show favoritism for one team over another. As an old-school journalist, who was trained by a father who was an old-school journalist, I learned that lesson early. As […]


A look back at highlights and stories of a captivating year in high school sports
FARMINGTON – Journalists, particularly those who cover sports, are not supposed to show favoritism for one team over another.
As an old-school journalist, who was trained by a father who was an old-school journalist, I learned that lesson early. As a teenager and young adult who got his start writing about a sport entrenched in gambling, it was a hard lesson to remember.
Some 40 years later and I’m still a fan of sports, maybe more so now because I’ve seen so many of them, but my appreciation for the sport comes from a different angle.
I enjoy the ability to tell stories of things most people don’t get a chance to see. The games that might appear to have little if any impact on the outside world, but for a fanbase of a team or a supporter of a spot in the four corners in the middle of nowhere, they carry an enormous weight.
Being a new head coach of a high school team comes with it a great deal of responsibilities, not the least of which is knowing the team and the community around the team.
Sometimes, the community rallies around the coach. Other times, the coach finds himself the odd man out.
Nic Williams, hired just months earlier to take the reins as the head coach of the Aztec High football team, didn’t make it to the opening weekend of the prep football season. For reasons that still remain unexplained, the Tigers season was upended before it ever started, resulting in a winless campaign that hasn’t occurred in that town in nearly 40 years.
Mark Teel took over the head coaching duties of a Navajo Prep boys basketball team coming off a Class 3A state championship just a few months prior. And while the team ultimately fell short of repeating as state champions, there was a lot of pride from those players who left it all on the court as the season progressed.
One of my favorite games to cover during this recently completed high school sports year was a boys basketball game at Bronco Arena when freshman Kollin Brady capped off a Kirtland Central rally with a 3-point shot at the buzzer as the Broncos topped District 1-4A rival Aztec 56-53.
That win was the first of a four-game win streak within the district that seemed to give first-year head coach Isaiah Valdez a much-needed boost on a season that desperately needed one.
Bloomfield High School’s football team, led by an impressive performance from junior Peyton Duncan, earned their second Class 4A state title in three years. While the win was impressive enough, so was the massive turnout from fans of both teams on a chilly Thanksgiving weekend afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.
The game of the year in prep sports was one in which a local team came up a bit short, but it provided spectators, fans and writers alike a chance to see a truly fun event.
Junior running back Josh Manuelito scored five touchdowns and ran for 266 yards as the Piñon (Arizona) Eagles scored twice in the fourth quarter on the road to top Navajo Prep at home by a final of 36-32.
Despite having a 4-point lead with 9:32 to go in the final quarter, Navajo Prep allowed Piñon to run more than seven minutes off the clock before Manuelito scored to secure the victory.
Moments like those, when captured under a few towers of moderately bright lights, serve as reminders of why journalists do what we do.
Tell a story. Don’t become the storyteller.
At least that’s what one old-school journalist taught his son 40 years ago.
That’s all.
High School Sports
Class B/C state track and field highlights and results
The Montana Class B and C state track meet showcased impressive performances from athletes across the state. Cathleen Doisher SWX Local Sports Reporter MISSOULA, Mont. – Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition. Avery Gerdes from Huntley […]


The Montana Class B and C state track meet showcased impressive performances from athletes across the state.
MISSOULA, Mont. – Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition.
Avery Gerdes from Huntley Project clinched the girls 800 meters title with a time of 2:13.77, outpacing Choteau’s Natalie Hodgkiss and Loyola’s Ireland Johnston. In the boys 800 meters, Auston Schellig of Joliet secured victory, finishing in 1:53.79.
Shelbi Labrie from Whitewater dominated the girls 1600 meter race, winning in 5:10.02. TJ Chirrick from Roberts and Addi Lilyquist from Granite followed with silver and bronze, respectively.
Shaphan Hubner of Manhattan Christian took the boys 1600 meters, crossing the line first in 4:35.19. Prestyn Klatt and Trent Lane completed the podium.
In field events, Addyson Deal from Thompson Falls won the Class B girls javelin with a throw of 125 feet, 10 inches. Brynn Kammerzell of C-J-I claimed the Class C high jump, and Broadwater’s Kaitlyn Noyes excelled in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 10.75 inches.
