Big stage, bright stars: Meet the 100 school-by-school Scholar-Athletes for 2024

You won’t find a finer group of young people to represent Kansas City than this year’s KC Star Scholar-Athlete high school award-winners, presented by The Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Royals.

School-by-school honorees are listed here alphabetically by their high schools. Others nominated from each school are also listed. The nominations came from faculty and staff at each of the 100 or so high schools in the KC Star’s circulation area — the Kansas City metro — earlier this year.

School officials were encouraged to nominate as many as three students from their respective institutions. As you read through and come across a school with no additional nominees, that school elected to nominate just one person.

All candidates were reviewed thoroughly and the field was narrowed through three rounds of independent judging by KC Star staffers and prominent members of the community, including players from the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC and KC Current.

Judges reviewed the nominees’ portfolios for athletic and academic prowess, as well as their community service.

BARSTOW

ZOEY HRABE

4.41 GPA on a 4.0 scale. A.P. Scholar with Honor her junior year. Member of both National Honor Society and National Chinese Honor Society. Missouri girls state tennis champion as a sophomore. Four letters in track and field. All-state, all-district and all-conference in pole vault as a junior. Finished second in pole vault in Missouri state track meet as a junior. Will pole vault in college.

College: Occidental.

Also nominated: Aidan Lawlor, Tyler McNeive.

BASEHOR-LINWOOD

EVAN VIELHAUER

3.8 GPA. Ranked 60th in his class of 213. Three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association and USMC Academic All-American. National Wrestling Coaches Association and USMC Character and Leadership Award winner. NWCA and USMC Excellence Award and KWCA All-Academic Award winner as a junior. Four wrestling letters. Three-year team captain. Finished third in state as a senior; 5th as a junior. 132-pound USAWKS state champion as a junior. Won 100 career matches; finished third in school history in wins despite short COVID year. 2024 Kansas state powerlifting champion. Two cross country letters; twice qualified for regionals. Two golf letters. Qualified for state as a junior.

College: Central Missouri.

Also nominated: Harley Baker, Brady VanDonge.

BELTON

PIPER KELTNER

4.22 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked fifth in her class of 356. National Honor Society and student government member. Student council president. HOSA president. FCA member. Four volleyball letters. Three-time academic all-state pick. All-district and all-conference selection. Four swimming letters. Three-time state qualifier; eight individual all-conference honors; four relay all-conference honors. Two-time academic all-state pick, academic all-American. Three track letters. Three-time academic all-state, three all-district honors.

College: U.S. Naval Academy.

Also nominated: None.

BISHOP MIEGE

CARLY KURT

4.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Ranked third in her class of 155. Member of student government and National Honor Society. Executive on Student Leadership Council and National Honors Society vice president. Four basketball letters, captain of team. Member of three Kansas state champion basketball teams. Three letters in lacrosse. Two-time all-metro midfielder. Scored 104 goals in first two seasons. Two tennis letters. Member of third-place team in Kansas state tournament.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: Ava Martin.

BLUE SPRINGS

KADENCE SHEPHERD

3.49 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 99 in her class of 596. Member of student government and National Honor Society. Member of Blue Springs High School Character Builders program in 2022 and 2023. Four softball letters. First-team All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, All-EJC Area, and All-State in 2022 and 2023. Academic All-State player for four years. Holds nine school records. Two track and field letters. Finished third in javelin at Missouri state meet in 2023. First-team all-conference, all-district and all-state in javelin in 2023.

College: Missouri.

Also nominated: Keagan Enicks, Emma Porter.

BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH

MADISON HOFFMAN

4.33 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked 14th in her class of 497. National Honor Society and student government member. 2023 Philanthropist of the Year. Baccalaureate for three years. Three softball letters. All-conference, all-district, all-region for three years; all-state for two years. All-state tournament team for two years. School single-season record holder in triples and walks. One state championship; finished runner-up and third in other two years. National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region pick in 2023. Four track letters. All-state in javelin two years; holds school record in javelin. Two soccer letters.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

BLUE VALLEY

CHANCE RINKOL

4.06 GPA. Founded Red Bags Shootout, raising over $21,000 in three years for foster and at-risk children in Kansas City. Mentor with Watson Links. Community service with Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City. Made a donation to Watson Links for each birdie in 2024 high school golf season to provide opportunities for kids to play golf with a mentor. Four golf letters. Four-time all-state and all-conference selection. Kansas state individual champion in 2021; runner-up in 2022. Member of two state championship teams. Named 2023 Junior Golf Student Athlete of the Year by Midwest PGA. First-team all-American in 2021 and 2023; second-team honors in 2022. AJGA Joplin Junior champion in 2023. Kansas Amateur semifinalist in 2023. Will play golf for the University of Iowa.

College: Iowa.

Also nominated: Ainsley Hileman, Noah Summers.

BLUE VALLEY NORTH

JANELLE GREEN

3.98 GPA. Mentor in Sources of Strength, FCA. Four volleyball letters. Four-time all-academic team. Three-time all-state tournament team. Two time first-team all-conference. Four track letters.

College: Cincinnati.

Also nominated: None.

BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST

JACQUELINE LEE

4.65 GPA on 4.0 scale. Scored 35 on the ACT. National Honor Society Member. Co-founder and three-time president of Asian-American Club. Member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. President of Tri-M National Music Honor Society. U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad semifinalist as a junior. Gold Seal of bi-literacy in English and Chinese. All-state band for three years. Youth Symphony of Kansas City for three years; played at Carnegie Hall. Member of National, Music, Math, Science, Spanish, and English Honor Societies. Three letters in golf. Broke school record for scoring average as a senior. One of 10 girls age 16-18 in the country to play in the Tiger Junior Invitational at Pebble Beach.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: Benjamin Deardorff, Elise Grosdidier.

