Liberty North’s Addison Beagle wins 2021 Gates Award as top volleyball player in KC
Addison Beagle is the 2021 recipient of the annual Evelyn Gates Award, recognizing the top high school varsity volleyball player in the Kansas City region.
The announcement was made Thursday morning at Liberty North High School, where Beagle is a senior who has committed to continuing her education and volleyball career next season at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Beagle is the first Liberty North Eagle to win the award. She was presented a traveling trophy for display at her school and a $500 stipend for her school’s athletic department.
Each year, a committee comprised of area high school coaches selects a recipient who embodies “top-tier skill, spirit and sportsmanship,” as noted on the WIN for KC portion of the Kansas City Sports Commission’s website.
The other three finalists for this year’s award were:
- Ashley Mullen, Liberty
- Chloe Kaminski, Blue Springs
- Sydney Handel, Lee’s Summit West
Evelyn Gates, a retired histology technician at KU Medical Center, officiated high school and college volleyball, softball and basketball games in the metro for more 45 years. She was a staunch supporter of girls’ high school sports.
“As we look to the future and the continued success of women’s athletics, it’s important to acknowledge trailblazers, like Evelyn Gates, whose passion, commitment and support impacted tens of thousands of high school athletes,” WIN for KC director Jessica Blubaugh said in a statement.
“Her enduring legacy is a testament to both her officiating career and mentorship during the Title IX movement.”
Past winners
2021: Addison Beagle, Liberty North
2020: Honorable mentions, 29 of them (no winner due to COVID)
2019: Ellie Bolton, St. James Academy
2018: Ellie Bichelmeyer, St. Teresa’s Academy
2017: Annika Welty, Park Hill South
2016: Madison Lilley, Blue Valley West
2015: Orie Agbagi, Oak Park
2014: Lexi Hart, Truman
2013: Anna Kropf, St. Teresa’s Academy
2012: Cheyanne Lyons, Raymore-Peculiar
2011: Paige Brown, St. James Academy
2010: Hanna Forst, St. James Academy
2009: Marianne Beal, Lee’s Summit North
2008: Jessica Kopp, Lee’s Summit West
2007: Kathleen Ludwig, Bishop Miege
2006: Michelle Jantsch, St. Theresa’s Academy
2005: Erin Birmingham, Park Hill South
2004: Sammie Williams, Fort Osage
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 11:11 AM.