Tag: gatorade player of the year

Notre Dame freshman Izzy Engle scores hat trick in victory vs. Samford

Way to go, Izzy!

Izzy Engle barely has her feet wet with the Notre Dame women’s soccer program. But the freshman midfielder/forward from Edina, Minnesota already is making a big impact. In fact, it’s one most Notre Dame freshmen only can dream of.

During the Irish’s 6-0 road win over Samford, Engle accounted for half of the team’s scoring. In fact, her hat trick was one of the quickest in program history:

It also was the first hat trick for an Irish freshman in 16 years:

Engle comes to the Irish as the reigning Gatorade Minnesota Girls Soccer Player of the Year. One opposing high school coach said this about her:

“Izzy can pick the ball up anywhere on the field and run past everyone. Or, she can combine quickly with her teammates and create a lovely assist. She’s the top female player to come through Minnesota in the 25-plus years I’ve been coaching.”

Now, she belongs to the Irish. Hopefully, this is the first of many highlights for her.

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Notre Dame reportedly offers 2027 Delaware guard Jezelle “GG” Banks

This would be a nice get even if we’d have to wait a while.

[autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] is coming off the best season any Notre Dame freshman has had. Given the Irish’s ability to successfully recruit top talent, it wouldn’t be shocking if someone tried to top being named a First Team All-American among other things. It could happen if the Irish get their way.

The Irish reportedly are among three schools who are the latest to extend on offer to Jezelle “GG” Banks, a 2027 guard from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware:

Banks already has received offers from multiple prominent programs. That tends to happen when you’re named the Gatorade Delaware Girls Basketball Player of the Year. That also tends to happen when you average 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 steals a game as a freshman.

Hidalgo would be gone from the Irish by the time Banks arrived, so they wouldn’t get the opportunity to play each other. Still, it would be nice if Hidalgo knew she was leaving the program in good hands with Banks.

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Cooper Flagg named 2024 Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year

A grand finale on the Hollywood stage for the Duke Blue Devil commit.

Stepping off the practice court with Team USA—where he turned more than a few heads recently—and onto the 2024 ESPY Awards stage, Cooper Flagg’s dynamic high school career culminated with one of the most distinguished honors on Thursday night: Gatorade Player of the Year.

The Duke commit and top-rated recruit from the class of 2024 was presented with the award by Former Gatorade Best Female Players of the Year Candace Parker and Paige Bueckers. Flagg now joins a list of top alumni that includes Jayson Tatum, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Karl-Anthony Towns, plus the 2024 Female Player of the Year, Sadie Engelhardt.

(Courtesy of Gatorade)

“It’s an honor to take home this award, and having it handed to me by some of the biggest names in basketball makes it even better,” said Flagg in a statement. “The list of former Gatorade Best Players of the Year speaks for itself, so it’s special to put my name next to theirs.”

The 6-foot-9 basketball star’s resume hardly needs a major rehash at this point, with Flagg proving multiple times that he is a generational talent, from his time at Montverde (Fla.), where he helped lead the Eagles to a 34-0 record last season and the Chipotle Nationals title, to his current high-flying highlights with USA Basketball.

Like all the Gatorade nominees throughout the 20-year history, Flagg created a top-tier career on the court while standing just as tall in the class and community.

The future Blue Devil participated in fundraisers for the Ronald McDonald House and Donovan Kurt Memorial Cancer Fund, volunteered at youth basketball camps and clinics in Maine and Florida, and maintained a 4.10 GPA.

“Our Gatorade Player of the Year class embodies the future of sport, so we’re energized to celebrate their accomplishments and bright futures during this one-of-a-kind experience,” said Gatorade president and general manager Mike Del Pozzo in a statemnet. “For decades Gatorade Players of the Year have gone on to have incredible success both on the field of play and in their communities, and we can’t wait to see what these athletes do next.”

Player of the Year, Sadie Engelhardt and Cooper Flagg

Sadie Engelhardt named 2024 Gatorade Best Female Player of the Year

The Ventura High School (Calif.) star took home the top honor at the 2024 ESPY Awards.

Among a crowd of star athletes and entertainers, Sadie Engelhardt had her deserved moment in the spotlight on Thursday night at the 2024 ESPY Awards, with the NC State commit being named the Gatorade Best Female Player of the Year.