BLUE VALLEY WEST

ANNIKA FINZEN

4.24 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 91st in her class of 394. Member of Fellowship of Christian Students. Four-time swimming letter winner. Six-time individual Kansas state champion. Holds the Kansas state record in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.37); 100 butterfly (54.36); 200-yard individual medley (2:00.93).

College: Auburn.

Also nominated: Hadley Kelemen, Lydia Ungashick.

BONNER SPRINGS

CADEN CAMPBELL

4.0 GPA. Ranked first in his class of 164. National Honor Society and student government member. Played trombone in band and pep band for three years. 20/20 Leadership Team member. Four cross country letters. Three-time all-league nominee. Two-time state qualifier. Team captain. Member of Brocaw Blazers Cross Country Club. Ran in the National Cross Meet for six years; national champion one year. Four track letters. Three-time first-team all-league; one-time state qualifier. Four baseball letters. Named to first-team all-league one year; second-team another. Team defensive POY. Team heart award. Member of the Building Champions Baseball Club. Will play baseball at Doane University.

College: Doane.

Also nominated: McKenzie Campbell, Addison Hassett.

CRISTO REY

LUCIA FLETCHER

3.56 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 12th in her class of 40. Member of student government. Four letters in volleyball; three letters in soccer.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: Luis Ortiz Segura.

DE SOTO

CARSON MILLER

4.32 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 10th in his class of 244. National Honor Society member and National Merit Finalist. Freshman mentor. Finished in top 10 at 2023 KSU HS coding contest. UKC Math Champion in 2022. Three-year academic letter-winner. Youth basketball official. Volunteered at Harvesters, youth camp, and concessions. Four track letters. Won state title in 2021 4x100 relay; runner-up in 2022 4x100 relay. State medalist in 100 and 200 in 2022. Member of two conference championship teams. School sprinter of year in 2002; newcomer of the year in 2021; teammate of the year in 2023. Three football letters. All-conference first-team in 2023; all-state honorable mention. School offensive POY in 2021. Finished career top-10 in school history in five different categories.

College: Tulsa.

Also nominated: Marisa Johnson, Taya Swarts.

EAST

NATALIA MARTINEZ

3.9 GPA. Ranked fourth in her class. Honor roll all eight semesters of high school. Four volleyball letters. Two-time first-team all-district. Team MVP as a senior. Two soccer letters.

College: Metropolitan C.C.

Also nominated: None.

EUDORA

SYDNEY OWENS

4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked first in her class of 163. National Honor Society member. 2023 Kansas cross country state champion. Four-time cross country letter winner. Member of three state champion cross country teams (2021-2023). Kansas state cross country runner-up in 2020 and 2022. Finished third at state meet in 2021. Four-time all-state team in cross country, three times in track and field. Member of two state-champion 4x800 relay teams.

College: Kansas.

Also nominated: Kole Manley.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS

CHLOE CARLYLE

4.136 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 7th in her class of 166. Member of National Honor Society, student council. Four letters in softball. Three-time academic all-state team. First-team all-conference in 2022, second-team in 2023. Three letters in track and field.

College: Rockhurst.

Also nominated: Jaylenn Hudlemeyer, Zebadiah McBee.

FORT OSAGE

SIDNEY SULLIVAN

4.29 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 11th in her class of 392. Member of National Honor Society and student government. Elected student council president, captain of softball team. Served three years on Youth Advisory Council, state golf choir performance in 2021. Four-time softball letter-winner. Two-time first-team all-conference team. First-team all-district as a senior. Three track and field letters. Three-time first-team all-conference. School record holder in javelin. One wrestling letter.

College: Kansas City Kansas C.C.

Also nominated: Tristan Hinckley, Rylan Mansfield.

GARDNER EDGERTON

JAYDEN GOOD

4.43 GPA. Ranked second in his class. National Honor Society member. Member of All In Blazers, which teaches leadership through community service and outreach. Three baseball letters.

College: Unknown.

Also nominated: None.

GRAIN VALLEY

FINLEY LaFORGE

4.35 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 13th in her class of 350. Member of National Honor Society. Served twice on HOSA (student-led club for future health-science students). Four letters in tennis. Earned all-state and all-district honors all four years. Four-time team captain. Four-time Eastern Jackson County Player of the Year. Four letters in basketball. All-conference honors in 2021.

College: Truman State.

Also nominated: Stylz Blackmon, Annabelle Totta.

GRANDVIEW

DEREK JOINER

3.88 GPA. Ranked 12th in class of 229. National Honor Society and student government member; senior class president. President of FCCLA. Student mentor program; homecoming king. Four football letters. Four-time all conference; three-time all-district, three-time academic all-state. Conference Defensive POY. All-Simone team member. First-team all-state; will play football at the University of Houston. Four track letters. Three-year all-conference; two-year all-district; one-year all-sectional. 2023 Missouri state shotput champion. Three wrestling letters. 2024 Missouri state heavyweight champion. Placed at state three-years; three-time all-district and all-conference.

College: Houston.

Also nominated: None.

HARMON

GABRIEL HERNANDEZ

3.91 GPA on 5.0 scale. Ranked 20th in class of 326. Member of National Honor Society. Completing his construction technology degree while graduating from high school. Two football letters; will play in college. Four baseball letters; second-team all-conference. Two wrestling letters.