Dane Grammer from C-J-I triumphed in the boys shot put, while Lustre Christian’s Johnslee Pierre dominated the long jump.
Red Lodge senior Nolan Evenson highlighted the meet by breaking the all-time Class B pole vault record. “Oh it feels great. I mean the perfect capstone to end high school,” Evenson said.
On Saturday, Jefferson’s Luke Oxarart took gold in the Class B shot put, and Fort Benton’s girls 4×100 relay team set a new Class C record. Loyola’s girls relay team won the Class B title.
Athletes from across Montana gathered in Missoula for the 2025 Class B and C State Track Meet, delivering impressive performances over two days of competition.
Valley Christian captured the Class C boys 4×100, while Columbus won Class B. In hurdles, Jolee Klempel and Allison Gama claimed titles in their respective classes.
Jefferson’s Landon Richards won the Class B high jump, and sprinters Cambry Conradsen and Kaimea Dalke achieved multiple wins in their events.
Henry Kukowski and Trizten Avila swept the boys 100 and 200 in their classes, with Avila also winning the 400. In the triple jump, Brynne Hill and Ethan Stack took top honors in their categories.
Loyola swept both Class B team titles, while Manhattan Christian’s boys and Richey-Lambert’s girls won in Class C. The meet concluded with remarkable performances and personal bests from Montana’s top small-school athletes.
Track and Field first place finishers:
CLASS B BOYS
– 100 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 11.24
– 200 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 22.00
– 400 M, Trizten Avilia, Superior, 50.05
– 800 M, Auston Schellig, Joilet, 1:53.79
– 1600 M, Auston Schellig, Joilet, 4:24.35
– 3200 M, Kyler Harris, Florence-Carlton, 9:34:08
– 110M Hurdles, Jackson Kuiken, Loyola, 15.36
– 300M Hurdles, Caleb Stosich, Sweet Grass, 39.55
– 4×100 Relay, Columbus, 43.43
– 4×400 Relay, Fairview, 3:25.01
– Shot Put, Luke Oxarart, Jefferson, 48-07.50
– Discus, Ryan Sharbono, St. Ignatius, 165-05
– Javelin, Jesse Day, Lincoln County, 180-11
– High Jump, Landon Richards, Superior, 6-06
– Pole Vault, Nolan Evenson, Red Lodge, 15-00
– Long Jump, Carson Nissen, Chinook, 21-05.25
– Triple Jump, Ethan Stack, Loyola, 44-03.75
CLASS B GIRLS
– 100 M, Kaimea Dalke, Shepherd, 12.40
– 200 M, Kaimea Dalke, Shepherd, 25.33
– 400 M, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 56.52
– 800 M, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 2:13.78
– 1600 M, Natalie Hodgskiss, Choteau, 5:08.68
– 3200 M, Kyla Meissner, Broadwater, 11:19.17
– 100M Hurdles, Allison Gama, Loyola, 14.80
– 300M Hurdles, Sophia Berry, Loyola, 45.05
– 4×100 Relay, Loyola, 49.01
– 4×400 Relay, Loyola, 4:03.20
– Shot Put, Denvyr Tuss, Malta, 37-08.25
– Discus, Alexis Deming, Plains, 128-09
– Javelin, Addyson Deal, Thompson Falls, 125-10
– High Jump, Allison Gama, Loyola, 4-04
– Pole Vault, Ava Krings, Conrad 10-03
– Long Jump, Kaitlyn Noyes, Broadwater, 17-10.75
– Triple Jump, Avery Gerdes, Huntley Project, 37-00
CLASS C BOYS
– 100 M, Henry Kukowski, Plentywood, 11.29
– 200 M, Henry Kukowski, Plentywood, 22.29
– 400 M, Brayden McCoy, Valley Christian, 49.87
– 800 M, Shaphan Hubner, Manhattan Christian, 1:56.63
– 1600 M, Shaphan Hubner, Manhattan Christian, 4:35.19
– 3200 M, Dawson Parke, Drummond, 10:11.40
– 110M Hurdles, David Chapman, Hot Springs, 14.80
– 300M Hurdles, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 39.55
– 4×100 Relay, Valley Christian, 43.98
– 4×400 Relay, Manhattan Christian, 3:26.93
– Shot Put, Dane Grammar, CJI, 47-11
– Discus, Dane Grammar, CJI, 157-11
– Javelin, Layne Duncan, Custer-Hysham, 170-11
– High Jump, Ricky Williams, Noxon, 9-09.25
– Pole Vault, Tanner Vick, Power-Dutton, 14-00
– Long Jump, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 21-11
– Triple Jump, Johnslee Pierre, Lustre Christian, 44-05.75
CLASS C GIRLS