Former Gatorade Best Female Players of the Year Candace Parker and Paige Bueckers presented the track and field standout with the prestigious honor, a grand finale for the California native who now joins a list of world-class alumni that includes Jayson Tatum, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“I was so excited to win Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player of the Year, and now to be named Best Female Player of the Year is crazy to me,” said Engelhardt in a statement. “All the athletes in this group are amazing, and I’m so honored to be here celebrating our hard work on and off the field.”The Gatorade Best Player of the Year announcement is the culmination of an unparalleled Gatorade Player of the Year

Engelhardt’s high school career has reached an impressive level as notable as the Hollywood sign that sprawls above the landscape not far from where she accepted the iconic Gatorade accolade.

She’s a three-time Gatorade Girls Track & Field Player of the Year in California, where the top-rated distance runner helped Ventura High School to a second-place team finish at the state meet last season.

Records?

Yep, she’s got plenty.

The Cougars sensation holds the national record for the mile, with a time of  4:28.46, and she broke the California record in the 1600 with a 4:32.06 posting at the state meet—which currently holds rank as the fastest time ever in the event in a meet with high school-only competitors.

This highlight might be one of the greatest of all time in track and field — at any level.

The most impressive part? Engelhardt has created this type of resume on the track while excelling just as much in the classroom—where she has a 4.59 GPA—and in the community.

“Our Gatorade Player of the Year class embodies the future of sport, so we’re energized to celebrate their accomplishments and bright futures during this one-of-a-kind experience,” said Gatorade president and general manager Mike Del Pozzo in a statement. “For decades Gatorade Players of the Year have gone on to have incredible success both on the field of play and in their communities, and we can’t wait to see what these athletes do next.”

Notre Dame one of six finalists for five-star 2025 Kentucky guard

This would be a huge get.

Notre Dame is projected to have a big 2024-25 season, but the question is whether 2025-26 and beyond will be special. If the Irish have their way, one addition to their roster will make things a lot easier.

Zakiyah Johnson, a five-star guard from Kentucky, is projected by multiple sites as the best 2025 recruit in her state. She’s been named the Gatorade Kentucky Girls Basketball Player of the Year three years in a row. And she’s listed Notre Dame as one of the six programs to make her final cut:

When asked by On3 what she liked about each program, Johnson said this about the Irish:

“It’s all girl coaches – I like the way they run their program. I’m also really big on fashion, and I think they do a really good job with it. Coach [Niele] Ivey is very sweet, and Coach [Michaela] Mabrey is very sweet. I can kind of connect with them because they’re younger. It’s really just a vibe you have to be there to feel.”

Let’s hope the vibe is strong enough to lead her to South Bend.

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Christian Miller named 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Player of the Year

A fantastic finish for the Creekside High School star.

Christian Miller took home the Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Player of the Year honor this week, a fantastic finish for the record-setting sprinter.

The Sunshine State standout was surprised with the prominent award surrounded by his family, coaches, and teammates at Creekside High School (St. Johns, Fla.).

Another track sensation to join the list of past winners—who boast a combined trophy case of more than 19 gold medals and 14 national championships—Miller was certainly worthy of the iconic hardware, which more than half a million other student-athletes were in the running for.

“Christian Miller officially broke the national high school record at 100 meters this spring, but it certainly appears there’s more left in the tank based upon his performances at the Olympic Trials,” noted Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com., in a statement. “The rhythmic power he harnesses is extremely unique for a teenage sprinter. His skill set is beginning to remind folks of a one-time prep prodigy named Noah Lyles—yes, the same Noah Lyles that has since won six world championship medals. Miller’s career is going places and he’s getting there faster than any before him.”

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Miller’s achievements of the track carried just as much weight as his impressive Gold medal-worthy accolades on it, with the Georgia Bulldogs commit turrning the spotlight on his work volunteering for the River Rock Church community and coaching youth club teams.

Most impressive?

He maintained a B average in the classroom while doing all of it, from setting world records on the track to helping coach younger athletes on the St. John’s Striders track team.

“Gatorade Players of the Year are not only world-class athletes, but they’re also motivated to succeed in the classroom and be leaders in their communities,” said Gatorade president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo, of Miller’s overall resume. ”Christian embodies all those qualities tenfold, and we’re proud to welcome him into the Gatorade Player of the Year family.”