College: St. Mary.

Also nominated: Tumusifu Ndagijimana, Christopher Ortiz-Parra.

HARRISONVILLE

MASON MITCHELL

4.28 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked fourth in his class of 194. National Honor Society Member. Three-year FBLA member. Competed in Entrepreneurship and financial math, earning all-district honors. Attended Summit Technology Academy, earning five health-science certifications. Member of Missouri Honors College. Three football letters. Three-time academic all-conference. Two-time team captain; academic all-state in 2023. Three basketball letters. Two-time all-district and academic all-conference. Twice named all-conference player. Finished with more than 1,000 career points. Three baseball letters. One-time all-conference player; twice named academic all-conference.

College: Missouri.

Also nominated: Travis Eddleman, Brooklyn Rhoney.

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN

MADELYN WOLF

101.78 GPA on a 100 scale. First in her class of 45. Member of National Honor Society and student council vice president. Also an HCA Mentor and editor-in-chief of the school yearbook. Four volleyball letters, and member of four Kansas state championship teams. Finished her senior year with 163 kills and 65 aces in 101 sets. Three track and field letters. Was 2023 Kaw Valley Conference champion in javelin, discus and high jump. Finished seventh in javelin in 2023 Kansas state meet. Member of all-conference 4x100 relay team. Two letters in basketball.

College: Kansas Wesleyan.

Also nominated: Anna Schenk, Hannah Thong.

HOGAN PREP

ADELL COLLINS

4.0 GPA. Ranked sixth in his class of 76. Four football letters. All-district player. Two track letters.

College: William Jewell.

Also nominated: DaJuan Barrett, Breiona Marion-Townsend.

KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN

MEGAN DEKKER

4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. National Honor Society member and student council president. Four basketball letters. First-team all-conference honors. Four letters in soccer; first-team all-conference.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: Caleb Bartels.

KEARNEY

JAMES SMITH

4.0 GPA. Ranked second in his class of 228. Earned three soccer letters. Played outside backer on high school team and outside backer and midfielder for his club squad.

College: MSU.

Also nominated: Avery Aller, Emily McDowell.

LANSING

ANYA ANDERSON

4.29 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked fifth in her class of 238. Member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National French Honor Society. Four years on Scholar Bowl team. Band drum major as a senior; concert and jazz band participant. Four cross country letters. Three-time state qualifier. Two-time first-team all-conference. Four track letters. Two-time regional and state qualifier. Four soccer letters. Twice second-team all-conference, nominated for High School Scholar All-American. Three basketball letters. Member of fourth place state team in 2022.

College: Kansas City Kansas C.C.

Also nominated: Ainsley Yoakam.

LAWRENCE

ALEX GORDON-ROSS

4.07 GPA. Ranked 12th in class of 372. Student government member. Member of symphonic band, marching band and wind ensemble. Four letters in soccer, track and swimming.

College: BYU.

Also nominated: Charlee Burghart.

LAWRENCE FREE STATE

RYAN WHITTLESEY

4.0 GPA. Ranked first in his class of 413. National Honor Society and student government member. Member of Student Athletic Leadership Team and LINK Crew. Four cross country letters. Member of state champion team and four regional champion teams. All-area team selection. Four track letters. State qualifier and team regional champion.

College: Kansas.

Also nominated: Grant Lincoln, Gretchen Weinkauf.

LAWSON

JOSEPH MAYNE

4.40 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Ranked first in his class of 78. Participated in student government. Member of Cardinals in Action, Trading Card Senior (mentor), A+ Program, Red Ribbon/Drug Free Senior, Boy Scout of America (Eagle Scout), Cadet Teacher (3 rd grade) and a Boys’ State participant. Four football letters. Four-time academic all-state. All-conference linebacker as a senior. 2023 KMZU Dream Team Defensive Player. Three track letters. Member of 2022 Missouri state championship team. Three-time academic all-state. Two cross country letters. 2021 state qualifier, all-district, and academic all-state

College: BYU.

Also nominated: None.

LEAVENWORTH

SHAWN SULLIVAN

4.0 GPA. Ranked 24th in his class of 285. Member of Boy Scouts, National Honor Society, Jr. ROTC and Jr. ROTC drill team. Was national champion runner-up as individual and team. National Drill Team Camp Instructor. Two-time delegate at Boys State; elected Lt. Governor, selected as a counselor. Three cross country letters. Three-time state qualifier, all-conference. Twice named team captain. Four soccer letters. Team defensive POY, second-team all-conference. Three track letters. Two-time state qualifier; three-time all-conference.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: Eva Clements.

LEE’S SUMMIT

ADRIANA BENASSI

4.32 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked 19th in her class of 423. Member of National Honor Society, DECA, and Spanish Honor Society. Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and English. Four basketball letters. Two-time all-conference and all-district team member. Finished career with more than 1,000 points and nearly 1,000 rebounds. Three soccer letters. First-team all-state, all-region, and all-conference as a senior.

College: UMKC.

Also nominated: Bentley St. John.

LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH

MYAH FRASHIER

4.53 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 4th in her class of 471. National Honor Society member. Student council participant. Four academic letters. Chair holder in local food bank. President of Student Activity Advisory Council. Four swimming letters. Member of all-state and first-team all-conference 200-yard freestyle relay team. Four soccer letters. Member of district and conference champion team as a senior. One tennis letter, member of fourth-place team in Missouri state tournament.

College: Clemson.

Also nominated: Zach Paul, Jackie Siegmeier.