– 100 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 12.64
– 200 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 25.64
– 400 M, Cambry Conradsen, Savage, 59.17
– 800 M, TJ Chirrick, Roberts, 2:19.18
– 1600 M, Shelbi LaBrie, Whitewater, 5:10.02
– 3200 M, Shelbi LaBrie, Whitewater, 12:03.78
– 100M Hurdles, Jolee Klempel, Richey-Lambert, 15.50
– 300M Hurdles, Ali Doyle, Turner, 45.26
– 4×100 Relay, Fort Benton, 49.82
– 4×400 Relay, Belt, 4:10.10
– Shot Put, Kaytie Aanstad, Scobey, 42-00
– Discus, Lillian Boyd, Seeley-Swan, 147-09
– Javelin, Kennedy Simonson, Whitewater, 124-02
– High Jump, Brynn Kammerzell, CJI, 5-04
– Pole Vault, Mylee Reuter, Savage, 10-06
– Long Jump, Montannah Piar, Granite, 17-09.50
– Triple Jump, Brynne Hill, Richey Lambert, 35-11.75
CLASS B STATE TITLE CHAMPIONS
– Boys, Loyoola, 58
– Girls, Loyola, 95
CLASS C STATE TITLE CHAMPIONS
– Boys, Manhattan Christian, 75
– Girls, Richey-Lambert, 52
High School Sports
Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams Win River City Rivals Meet – May 24th
The Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams won the River City Rivals Meet held on Saturday May 24th at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Competing were teams from Bangor, Brewer, Edward Little and Lewiston. The Girl’s Team Results were 1 – Bangor – 192 Tied 2 – Brewer and Lewiston – […]

The Bangor Girls and Lewiston Boys Track & Field Teams won the River City Rivals Meet held on Saturday May 24th at Edward Little High School in Auburn.
Competing were teams from Bangor, Brewer, Edward Little and Lewiston.
The Girl’s Team Results were
- 1 – Bangor – 192
- Tied 2 – Brewer and Lewiston – 115
- 4. – Edward Little – 88
To see all the individual Girl’s events CLICK HERE
The Boy’s Team Results were
- Lewiston – 203
- Bangor – 128
- Edward Little – 116
- Brewer – 98
To see all the individual Boy’s events CLICK HERE
Congratulations to the following athletes who won multiple events
- Lauren Vanidestine – Brewer – 1st in 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash
- Jenni Flynn – Lewiston – 1st in 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles
- Josia Katroli – Lewiston – 1st in Long Jump and High Jump
- Ryker Paradis – Lewiston -1st in Shop Put and Discus Throw.
Nominations for the Athlete of the Week are now open for performances May 19– May 24. Please email your nomination to chris.popper@townsquaremedia.com, letting us know why the individual should be the Athlete of the Week. Please include stats, and make sure you indicate what school this individual attends, and what sport they’re playing! All nominations should be received by Sunday, May 25th. Voting for Week 6 will take place May 26th -29th with the winner being announced on Friday, May 30th.

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Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell
High School Sports
Twelve athletes set to enter Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame
Jeffrey Craig (SUBMITTED) Kristin Stretanski (SUBMITTED) Stu Marvin (Submitted) Mayerski (SUBMITTED) Stefanie Williams Moreno (Submitted) Sara Myers (Submitted) Dave Shimshock (SUBMITTED) Simonitis (Submitted) O’Malley Watts (SUBMITTED) Monica Wignot (Submitted) Ziolkowski (Submitted) Show Caption 1 of 11 Jeffrey Craig (SUBMITTED) Expand A dozen of the finest athletes will be honored with enshrinement into the Luzerne County […]

A dozen of the finest athletes will be honored with enshrinement into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame when the organization holds its 41st annual induction banquet Sunday, June 8 at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
The inductees range from Olympic trial and champion swimmers, local and national field hockey luminaries, College World Series players, to volleyball, basketball and football standouts.
