Big stage, bright stars: Meet the 100-plus school-by-school Scholar-Athletes for 2022
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-plus 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. In the event there are no other nominees noted for a particular school, that school chose to nominate only 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, as well as longtime former Star sportswriter Randy Covitz.
Judges reviewed the nominees’ portfolios for athletic and academic prowess, as well as their community service.
BARSTOW
VIKAS MAGANTI
A 4.20 GPA won a weighted 4.0 scale. Earned three varsity letters in soccer (fall 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic). First-team all-state soccer team. National Honor Society member. Named an A.P. Scholar in 2021.
College: Indiana
Also nominated: Nora Lawson, Kelsie Tucker
BASEHOR-LINWOOD
JORDAN KNIPP
4.11 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 186. Four volleyball letters. Three all-conference honors, including one first-team. Two basketball letters; honorable mention all-conference. Two track and field letters. Also participates in power lifting. National Honor Society member.
College: St. Mary’s
Also nominated: Brady Garrison
BELTON
KENNEDY MORGAN
3.62 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 36th in class of 364. Four swimming letters. Nine total first-team all-conference honors, including eight in individual events. Four-time team conference champions; qualified for state in two relays.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Brett Gerke
BISHOP MIEGE
WILLIAM ANDERSON
4.50 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Earned four letters and four state titles in soccer. Earned two letters in basketball and was a 2021 state champion. National Honor Society member who is also a National Merit Commended Scholar.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Allie Burns, Emily Lynn
BISHOP WARD
AUGUSTINA ROSALES
3.94 GPA on 4.0 scale. Ninth in class of 67. Four basketball letters. Conference player of the year as a senior. Member of 2020 3A all-state team in Kansas. Three cross country and softball letters. Member of student council and National Honor Society.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: none
BLUE SPRINGS
KYLE BRUCE
3.8 GPA on 4.0 scale. Earned four letters in basketball and was twice named an all-district point guard. Earned two letters in football; member of all-conference and first-team all-district teams. Student government and National Honor Society member.
College: Undecided (plans to attend HBCU)
Also nominated: Calvin Griffin
BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH
MYA TROBER
4.02 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 100 in class of 495. Four cross country letters. Member of 2021 state championship team. Winner of four state trophies; four-time all-metro and two-time all-state selection. Two track and field letters; three-time all-state and all-district selection. Two soccer letters. National Honor Society member. Academic all-state pick.
College: Iowa State
Also nominated: none
BLUE VALLEY
MICHAEL ALLEN
4.40 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Earned three football letters, including two first-team all-conference nominations and conference defensive player of the year as a senior. Plans to play football at Baylor. One varsity baseball letter, member of 2021 state champion team. National Honor Society member.
College: Baylor
Also nominated: Parker Neal, Nick Herzog
BLUE VALLEY NORTH
TY FARRINGTON
4.4 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Three letters in football, and member of 2020 state runner-up team. Four letters in wrestling, two top-five state finishes. One letter in track and field. Four-time principal’s honor roll. Member of National Honor Society and Eagle Scout.
College: Kansas
Also nominated: none
BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST
MEGAN YATES
4.41 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 421. Four soccer letters. One basketball letter. 2021 High School Student Athlete of Character award recipient. Senior class vice president, National Honor Society member, editor-in-chief of school newspaper.
College: TCU
Also nominated: Mikey Pauley, Lindsey Farthing
BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST
HAYDEN MILLS
4.3 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Three-time Kansas state champion, and one state runner-up finish. National Honor Society member.
College: Nebraska
Also nominated: Jinwoo Kim
BLUE VALLEY WEST
KATHERINE SOULE
4.51 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 41st in class of 439. Four cross country letters. Four-time state qualifier, two-time all-state, two-time all-state academic team, four-time all-metro honorable mention. Four track letters; qualified for state in 3,200-meter run. Member of National Honor Society, National Merit Commended scholar.
College: Creighton
Also nominated: Matthew Lancaster, Omar Abdelmoity
BONNER SPRINGS
CARLEY BILLINGS
4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. First in class of 175. Four softball letters; first-team all-state pick in 2021. Three cross country letters. One tennis letter. Also participated in unified bowling. Student council class secretary, Fellowship of Christian Athletes president. National Honor Society member.
College: Oklahoma Wesleyan
Also nominated: Corrie Hassett
CENTER
SAVANNAH HOLSMAN
4.59 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Second in class of 139. Four swimming letters; member of conference all-academic team in 2022. Two soccer letters; member of conference all-academic team in 2022. Member of student council and National Honor Society.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: Emilia Latas, Brandon Chandler
CENTRAL
JORON MCCORKLE
3.47 GPA on a 4.0 scale; sixth in class of 118. Three-time football letter winner and three-time conference first-team offensive line pick. Twice named to all-district team.