LEE’S SUMMIT WEST

JACKSON TORRY

4.26 GPA. Ranked 23rd in his class of 494. National Honor Society member. Member of Student Activities Advisory Council and Student Business Experience. Three football letters. Two-time first team all-district and all-conference defensive back. Honorable mention all-district at four other positions. Two-time academic all-state. Four track letters. All-district in 100 and 4x100. Three lacrosse letters.

College: Northwest Missouri.

Also nominated: Lacey Bishop, Emily Mathis.

LIBERTY

MADISON BARNES

3.9 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 143rd in her class of 492. Member of National Honor Society and student government. Three academic letters. Participant in Liberty School District’s Education Internship Program. Three letters in golf. Bertolie Cup champion and finished seventh at conference meet. Three swimming letters. Two track letters.

College: Missouri.

Also nominated: Adam Fuller, Sierra Persinger.

LIBERTY NORTH

CARLIE CISNEROS

3.95 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 102nd in class of 611. Member of student council. Four-time academic all-state team member; four academic letters. Four volleyball letters. Named to all-state, all-district and all-conference teams all four years. Three-time first-team All-America honors from PrepVolleyball.com. 2022 and 2023 Missouri Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year. PrepVolleyball.com No. 1 recruit for class of 2024. 2023, MaxPreps Missouri Player of the Year. 2023 AVCA High School All-American first-team selection. Two-time Evelyn Gates Award Nominee. 2023 Under Armor All-American. Will play college volleyball at the University of Arizona.

College: Arizona.

Also nominated: Trey Snyder, Avery True.

LINCOLN PREP

ISAAC RIVERA

4.0 GPA. Ranked 44th in his class of 188. Full-time international baccalaureate student. Four cross country letters. 2023 Missouri state individual champion. Finished fourth in 2023 Foot Locker Cross Country Regional. Finished 40th in 2023 Foot Locker Cross Country national race. Finished 17th in 2023 Nike Cross Country Regional. All-American status in Garmin Running Lane Championship. Four track letters. Member of 5th place team in 2023.

College: Iowa State University.

Also nominated: None.

LONE JACK

NOAH LOVELL

3.6 GPA. Ranked 12th in his class. A+ Scholar, HISTEP representative. District champion and state qualifier in welding. Skills USA ambassador. Three wrestling letters. Two-time conference champion, two-time district finalist, one district title. Two-time state qualifier. Adidas Nationals all-American. Won the Mizzou Tournament; Battle of Katy Trail medalist. Three cross country and track letters. Two football letters.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

LOUISBURG

MEGAN QUINN

4.0 GPA. Ranked first in her class of 124. National Honor Society and student council president. Drum major for two years. Member of Interact Club, Business Advisory Board, FBLA (officer for two years), Select Choir, Musical and Senior Advisory Council. Three volleyball letters. Three-year first-team academic all-state. Team captain. AVCA Best and Brightest First Team. Twice finished fourth at state. More than 1,522 assists as a setter. Four softball letters. Conference honorable mention. Twice named team gold glove winner.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: None.

MARANATHA CHRISTIAN

COOPER WILCOX

4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. National Honor Society member. Student government participant. Lead in three school musicals. SOAR Special Needs Camp Buddy. Three track letters. Nine-time state medalist sprinter. Finished no worse than 4th in Kansas state track meet in 100 and 200 her first three years. Two-time 2A regional champion in 100 meters. Three basketball letters. Two-time team captain. One soccer letter.

College: Oral Roberts.

Also nominated: Blake Higginbotham, Laine Sramek.

MCLOUTH

LEIGHANNA PATZ

3.68 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 10th in her class of 35. National Honor Society president and McLouth FFA president. Three wrestling letters. Two-time regional champion. Finished top 5 at Kansas state meet in 2022 and 2024. KSHSAA first-team all-academic honors. Three softball letters. Member of state champion team in 2023. Named all-state catcher in 2023. Two volleyball letters

College: Baker.

Also nominated: Hope Coates.

MIDWAY

AUBRIE DEAN

4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked first in her class of 38. National Honor Society member. Served as student council president as a senior. Participates in peer mentoring and Elementary Tutoring/Reading Buddies. Three volleyball letters. Two-time academic all-state honors. First-team all-district in 2022 and 2023. Led team in assists, blocks and hitting percentage. Four basketball letters. Two-time academic all-state team. Two track letters. Member of all-district 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 relay teams.

College: Missouri State.

Also nominated: Hannah Burks, Trenton Siemens.

MILL VALLEY

COLIN McALISTER

4.16 GPA. Ranked first in his class of 323. Scored 33 on the ACT. First place at DECA Eastern Regional. USA Wrestling-certified team leader. School store philanthropy coordinator. Four wrestling letters. Finished 51-1 as a senior and won repeated as a state champion. Only loss was to a nationally ranked wrestler from Tennessee. Kansas all-metro dual team member. Conference wrestler of the year. Kansas Shrine Dual east team selection. Four-time Kansas national dual team member. Four-time all-state academic team. 2022 Southern Plains Regionals Freestyle Champion. Fourth place at state as a sophomore; qualified as a freshman.

College: Nebraska.

Also nominated: Sarah Anderson, Kaitlyn Burke.

NORTH KANSAS CITY

ELTOUM MURGUS

3.35 GPA. Ranked 124th in his class of 392. Spent his first two years of high school in the English Language Learner program for English as a second language speakers. Graduated in two years and did not need ELL services his final two years. Four track letters. District champion, school record holder in the 400, three-time all-red division selection. Did not play football until his junior year. Had 10 Division I scholarship offers; will play at Wyoming.