Inductees are: Steve Brezna, Hanover Township, Dave Shimshock, Plains Township and John Simonitis, Dallas, for football; Kristin Stretanski DePolo, Malvern, via Kingston; Stefanie Williams Moreno, Atlanta via Bloomsburg; and Stu Marvin, Bloomsburg, all for swimming and coaching.
Also, TJ Ziolkowski, Nanticoke, basketball; Sara B. Myers, Wapwallopen; and Molly O’Malley Watts, Leesburg, Va. via Tunkhannock, field hockey; Dr, Jeffrey Craig, Shavertown; and Chris Mayerski, Dallas, baseball; and the late Monica Wignot, volleyball and basketball.
“This year’s inductees and honorees have performed with distinction on the local, national and international stage,” Jim Martin, hall of fame president, said. “Also being honored are individuals that write stories with pictures, beat the odds of physical limitations, and create a safe space for children to thrive and develop. These individuals are Frank Lauri, Chris McGavin and the late Anthony ‘Cooper’ Blaskiewicz.”
Festivities begin at 3 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 4 and induction of nominees. Tickets are $70 for adults and $25 for children. Children 2-and-under are free. Tickets and program advertisements are only available through the organization’s website.
Steve Brezna
Brezna was a standout in three sports at Hanover High School — football, wrestling and baseball.
In football and baseball he earned all-conference honors as a senior while in wrestling he was a District 2 champion at 180 pounds as a junior and runner-up as a senior at heavyweight.
It was his play on the gridiron which would elevate him to the next level.
Penn State, then under legendary coach Rip Engle, was in pursuit of his talent and sent his assistant coach — Joe Paterno — to Hanover Township to lure him to Happy Valley. Engle would soon retire and Paterno would take over en route to a historic career.
After a redshirt year as a true freshman, Brezna returned and played on the Lions’ freshman team and the following year became the team’s punter. His junior and senior seasons (1968-69) would see the Nittany Lions go undefeated and play in back-to-back Orange Bowls.
Following graduation, Brezna returned to the area and began a teaching and coaching career at Hanover Area High School. He assisted Jim Moran in football and John Carr in wrestling and was the head coach of the Hawkeyes baseball team which won division titles in 1973 and 1974.
Jeffrey Craig
Craig experienced a stellar scholastic and collegiate career in baseball.
Now the director of special education in the Tunkhannock Area School District, Craig is a graduate of the former Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre. He was a three-time All-Conference selection and earned the Most Valuable Player recognition in the conference in 2002. He was the key player in the Argents three WVC championships and a pair of District 2 crowns (2002-03).
He took his talent to Kutztown University where he was instrumental in the Golden Bears’ three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles that included a Mid-Atlantic Region championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2007.
He was named a PSAC all-star three straight seasons and, as a senior, was selected as Kutztown’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He also was named an Academic All-American by ESPN Magazine.
Craig remains in the Golden Bears’ record book with a top 10 showing in the following: career batting average (6th,.367); hits (4th, 211); RBI (6th, 136); doubles (4th, 48); home runs (7th, 17); and total bases (4th, 318). He also holds 10 single-season records: hits 73 in 2005 and 71 in RBI 55 in 2007) and 53 in 2996; doubles 17 in 2005; home runs, 9 in 2006) and total bases 113 (’06); 103 (’07) and 102 (05).
He received his masters and doctoral degrees in education from Wilkes University and resides in Shavertown with his wife Kate and four children.
Kristin Stretanski DePolo
Stretanski DePolo is one of the all-time greats in swimming in Northeast Pennsylvania.
From an age-group national qualifier at the Greater Wilkes-Barre YMCA to Villanova University, all Stretanski has done is win, including being the first swimmer in the state to become an eight-time champion at that level.
At Wyoming Valley West High School, she powered the unbeaten Lady Spartans to championships in the Wyoming Valley Swim League and District 2 all four years. At the District 2 championships she went undefeated in 16 events and her 1994 time of 24.03 time in the 50-meter freestyle still stands.
Stretamski went on to attend Villanova where, as a member of the 200 freestyle relay, qualified for the NCAA Championships. She was part of three relay teams (200, 400 and 800) which won Big East Conference titles. She also was named to the Academic All-American team all four years.