College: William Jewell
Also nominated: Shauntiara Thompson
CRISTO REY
TA’MYA CANN
3.19 GPA. 29th in class of 54. Four letters in volleyball, basketball, and track. Scored more than 1,000 career points, member of all-district team as a senior. Participated in CRKC Corporate Work Study Program.
College: UMKC
Also nominated: none
DE SOTO
BRADY HUGGINS
4.3 weighted GPA on 4.0 scale. Ranks ninth in class of 246. Four letters in cross country, and qualified for state four times. Three-time first-team all-conference pick, and 2021 academic all-state pick. Two letters in track and field and wrestling. Student council vice president and National Honor Society. Special Olympics Student President.
College: North Dakota State
Also nominated: Gracey Janes, Tyler Schultze
EAST
DORISMAR VALDEZ
3.88 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ninth in class of 240. Four letters in soccer and volleyball; was named all-conference in both sports two years. Three swimming letters, named all-conference one year.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Stefano Merced, Darcy Mupenda
EUDORA
HARPER SCHREINER
3.96 GPA on 4.0 scale. 17th in class of 136. Four basketball letters. Two-time first-team all-state pick. Two-time LJ World all-area player of the year. Member of school 1,000-point club. Four softball letters. First-team all-state in 2021; second-team all-state in 2019. Class secretary, member of National Honor Society.
College: Pittsburg State
Also nominated: Mackenzie Mayer
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS
JACEY BREWER
4.12 GPA on 4.0 scale. Fifth in class of 150. Four cross country letters; all-conference all four years and academic all-state all four years. Four women’s wrestling and track letters. All-conference and academic all-conference all four years in both sports. Founded Small Town Sidekicks, a non-profit that provides toys and supplies to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
College: UMKC
Also nominated: Mallory Millsap, Ethan Edwards
FORT OSAGE
EVAN FUNK
4.6 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranks first in class of 284. Four cross country letters; three-time first-team all-conference selection. Two track and field letters. National Honor Society member. Varsity Speech and Debate member for three years. Founding president of Engineering Club.
College: Rice
Also nominated: Trent Hogland, Savannah Short
FRONTIER
ERIC RODGERS
1.87 GPA on 4.0 scale. Participated in basketball and track and field. Student council member.
College: MCC
Also nominated: none
GARDNER-EDGERTON
KIERSTEN MARKOS
4.1 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 38th in class of 340. Three basketball letters, two-time all-conference honorable mention. Three softball letters; helped team to third-place finish in 2021. Two volleyball letters; team finished third at state in 2019. National Honor Society member. Chamber orchestra for three years. Summer basketball camp volunteer.
College: Ottawa
Also nominated: Lilly Kepler, Jake McClure
GRAIN VALLEY
CHLESEA GORDEN
4.30 GPA. 15th in class of 339. Four tennis letters. Finished in top-10 at state twice, highlighted by 4th-place finish in 2020. Team finished 4th at state in 2021. First-team all-conference in singles and doubles. Four years in show choir. National Honor Society member.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: BriLeigh Sims, Gage Levell
GRANDVIEW
CIERRA SMITH
3.83 GPA. 13th in class of 82. Four basketball letters. Scored more than 2,500 career points. Named to all-state, all-metro, and all-conference teams.
College: Central Missouri
Also nominated: none
HARMON
JENNIFER PAEZ
4.28 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 283. Four soccer letters. Two volleyball letters. Student council treasurer and National Honor Society president. Member of KU Math and Science Program. Also participates in orchestra.
College: Rockhurst
Also nominated: Sadiki Niyongabo, Taylor McNeil
HARRISONVILLE
JACE REYNOLDS
4.05 GPA on 4.0 scale. Four letters in football and track and field. Two-time all-state running back, and school leader in rushing yards, attempts, and touchdowns. Member of state champion 4x100 relay team in 2000. Three-time academic all-state member.
College: Truman State
Also nominated: Desta Mitchell, Carson Miller
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
JOSH HOWARD
3.98 GPA. Sixth in class of 35. Four letters in cross country, including two-time state qualifier. Three letters in track (2020 season canceled due to COVID-19). Finished in top 10 in state 3,200 twice. National Honor Society member.
College: Cedarville
Also nominated: Emma Liebelt, Jessa Rose
HOGAN PREP
SHAWN MAYS
3.98 GPA. First in class of 68. Three letters in football and track and field. Member of football academic all-state team. AP and dual-credit classes, and participated in an accounting internship.
College: Harris Stowe State
Also nominated: Amiya Jones, Ja’Byron Hollis
KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN
ETHAN KO
4.0 GPA. Four letters in soccer. Four-time all-conference member; all-state selection as a senior. Three letters in basketball. Senior class president. National Honor Society member.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Katy Dekker
KEARNEY
ELI ASHCROFT
3.93 GPA. Ranks 13th in class of 266. Four-time state champion wrestler, the 33rd wrestler in Missouri to accomplish the feat. Class 3 Missouri Male Wrestler of the Year. Four-time academic all-state team. Member of student council.