College: Wyoming.

Also nominated: Faith Heaster, Anna Nguyen.

NORTHEAST

CAMRYN GIBSON

3.4 GPA. Ranked 11th in her class. National Honor Society member. Three volleyball letters. Named all-conference. Three track letters. Named all-conference. Three basketball letters. Named all-conference.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

NORTHLAND CHRISTIAN

SAVANNAH FELDMANN

3.97 GPA. Ranked third in her class of 20. Member of National Honor Society. Class salutatorian. Completed A+ Program. Intern at North Kansas City Hospital oncology unit and St. Luke’s Hospital emergency department. Four soccer letters. Three-time team captain. Two volleyball letters. Team captain. Two academic all-state honors. Second-team all-district. One basketball letter.

College: Missouri Western.

Also nominated: Jacob Miller.

NOTRE DAME DE SION

SOPHIA SAXTON

4.49 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked fourth in her class. National Honor Society member. Bronze level Presidential Service Award. Peer minister. Student ambassador. Four volleyball letters. Four-time academic all-state honoree. Two-time team captain; more than 1,000 career assists. Four track letters. Finished 11th in shot put at 2023 Missouri state meet. Team captain.

College: St. Olaf.

Also nominated: Grace Kiewiet, Natalie Stapp.

OAK GROVE

JORDAN HALL

4.16 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked fifth in his class of 112. National Honor Society and student government member; senior class VP. Scored 28 on ACT. Second-chair tenor saxophone. Four football letters. First team all-state, all-district and all-conference at defensive back as a senior. Academic-all state and all-conference three years. Four wrestling letters. Second-team all-conference as a senior. More than 100 career wins. Qualified for state as a senior. Academic all-state as a senior. Four-time academic all-conference. Three baseball letters. First-team all-conference in 2023. Missouri American Senior Legion Baseball all-star team. Three-time academic all-state and all-conference.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

OAK PARK

AIDEN HINKLE

3.78 GPA. Ranked 57th in his class of 418. Student government member. Organized a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation. Read to local elementary school students. Chapel Hill field day assistant. Three football letters. Conference offensive POY as a quarterback. All-district selection and Simone Award candidate. Twice named academic all-state. Four baseball letters. Two first-team all-conference selections, conference POY, academic all-state.

College: Missouri Southern.

Also nominated: Nevaeh Wardlow.

ODESSA

LANE CROUCHER

4.08 GPA. Ranked third in class of 147. Student government member. Chaplain for NHS. Four football letters. Three-time academic all-conference; twice academic all-state. First-team all-district and all-conference as a tight end; second-team in both as defensive end. First-team all-state tight end in 2023. Two basketball letters. Twice named academic all-state and all-conference. Three track letters. Three-time academic all-conference.

College: Kansas.

Also nominated: Lorelai Burch, Blake Gillespie.

OLATHE EAST

CHLOE TYRELL

4.29 GPA. Ranked 45th in her class of 428. National Honor Society member. Leader in FCA. Spanish National Honor Society member. Olathe District Athletic Advisory Council. Four volleyball letters. Lead team in kills all four years, finished third in school history. WIN for KC Evelyn Gates Award finalist. All-state honorable mention in 2023. Two-time first-team all-conference. Four-time academic all-state honoree. Four track letters. Two top-10 finishes in javelin at Kansas state track meet. Will compete in both volleyball and track at Rockhurst University.

College: Rockhurst.

Also nominated: Diego Barron, Abbie Linn.

OLATHE NORTH

ANJALI HOCKER SINGH

4.3 GPA. Ranked 10th in her class of 497. National Merit Finalist. National Honor Society member. Vice President of Senior Class. South Asian Student Association and Black Student Union. Four cross country letters. One of only seven female runners to win four state individual cross country titles. Four-time first-team all-state. Finished fourth at NXR Heartland. Qualified for Nike Cross Country national meet. Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022; 2023 KC Metro Runner of the Year. Four track letters. State champion in 3,200 meters. Runner-up in 1,600 and 800. All-state member. Junior Olympic champion in 3,000 meters in 2023.

College: Michigan.

Also nominated: Bailey Dillon, Andrew Yarnell.

OLATHE NORTHWEST

ELLA NOVION

4.63 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked 4th in her class. National Merit Finalist. National Honor Society member. All-state in concert band and symphonic orchestra. Four letters in tennis. Finished top four in Kansas state tournament all four years, highlighted by third-place finishes in 2023 and 2021. All-state honors three times. Two-time conference champion.

College: Colby College.

Also nominated: Tanner Trachsel.

OLATHE WEST

BREE NEWPORT

4.47 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked 21st in her class of 414. National Honor Society and student government member. Four cross country letters. Member of four state-champion teams. Four all-state and all-metro team honors. Twice qualified for national team. Four track letters. Member of state record-holding 4x800 relay team. Member of 2023 state championship team. Three-time all-American honors. Eight-time all-state placer. Two state titles in 4x800 relay; one in 4x400.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: Gabrielle Clinkinbeard, Kianu Tuala.

ORRICK

JAXON MILLER

3.60 GPA. Ranked fourth in his class. National Honor Society member. Member of FBLA and FFA. Four football letters. First-team all-state running back as a sophomore. Also earned all-district as a linebacker and running back. Four basketball letters. All-district and all-conference pick as a senior. Four track letters. Placed fifth in long jump at 2021 state meet.

College: Benedictine.

Also nominated: Jonathan Harris, Natasha Hicks.