Stu Marvin
Marvin’s presence in five halls of fame sums up his swimming contributions in one word: extraordinary.
At Bloomsburg University, he was the Huskies’ first triple All-American award winner in 1975 and repeated it in 1977. He was an 11-time All-American while winning five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles. He set six PSAC records and upon graduation held six BU records. He was an Athlete of the Year three times and was inducted into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
In addition to the Bloomsburg Hall, he also is enshrined in the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame, Broward County Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Upper Dublin High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Florida Gold Coast Masters Hall of Fame.
He took over coaching duties at his alma mater in 2008, holding that post for 15 years. During his tenure, the women’s team achieved a .650 winning percentage in dual meets while the men posted a .613 percentage. They have a combined 13 runner-up finishes at the PSAC Championships and finished as high as 15th at the NCAA Championships.
Under his guidance, the Huskies produced 41 PSAC champions, 109 PSAC All-Conference awards, eight PSAC all-time records and six PSAC meet records – five for the men and one for the women. Marvin won a PSAC title with the men’s team for the first time in program history in 2021 and completed the first undefeated season in 2017. Marvin was named the PSAC Coach of the Year six times.
Chris Mayerski
Mayerski starred on championship teams in the Swoyersville Little League to his time at Wyoming Valley West High School to his time at Wilkes University, where he was one of the most feared hitters in the MAC Freedom Conference.
As a sophomore and junior for the Spartans he was an all-Wyoming Valley Conference second-team selection and was elevated to first team as a senior.
For the Colonels he finished with a .336 batting average and ranks in the top five in multiple offensive categories, including the top spot in home runs (36) and RBI (167). He is second in games played (146), at-bats (518) and total bases (344). He is fourth in hits (173), doubles (41) and triples (11).
He powered the Colonels sweep to the 2007 Freedom Conference championship with seven RBI.
Mayerski was four-time, All-Freedom Conference selection and in 2006 had the 10th best slugging percentage in the nation at .786.
A two-time team captain, he also was an assistant coach with the Colonels.
Stefanie Williams Moreno
Williams Moreno excelled as a swimmer from age-group to coaching at one of the country’s top universities.
Swimming for the Bloomsburg YMCA, she was a three-time national champion and was national record holder in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles and the 100 backstroke. At Bloomsburg High School, she never lost a scholastic race, including the PIAA Championships and powered the Panthers to the 1998 PIAA team title.
She set state records in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles and also was a member of two relay teams, which won state titles.
She took her talents to the University of Georgia where she became a member of a three-time Southeastern Conference and NCAA Championship team, becoming a 28-time All-American. She captured two SEC championships in the 200 free and was an American record holder in the 200 and 400 relay teams and a 10-time SEC champion and four-time NCAA champion on relays. She also was a member of the USA national team that was a silver medalist at the 1999 Pan American Game, 2001 World Championships and 2003 World University Games.
As coach at Georgia, she has continued the Bulldogs swimming success with SEC women’s team titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015, while also winning NCAA team titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016.She was inducted into Georgia’s Circle of Honor, the university’s highest athletic honor.
Sara B. Myers
Myers began making her mark in field hockey at Crestwood High School where she was a three-year starter and helped the Lady Comets to three straight District 2 championships and PIAA playoff berths and was an Academic All-State selection.
She matriculated to Susquehanna University where she was a four-year starter and two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She led Susquehanna to the school’s first NCAA tournament berth, which advanced to the Elite Eight.
She began her coaching career at the University of Scranton and, in her first season, was named Freedom Conference Coach of the Year. She moved to Wilkes University in 2005 and, over a 10-year career, was twice named conference Coach of the Year and made conference playoff appearances in all 10 seasons, including being regionally ranked in 2008 and 2009.
At Wilkes, Myers garnered more than 100 victories and helped develop 36 all-conference players, six rookies of the year and two defensive players of the year.
She is in her third year as head coach at King’s College.
Myers resides at Wapwallopen with her husband Greg and daughters, Allie, Emma and Lane.
Dave Shimshock
Coughlin High School produced a number of great running backs over the decades, players like Joe Cunningham, Joe O’Donnell, Joe Perkowski, Jim Lazarski, Rodney Smith, Baldo Vinciarelli and Matt Walsh.
Dave Shimshock doesn’t take a back seat to those legends.
