The 2024-25 Iowa High School Sports Awards show winners
The 2024-25 Iowa High School Sports Awards show was held June 12 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
More than 300 athletes were honored from across the state, including Players of the Year in 22 sports and the state's overall winners for boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys coach of the year, girls coach of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, Courage Award and Paste BN Studio IX Trailblazer Award.
Iowa State women's basketball star Audi Crooks was the guest speaker.
Here's a list of all the award winners:
Boys Coach of the Year, Presented by Premier Athletic Training - Scott Chandler, Iowa City Liberty
Chandler took over the head coaching role ahead of the 2024 season. The former NFL tight end helped lead the Lightning to a 10-2 record, the best in the program's seven-year history, and averaged over 40 points per game on offense. Chandler's first season at the helm of the program ended with the team's first trip to the state semifinals, where they battled and fell just short to four-time defending champion Southeast Polk.
Girls Coach of the Year, Presented by Premier Athletic Training - Michele Quick, Ankeny Christian Academy
Quick led her team to a third straight state title in 2024. The Eagles posted a 40-5 record and went undefeated against fellow 1A teams and even beat several teams from larger classes, including some Class 5A powerhouse programs. Ankeny Christian dropped only one set to a fellow 1A school and cruised through the state tournament.
Girls Athlete of the Year, Presented by ClaimDOC - Libby Fandel, Xavier Catholic
Fandel had a stellar senior season and played a massive role in the success of two Xavier teams, volleyball and basketball. In the fall, she helped lead the Saints to the No. 1 overall seed in the Class 4A volleyball tournament with a team-high 375 kills, ranking seventh in the class. But it was on the basketball court where she really shined. Fandel posted 684 total points, second-most in the state, and averaged 26.3 per game for the state-champion Saints. Fandel will go on to continue her basketball career at the University of Kansas.
Boys Athlete of the Year - Will Hawthorne, Gilbert
Hawthorne put on a show for all Iowa high school sports fans during this school year. He started the year strong on the football field, posting 2,263 rushing yards, fourth-most statewide. He led Class 4A in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards to help lead the Tigers to the state quarterfinals. The Iowa State signee also starred on defense, posting 44 total tackles and two sacks. He continued his dominance on the hardwood in the winter, leading Gilbert in rebounds with 197, including 70 offensive boards. He also posted over 7 points per game. His state-title moment came in the spring, claiming the Class 3A state title as part of the 4x100 relay.
Girls Team of the Year - Johnston basketball
The Dragons have set the standard for what it means to be an elite basketball team. They finished 26-0, their second straight undefeated season, and won back-to-back state titles. The graduating seniors lost only two games during their high school careers and won three state titles. This season, the Dragons had only two games decided by 10 points or less, both against state runner-up Dowling Catholic.
Boys Team of the Year - Madrid basketball
Coming into the season, Madrid had never won a state tournament game, going 0-1 in its only appearance in 2023. But this year, the Tigers cruised to a perfect 28-0 record, winning all but five games by 10 points or more. Madrid claimed its first boys basketball title with a two-point win over Marquette Catholic.
Courage Award - Brittany Buck, Pella
At Pella Middle School in November of 2024, a terrifying morning broke out in the school’s cafeteria when a student attempted to injure multiple classmates with a knife. Girls middle school wrestling coach Brittany Buck's act of bravery in that moment undoubtedly stopped further injury and saved lives.
Paste BN Studio IX Trailblazer - Caitlin Clark, Dowling Catholic/University of Iowa/Indiana Fever
After a stellar Iowa high school girls basketball career at Dowling Catholic, Caitlin Clark forever changed women’s college basketball while at the University of Iowa. She helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title games before going first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever. Among the countless records she holds are the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record for men or women (3,951 points), most 3-pointers in a career (548) and she sits atop the Hawkeyes' record book in both points and assists. She was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 2024, was the AP Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024 and was a three-time unanimous first-team All-American before earning Rookie of the Year accolades in the WNBA last season.
Baseball, Presented by Aquilo Financial Group - Joey Oakie, Ankeny Centennial
Oakie, a third-round pick by the Cleveland Guardians, signed with the team for $2 million. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state, tallying a 1.26 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP to go along with 76 strikeouts across 39 innings of work.
Softball, Presented by Aquilo Financial Group - Carly Goodwin, Sigourney
The Northern Iowa signee lit it up all year for the eventual Class 1A champions. Across 33 games, Goodwin slashed .500/.528/.890 with 14 doubles, 30 runs scored and 40 RBIs. In the circle, she went 24-2 with a 0.37 ERA and 361 strikeouts.
Boys Basketball, Presented by the Iowa Wolves - Trevin Jirak, Valley
On a talent-packed, championship-winning roster, Jirak stood out for more than his 6-foot-9 frame. He averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. He finished with a double-double in points and rebounds in each of Valley’s tournament games.
Girls Basketball, Presented by the Iowa Wolves - Libby Fandel, Xavier Catholic
Fandel propelled her team to a Class 4A state championship with outstanding season-long averages, but her standout performances in the tournament proved to be the difference-maker. She scored 37 points and grabbed 25 rebounds in the state quarterfinal, recorded 21 points and 14 rebounds in the semifinal, and put up 36 points and 14 rebounds in the title game.