OSAWATOMIE

LUKE HEBERT

3.96 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked fourth in his class. National Honor Society Member. Three year Select Choir pick. Concert choir. Received a one rating at state solo/small school ensemble. Member of Math Club. Four cross country letters. Broke school record. League champion and first-team all-league pick. Four swim letters. Won league titles four times in three different events. Twice a state finalist in 50 and 100-yard freestyle. First-team selection in six events. Four track letters. Twice a state qualifier in 1,600 and 3,200. State qualifier in 800. Won league title in 1,600 twice. Twice a first-team all-league pick.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: Libby Barnett, Erin Upshaw.

OSKALOOSA

COY PERRY

3.54 GPA. Ranked 8th in his class. Student government member. Member of FBLA for four years, placed 5th at districts in accounting as a senior. Member of FFA, Scholars bowl, band and choir. Four football letters. Twice named all-district. Two power-lifiting letters. Four baseball letters. Two-time all-district; all-state as a junior. Four basketball letters. Two track letters.

College: Kansas State.

Also nominated: Makayla Boyd, Alexis Messallee.

PARK HILL

NATALIE GERDES

3.95 GPA. Ranked 77th in her class of 424. Weekly volunteer at Parkville Animal Shelter. Yearly peer model camper at Camp Encourage. Four cross country letters. School-record holder. Two-time all-state honoree. Four-time all-district and all-conference honors. Four-time KC All-Metro and academic all-state honors. Finished third as sophomore at Nike Cross Regional Midwest Rising Stars race. Four track letters. School record holder in 3,200. State qualifier and three-time all-district honors.

College: Southwest Baptist.

Also nominated: Bryce Lisaka, Mackenzie Moretina.

PARK HILL SOUTH

OLIVIA CLEMONS

4.21 GPA. Ranked 16th in her class of 429. Four soccer letters. All-state, all-district and all-conference honors as a senior. Named conference offensive player of the year. Two tennis letters.

College: Undecided/unlisted.

Also nominated: Matthew Parker, Avery Simmons.

PEMBROKE HILL

NICHOLAS FRANK

A+ GPA. Williams Book Award winner in 2023. Cum Laude Honor Society. American Invitational Mathematics Examination qualifier; scored in top 5% of 80,000 students. Four swimming letters. Tsunami Swim Team; one of 30 member of Elite High Performance Training Group. Qualified for state three years. Medaled five times. Kansas City Blazers swim team member. Orchestrated swimmer-led workouts during COVID. Named first-team all-state in 2022.

College: Washington, St. Louis.

Also nominated: Zach Berg, Helen Hendricks.

PIPER

SAGE GRANN

4.02 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 33rd in class of 184. Four volleyball letters. Two-time all-conference selection. Four basketball letters. Two-time all-conference pick. Four softball letters. Three-time all-state and all-conference selection

College: Southern Illinois.

Also nominated: None.

PLATTE COUNTY

GAVIN NICHOLS

4.4 GPA on 4.0 scale. Four-year FBLA member. Three-year FCA officer. Pirates Rock nominee. 55 hours of peer mentoring. Four tennis letters. Three-time all-conference in singles and doubles. Three-time conference singles champion. Two-time state medalist, with a best finish of 6th. School all-time wins leader. Four soccer letters. Two-time all-conference first-team. One all-district first team and all-state second team pick. One-time school offensive POY winner; twice won school’s golden boot. One academic all-state pick.

College: Nebraska Wesleyan.

Also nominated: Lydia Doole.

PLEASANT HILL

ABYGAIL WIDHALM

4.29 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked sixth in her class of 177. National Honor Society member. Co-president of HOSA. Four volleyball letters. Academic all-state and all-conference for four years. First-team all-state, all-district and all-conference three years. 1,000 career kills. Two basketball letters. Academic all-conference and first-team all-district and all-conference for two years. Two track letters. Academic all-conference and all-state.

College: Baker.

Also nominated: None.

PLEASANT RIDGE

AVA POTTER

3.63 GPA. Ranked 19th in her class of 50. Student government member. Three letters in volleyball. Two-time first team all-conference. Three basketball letters; all-conference member. Two letters in track and softball. Qualified for state meet in javelin and triple jump.

College: Northwest Missouri.

Also nominated: Cooper Beying, Kelsi Ko.

RAYMORE-PECULIAR

PATRICK MARTIN

4.29 GPA on a weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked 12th in his class of 446. National Honor Society and student government member. Member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Sources of Strength, Student Leadership Team. Four-time Lamp of Learning Winner. Scored 32 on the ACT. Drone Part 107 Certified Pilot. Three football letters. Two-time all-conference pick. Team Defensive POY. Three-time academic all-state member. Team Captain. Four wrestling letters. Four-time all-conference wrestler. Two-time state qualifier, named all-state as a senior. Two-time academic all-state and team captain. Two track letters.

College: Missouri.

Also nominated: Gavin Birkett, Samantha Larkins.

RAYTOWN

HANNAH BATTS

4.15 GPA. Ranked 13th in her class of 310. National Honor Society and student government member. Won first place in sports medicine at HOSA-Future Health Professionals in 2023 and 2024. Herndon Career Center Intro to Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine advisory committee member. Herndon Career Center student ambassador. A+ Tutoring Program member. National Technical Honor Society and Rho Kappa national social studies honor society member. Four swimming letters. Four-time conference champion (twice each in 500 and 200). Qualified for Missouri state meet as a senior.

College: Truman State.

Also nominated: Alex Andrade.