His football talents were recognized early as he started in the defensive backfield as a sophomore and recorded three interceptions and gained more than 250 yards and scored three touchdowns as a back-up running back.
He was elevated to the role of captain as a junior and was the featured running back with more than 1,000 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns, earning him a first team All-Conference selection.
As a senior, Shimshock led Pennsylvania with more than 2,000 yards rushing — a WVC record that held until Raghib Ismail came on the scene.
Shimshock’s heroics powered the Crusaders to an 11-0 record in the WVC and he was a first-team All-State and Big 33 Game selection. On defense he helped anchor a team which surrendered just 21 points.
Shimshock went to the College of the Holy Cross where he as a sophomore finished with more than 500 rushing yards.
He switched to strong safety as a junior and senior, finishing with four interceptions.
He is a senior wealth advisor at Wilmington Trust/M&T Bank. He and his wife Lisa reside in Plains Township and are the parents of two children and have one grandchild.
John Simonitis
John Simonitis joins a long list of terrific athletes from Dallas High School in the Luzerne County Hall of Fame with his exploits on the gridiron and basketball court.
In basketball, he was a two-time Wyoming Valley Conference first-team selection was was named MVP of both the AAU Basketball Tournament and the Crossin Christmas Holiday Classic.
It was on the gridiron where he made his mark.
Despite not playing football until his sophomore year, he quickly distinguished himself as a guard on offense and a tackle on defense. He was a two-time, first-team WVC selection, and was selected second team all-state as a junior and first team as a senior.
He took his talent to the University of Pittsburgh where, after a redshirt season, he started four seasons, including being named a freshman All-American. He was a team captain his junior and senior seasons and was a Big East All-Conference selection.
Molly O’Malley Watts
O’Malley Watts is one of Tunkhannock Area High School’s all-time greats.
She was a three-sport standout, earning 10 varsity letters, including four each in hockey and track and field.
She powered the Lady Tigers field hockey team to Wyoming Valley Conference titles in 1992 and, in 1994, was an all-state first-team selection along with being named the Most Valuable Player in the WVC.
In track, she captured six District 2 medals, including a gold medal in 1992 in the 800-meter run.
She took her talent to the Ivy League, keying Princeton to a 65-15 record in her four years. That run included three NCAA Final Four appearances, twice advancing to the championship game. She finished her career with 101 goals, tied for 10th all-time. She was a first-team All-American in 1998 and a three-time All-Ivy League selection and was a member of the Team USA Under-23 national team.
She and her husband Andrew, reside in Leesburg, Va., and are the parents of three children.
Monica Wignot
The late Monica Wignot was a two-sport star at both the scholastic and collegiate level.
At Holy Redeemer High School, she was a four-year starter in volleyball and basketball. In volleyball, she was a three-time Player of the Year in the Wyoming Valley Conference. She amassed more than 1,000 kills in leading the Royals to four WVC and District 2 championships and four appearances in the PIAA playoffs.
As a senior she was first in the state in kills and second in hitting and received national recognition by MaxPrep and the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Wignot nearly matched those feats in basketball, twice being named Player the Year and surpassing the 1,000-point milestone. She keyed the Royals to three league championships and one District 2 championship. She was a three-time All-State selection.
She played four seasons at the University of Pittsburgh in volleyball and added basketball as a graduate senior.
She had a career-best 368 kills as a sophomore and, as a junior, was named to the All-Big East second team.
Wignot joined the basketball team as a graduate student. She was the team’s second leading scorer and third leading rebounder. Her 83 blocks set a Pitt season record. The Panthers qualified for the NCAA Championship that year and won their first-round game before being eliminated by Tennessee.
TJ Ziolkowski
TJ Ziolkwski is one of the standout basketball players who, over the last eight decades, graced the hardwood from the Nanticoke Rams to the Greater Nanticoke Area Trojans.
As a two-year starter for GNA, he scored 986 points and is in the top 10 all-time in rebounding. He was a first-team Wyoming Valley Conference selection as a senior.
He attended Luzerne County Community College and became its first player to reach the 1,000-point milestone. His 1,369 career points tops the LCCC record book.
He was twice named to the EPCC All-Conference Team.
Ziolkowski transferred to Wilkes University for his junior and senior years and was a member of the Colonels’ 1998-99 Middle Atlantic Conference team that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament.
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