(Gatorade Player of the Year/Joe Greer)

Second incoming Notre Dame freshman named best player in state

Lighting strikes twice for the Irish.

Notre Dame’s women’s soccer team has been a powerhouse for most of its history. That naturally is going to lead to some quality talent successfully being recruited to the program. Among that talent is incoming freshman [autotag]Izzy Engle[/autotag], and she’s bringing some hardware with her.

Engle has been named the Gatorade Minnesota Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She joins a club also occupied by fellow incoming freshman [autotag]Riley DeMartino[/autotag], who won this year’s award for Maryland.

Engle, the third winner of this award from Edina, is coming off an undefeated season and state championship, which she won by scoring both goals in the title game. She scored 41 goals and 14 assists this past season and was named the state’s Ms. Soccer winner in her class.

To have two Gatorade Girls Soccer Players of the Year come in the same class is nothing short of remarkable for the Irish. Anything less than another NCAA Tournament bid will be unacceptable, and they’ll continue to pursue their four national championship and first since 2010.

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Addison Ritzenhein gets a very special surprise from Katelyn Tuohy as the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year

Addison Ritzenhein gets a surprise as the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Katelyn Tuohy, one of the most dominant athletes in NCAA history, knows how to pull off a surprise. Turns out she is dominant off the track too.

On Tuesday, Tuohy surprised Addison Ritzenhein as the 2023-24 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year by bringing the trophy to her school. A sophomore at Niwot High School (Niwot, Colorado), she won the Nike Cross Nationals Final with a time of 17:10.40.

Running cross country since seventh grade, Ritzenhein has the potential to be one of the best in the history of the sport. Tuohy, who presented her with the award, was named the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons, beginning in 2018.

“Addy Ritzenhein achieved more and raced smarter than any prep girl in the country this past season, beating a stacked race field at the Nike Cross Nationals Final and leading her team to the podium,” said Rich Gonzalez, PrepCal Track editor., in a statement released by Gatorade

“Her excellence throughout 2023 on Colorado courses at altitude set her up for nationals, where her strength and tactical racing opened up the field. She was the best racer in the best races and she’s only a sophomore.” 

Tuohy ran cross country at North Carolina State for three seasons where she was among the best distance runners in college history. Last month, she declared her intentions to go professional and she signed an endorsement deal with Adidas.

As for Ritzenhein, she has the potential to match Tuohy’s dominance at the high school level over the next two years. She certainly has some good D.N.A. to take the next step in the sport.

Her father is former Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, who twice won the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year.

 

Notre Dame commit named to McDonald’s All-American roster

Take a look at the Irish’s future soon.

Notre Dame really seems to have a knack for attracting recruits that ultimately are named to the McDonald’s All-American Game. In fact, six of the 13 players on the Irish’s current roster are former McDonald’s All-Americans. Now, they’ll be able to add another one next season.

[autotag]Kate Koval[/autotag], the fifth-ranked recruit on ESPN’s 2024 HoopGurlz rankings, has been named to the 2024 game, which will be played April 2 in Houston. At 6-foot-4, Koval will be the only center on the East roster. There, she’ll be joined by Long Island Lutheran teammates Kayleigh Heckel, who is heading to USC, and Syla Swords, who will go to Michigan.

Koval signed with the Irish in November as a five-star recruit one year after the program was able to secure three such recruits for 2023. She is the reigning Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year after a season in which she averaged a double-double a game as well as 3.4 blocks a game.

Koval will provide size on a team that always could use more. It will be pretty tough to match the freshman season [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] has had so far, but she should at least give it a shot if for no reason than she could say she tried.

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Future Badger wins California Gatorade Player of the Year

Future Badgers setter wins major award

The Badgers women’s volleyball season came to an end in the Final Four in Tampa last month, but class of 2024 commit Charlie Fuerbringer won the California Gatorade Player of the Year this week.

Fuerbringer is a 5-foot-11 setter from Manhattan Beach, California, and she’s a top-ranked player in the class of 2024. With both Izzy Ashburn and MJ Hammill moving on from Wisconsin after the 2023 campaign, Fuerbringer could step into a prominent role with the Badgers as a true freshman in the fall.

In early November, Fuerbringer along with five other athletes were a part of National Signing Day, officially joining the team’s upcoming 2024-2025 roster.

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