RAYTOWN SOUTH

ZAYLA VANN

3.84 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 11th in her class of 291. National Honor Society member. First chair in orchestra. Four wrestling letters. All-state as a senior. Two-time state qualifier and two-time all-conference team. Three-time team captain. Four soccer letters. All-district and all-conference team. Team captain. Three-time academic all-state honors.

College: Avila.

Also nominated: Marcus Neal.

RICHMOND

HAYDEN HAPPY

3.93 GPA. Ranked 14th in his class of 87. Student body president as a senior; vice president as a junior. Class president as a sophomore; class VP as a freshman. President of FBLA. Four football letters. Two-time all-state, three-time all-district. Twice first-team all-conference. Three-time academic all-conference. Team captain. Three wrestling letters. Two-time state qualifier. Four-time academic all-conference. Team captain. Three track letters. Three-time academic all-conference.

College: William Jewell.

Also nominated: Gabriel Baker Jr., Kaylee Pugh.

ROCKHURST

THOMAS COPPINGER

4.35 GPA on 4.0 scale. National Honor Society and student government member; student body VP. NAIA Character of Champion Award nominee. Freshman Brother Leader. Ignatian Leadership member. Performed well over 100 hours of community service. Freshman retreat group leader. Three football letters. First-team all-state linebacker. Buck Buchanan Award Finalist. Team captain. Bukaty Award winner (team MVP). Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete. Twice named first-team all-district. Recorded 130 tackles and five interceptions as a senior. Two basketball letters.

College: TCU.

Also nominated: Evan Crim.

ST. JAMES ACADEMY

ADDISON TAUSCHER

4.42 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranked 21st in class of 205. National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member. Elected Community Captain, Volunteer for Heartland Therapeutic Riding, member of Student Advancement Team. Four soccer letters. Two-time all-state selection. Two-time first-team all-conference. Member of state third-place team in 2023. Will play soccer at the University of Kansas. One basketball letter.

College: Kansas.

Also nominated: Spencer Dohm, Katherine Price.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

JACKSON STEINER

4.54 GPA. National Honor Society member. Leader of Guardians of the Altar as a senior. Four football letters. Academic all-state as a senior. All-district as a senior. Holds four school kicking records, including career points for a kicker. Three soccer letters. All-conference as a senior; First-team all-district. Team captain. Three baseball letters. Academic all-state as a senior. Three-time team captain. One cross country letter.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY

HAILEY SCHEUER

100.88 GPA on 100 scale. National Honor Society member. AP Scholar with Honor. Seven-time St. Teresa’s Academy First Honors. Member of STEM Club and Math Hub. Green Team intern. VP of Full Steam Ahead. Four Cross Country letters. Named all-district three times and all-state twice. Member of third place team at state in 2020. Three basketball letters. Three soccer letters. Two-time all-district team pick. Captain of club soccer team. President’s Cup National Golden Boot award in 2023.

College: Maryville.

Also nominated: Anna Massman, Ellie Welsh.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

KELSEY SCHENCK

98.88 GPA on 100 scale. National Honor Society member, senior ambassador and peer mentor. Four volleyball letters. Named AVCA Volleyball All-American and Under Armor Next Level Camp selection as a senior. All-state and all-conference honors on state runner-up team. Won two state titles; runner-up and third in two other years. Named MVP of 2021 USA Volleyball Girls Junior Championship, 15-under division. Four-time all-state academic team. Three basketball letters. All-state and all-conference honors for state title-winning team as a junior. Earned all-state and all-conference honors on sophomore state title team. Won two state titles in her career. Four softball letters. Three-time all-conference honors.

College: Lipscomb.

Also nominated: Cara Holton, Joseph Loughman.

SHAWNEE MISSION EAST

ABIGAIL LONG

4.72 GPA. National Honor Society member. Students Helping in Areas Related to Education (SHARE) chair for three years. Four basketball letters. Three-time team captain. Twice led conference in scoring average. Second-leading scorer in school history. McDonald’s All-American nominee. Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. Kansas 6A Player of the Year finalist. First-team all-conference and all-state. Four tennis letters. Four-time Kansas state champion. One doubles state championship; three doubles state runner-up finishes. Four-time first-team all-state.

College: Yale.

Also nominated: Joey Hoffman, Katie Murphy.

SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH

MICAH BLOMKER

4.23 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Member of student-athlete leadership team and FMP. Seven letters between track and cross country. Named all-state four times in cross country, twice in track. Four-time first-team all-metro cross country selection. Four-time all-conference. Academic all-state. Once named to national all-American team. Three-time state runner-up; two-time state champion.

College: Tulsa.

Also nominated: Rosjai Curtis, Iliana Garcia.

SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST

KAIA GIVNER

4.14 GPA. Ranked 76th in her class of 363. National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll Journalism Honor Society member. Assistant editor of yearbook. Member of student video production. Phoenix Family and Lucy’s Kids for Peace volunteer. Four gymnastics letters. Won seven individual state medals, including one individual state title (vault). Member of two third-place state teams. Three softball letters.

College: Arkansas

Also nominated: None.

SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH

CAMRYN SMITH

3.42 GPA. Ranked 181st in class of 396. Member of Teacher Education Program. Four basketball letters. Two-time all-state and all-conference pick. Member of Kansas state title-winning team as a senior.

College: Missouri Western.

Also nominated: Jayson Sifrit.

SHAWNEE MISSION WEST

ELLA WEBER

4.13 GPA. National Honor Society member. Women in Leadership senior council. Sources of Strength. Four softball letters. Three wrestling letters. Finished third at state meet as a junior; second in state as a senior. Three-time state qualifier. Three cheerleading letters. Two-time All-American nominee. Two top-10 state finishes.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: Olivia Fonseca, Alicia Portuguez.