Football - Will Hawthorne, Gilbert
This powerful, Iowa State-bound prospect solidified his spot as one of the most prolific players in the state, finishing his senior season with 2,263 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. And that doesn’t even include his accolades on the defensive side of the ball.
Volleyball - Chloe Meester, Mount Vernon
Meester was a certified star for the Mustangs, leading the team with 575 kills en route to a team state title. That kills total was the third-most in the state, and the most by a player who also won a state title this year. She is heading to the University of Louisville to continue her volleyball career.
Boys Track & Field - Quentin Nauman, Western Dubuque
Nauman made history during the 2025 Iowa high school track season. He claimed four state championships, swept the Drake Relays distance events in the 800, 1600 and 3200, and set two all-time records in the 800 and the 1600. He also became the first Iowa high school runner to break four minutes in the 1600.
Girls Track & Field - Reese Brownlee, Clear Lake
Brownlee concluded her high school career as one of the best to ever do it, winning four state championships and three Drake Relays titles as a senior. By season's end, she held the state's best times in the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles, alongside her stardom in long jump and as the anchor of Clear Lake's sprint medley.
Boys Soccer - Jonathan Mendez, Dowling Catholic
Mendez had a standout final season before heading to Drake University to continue his soccer career. The senior ended the regular season with 28 goals and 19 assists, both of which led Class 4A heading into the postseason. Behind his efforts, Dowling Catholic was 11-5-1 and ranked No. 5 entering postseason play.
Girls Soccer - Abi Roberts, Linn-Mar
Roberts was a bona fide star as the senior tallied 35 goals and 15 assists in the regular season, both of which ranked top three in Class 3A. Her team ranked No. 7 entering the postseason behind her efforts. She will be attending North Dakota State to play soccer next year.
Boys Wrestling - Christian Castillo, Ames
In his lone season in Iowa after moving here from Arizona, Castillo was one of the state's most dominant wrestlers en route to a state title. He was 43-0, winning all of his matches against Iowa opponents by technical fall or fall. He will wrestle at Iowa State next year.
Girls Wrestling - Molly Allen, Riverside Community
Allen is a four-time Iowa state champion, just the second girl to accomplish that feat, with a 103-0 all-time record against girls. Allen won all of her matches in bonus-point fashion as a senior.
Boys Bowling - Cole Darling, ADM
Darling earned the Class 2A state title, cruising to the crown with big victories in each of the three rounds during bracket play. After earning the No. 2 seed, he rolled a 194 in the quarterfinals, a 244 in the semifinals and a 232 in the final match to win the championship. Darling won each of his matches in bracket play by 29 pins or more.
Girls Bowling - Macy Smedley, Waterloo West
Smedley claimed the Class 3A bowling state championship after entering bracket play as the 8 overall seed. She battled to a victory in the quarterfinals, winning by just three pins. In the semifinals, she won by five pins before dominating in the finals by rolling a 245. She helped Waterloo West earn fourth place in the team competition.
Boys Golf - Parker Rodgers, Nevada
Rodgers was the star of the spring golf season in Iowa, posting the statewide low score for 18 holes with a 64. He also had the lowest adjusted average score in the spring. When lights were brightest, he came through, claiming a state title by one stroke, going 7-under over two days.
Girls Golf - Chloe Bolte, Sumner-Fredericksburg
The senior claimed her fourth straight girls state golf title and is only the third girl in history to win four titles in the sport. It was not a walk in the park for Bolte to claim that fourth title, though. She went into Day 2 tied with another golfer. But she pulled away, shooting a 71 to go 1-under for the tournament.
Boys Tennis - Anthony Schulte, Cedar Rapids Prairie
Schulte finished his high school tennis career with a bang. He posted a 22-0 record throughout the regular season and postseason, dropping his only set of the campaign during the state semifinals. He capped off his year with a state title in straight sets over his freshman brother, Dylan.
Girls Tennis - Gabriella Fleming, Xavier Catholic
Fleming won her second Iowa high school state title in as many tries this year, claiming the Class 1A crown in Iowa City on May 31. She lost just one singles match during the entire season, and that came in three sets against a player from Class 2A.
Boys Swimming & Diving - Hayden Hakes, Iowa City West
Hakes swam the third leg on the 200-yard medley relay team that placed first with a time of 1 minute, 30.48 seconds. He followed that up with first-place medals in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. He was also a part of the 400 freestyle relay team that placed second.
Girls Swimming & Diving - Grace Hoeper, Iowa City High
Hoeper was named the IGHSAU Athlete of the Year after sweeping the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the state meet. The Indiana commit won her third 50 freestyle state title in a row with a time of 23.06. She later took her second consecutive 100 freestyle crown in 49.94.
Boys Cross Country - Quentin Nauman, Western Dubuque
Nauman was the breakout star of the 2024 boys state cross country meet. The junior won his first state title by becoming just the second Iowa runner to break 15 minutes in a 5k race at the state meet. Nauman won the 3A boys race after crossing the finish line in 14:59.6.
Girls Cross Country - Marissa Ferebee, Pella
Ferebee defended her Class 3A individual championship by running the fastest 5k time ever by an Iowa high school girl. She broke her own state-record time of 16:38 by completing the 3A girls race in 16:30.9, which was more than two minutes faster than her winning time from 2023.