SMITHVILLE

ABBY NICHOLS

4.16 GPA. Ranked third in her class of 232. National Honor Society and student government member. National qualifier in speech and debate; two-time speech and debate all-conference. Member of two conference champion scholar bowl teams. AP Scholar with Distinction. Missouri Scholars Academy alumni. Three volleyball letters. First-team all-conference and second-team all-district. Three track letters. Qualified for state in 4x400 relay; first-team all-conference. Will play volleyball at Amherst College.

College: Amherst

Also nominated: Max McKenzie, Jake Shaffer.

SOUTHEAST

MYLES RAMSEY

3.48 GPA. Ranked fourth in his class of 115. National Honor Society vice president; student council member. Two basketball letters. Twice named all-conference. Team captain. One track letter. Voted team track athlete of the year by teammates and coaches.

College: Tuskegee.

Also nominated: None.

SPRING HILL

MYA JANUARY

3.98 GPA. Ranked 22nd in her class of 222. Four softball letters. Two-time first-team all-state selection. Will play softball at Central Arkansas.

College: Central Arkansas.

Also nominated: Gracie Oppeau.

STALEY

KENVEON STONE

3.58 GPA. Ranked 209th in class of 448. Member of student council four years; vice president as a senior. Three football letters. Three-time first-team all-conference; twice first-team all-district. Team captain. Three basketball letters. First-team all-conference. Member of 2023 state title team. Team captain.

College: Northern Arizona.

Also nominated: Ava Pickens.

SUMMIT CHRISTIAN

MARINA PARKS

3.86 GPA. National Honor Society and MENSA member. Three cross country letters. All-state, all-district and all-conference honors for three years. Placed at state meet twice and led team to third-place and runner-up finishes. Three track letters. Two swimming letters. School record holder in 100-yard butterfly and 200 individual medley. Member of two school-record holding relay teams.

College: U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Also nominated: David Gilkeson, Isaac Truesdale.

SUMNER ACADEMY

JESUS ONTIVEROS CASTRO

4.13 GPA. Ranked 28th in class of 186. French National Honor Society president; National Honors Society associate. Two years at Summer Writing Center. Two years of Scholar Bowl. Three track letters. Two cross country letters. Member of two conference champion teams.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

TRUMAN

SYDNEY SNELSON

4.39 GPA. Ranked seventh in her class of 381. Member of National Honor Society. McCoy Academic Excellence award. Missouri DECA District 3 vice president and chapter president. Three-time international DECA Qualifier. Founding executive director of ConnectDirectKC. FCCLA chapter president. Three basketball letters. Three track letters. One flag football letter.

College: Undecided.

Also nominated: None.

TURNER

RAYMOND CARILLO

4.35 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranked second in his class of 205. Member of National Honor Society and student government. Member of AVID and UBMS (Upward Bound Math and Science) programs. Four football letters. All-conference honorable mention. Three wrestling letters. One powerlifting letter.

College: KU & KCKCC.

Also nominated: Lacey Buxton.

UNIVERSITY ACADEMY

JALEEYA AMERSON

3.87 GPA. Ranked second in her class of 41. Member of National Honor Society and 20/20 Leadership. Three volleyball letters. Named first-team all-district. Three track letters. Member of 4x100 all-conferece relay team. One cheerleading letter.

College: Savannah State.

Also nominated: Bria Davis.

VAN HORN

KEYRA CASTILLO

4.41 GPA. Ranked first in her class of 207. Member of Multicultural Club, HOSA, and McCoy Award Winner. Three cross country letters. Qualified for state and member of all-conference team.

College: UMKC.

Also nominated: William Lockwood.

WEST PLATTE

JULIA PATTISON

3.84 GPA. Ranked 11th in her class of 45. National Honor Society member. Four cross country letters. First runner in school history to medal in Missouri state cross country meet for four years. Twice finished runner-up at state, and fifth another year. Won two conference and district titles. Four basketball letters. Three time all-conference and all-district team. Four track letters. Earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors all four years.

College: Kansas.

Also nominated: Avery Holmes, William Shafer.

WILLIAM CHRISMAN

MAZZY WHITESELL

4.0 GPA. Ranked 11th in her class of 286. Student council member and class treasurer. Participated in school orchestra for four years. Three tennis letters. Three-time all-conference honoree. Earned all-district honors as a junior. Two track letters. All-conference in javelin as a junior.

College: Central Missouri.

Also nominated: Alexander Alejandre, Alana Little Eagle-Spicer.

WINNETONKA

CAYLEN WEINZERL

4.02 GPA. Ranked 12th in her class. National Honor Society and student government member. Student body president. Reporter and social media for N2Sports class. Three swimming letters. Three-time state qualifier. Conference dive champion as a junior. Four softball letters. Two-time academic all-state pick; all-conference honors. Four track letters. Member of all-conference and all-district 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. Four cheerleading letters. Member of 2022 state title team.

College: Avila.

Also nominated: Zion Holmes.

WYANDOTTE

COURTNEY ANDERSON

3.9 GPA. Ranked 15th in his class of 361. Member of student council. Also member of senior board, 20/20 Leadership, Safety Club, and Link Crew. College ambassador. Four wrestling letters. Twice-named all-state. Named team wrestler of the year as a senior. Four track letters. Team captain. Four football letters. Team player of the year as a senior. All-state kick returner as a senior.

College: Baker.

Also nominated: Gabriella Howell, Kamari Murray.