College: Kent State
Also nominated: Abby Smith, Adam Hoffman
LANSING
KAMRYN FARRIS
4.17 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Eighth in class of 184. Four volleyball letters; One state title; one state runner-up, one state third-place finish. Two all-state team selections. Four basketball letters; leading scorer and rebounder in school history. Multiple all-state teams. Three track letters, two-time state qualifier in 4x800 relay. Four-year student council member. Member of National English Honor Society and National Honor Society, as well as yearbook and broadcasting.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: none
LAWRENCE
EMILY SILVERS
4.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. First in class of 347. Three letters in volleyball and softball. All-conference and all-area team pick in volleyball. National Honor Society member. Interpersonal Skills (leadership) participant.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Eva Ackley, Gianna Cooper
LAWRENCE FREE STATE
JET DINEEN
4.01 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 451. Four football letters. 2021 Kansas 6A Defensive Player of the Year; 6A Kansas first-team all-state on offense and defense; 2021 Simone Award Finalist; 2021 conference player of the year. Two letters in basketball. National Honor Society member.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Chaney Finkeldei, Kenzie Marcum
LAWSON
TRYSTAN BRIGHTMAN
Lettered four years in football and track and field; two years in basketball. All conference running back and quarterback. 2021 all conference in long jump and 4x400 relay; 2021 all-district long jump. Member of National Honor Society and student council class secretary.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: none
LEAVENWORTH
CHLOE HERRING
4.1 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 10th in class of 310. Four golf letters; two-time all-conference pick. Four bowling letters, two-time state qualifier; one all-conference selection. One letter as tennis manager. Student council and National Honor Society member. Volunteered for Hope Pet Food Pantry, Veterans Day appreciation, and Salvation Army catering. Scored 31 on ACT.
College: Kansas
Also nominated: Luke Saurman, Wesley Redelberger
LEE’S SUMMIT
ALEX BENASSI
3.93 GPA. Three letters in basketball and football; one letter in golf. Two time first-team all-conference and all-district pick in basketball. 2021 all-conference quarterback and academic all-state. National Honor Society and DECA member. Member of Principal’s Student Advisory Team.
College: Missouri S&T
Also nominated: Logan Seabolt, Omara Love
LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH
CIERRA HARRISON
3.8 GPA. 104th in class of 416. Four softball letters; three-time first-team all-state pick. Three first-team all-region selections. Academic all-state in 2020-21. One basketball letter. Member of student activity, bible study, and leadership groups.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: Lena Baker, Landon Binger
LEE’S SUMMIT WEST
ELLA FRIES
4.4 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 15th in class of 505. Four swimming letters. Six-time all-state honorable mention and four all-state honors in 200 medley and freestyle relays. Member of three school-record relay teams. Four-year marching band and concert band member. Scored 30 on ACT.
College: Maryville University
Also nominated: Amika Tsay, Jackson Surratt
LIBERTY
SYDNEY MALOTT
3.83 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 146th in class. Four softball letters; all-district and all-conference all four years. Member of National Honor Society and academic all-state three years.
College: Illinois
Also nominated: none
LIBERTY NORTH
ADDISON BEAGLE
4.0 GPA. First in class of 531. Four volleyball letters. Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020; 2021 Evelyn Gates Award winner for most outstanding volleyball player in the KC Metro. 2021 Prep Volleyball all-American. Four-time academic all-state; National Honor Society member. Participates in Female Empowered, Key Club, Kindness Club, and is a student ambassador.
College: Drake
Also nominated: Justis Braden, Ainsley Dillon
LINCOLN PREP
A’JUSTIN PEARSON
4.1 GPA on weighted 4.0 average. Four basketball letters; three in football. First-team all-district and all-conference in basketball and football; third-team all-state in football. National Honor Society member. Volunteers for neighborhood cleanup community service.
College: Louisiana State
Also nominated: Sidney Richardson
LONE JACK
ADDISON RICHARDS
3.88 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four letters in both baseball and soccer. Three letters in basketball. Second-team all-state and all-metro in soccer. First-team all-conference and all-district in baseball. Ninth in 300-meter hurdles at state.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Gretschen Nichol, Drew Roth
LOUISBURG
DELANEY WRIGHT
4.0 GPA. First in class of 140. Four track and field letters. State champion in long jump, 200, and 400-meter as a junior. Holds school record in those three events. Three-time all-state team member. Four basketball letters. Team finished third in 2021. One cross country letter. Student council and National Honor Society member. Choir and FFA participant.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Thomas Koontz, Davis Guetterman
LUTHERAN
RACHEL ADA
4.0 GPA. First in her class. Four cross country letters. Four-time state qualifier and all-district team. Member of 2018 state champion and 2019 state runner-up teams. Two letters in track and field and basketball. Student council and National Honor Society member. Three years of drama; member of state runner-up academic team in 2021.
College: Concordia (Nebraska)
Also nominated: Zitong Zhu, James Schultz
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
OLIVIA KAY FAVERO
4.11 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Two soccer letters; all-state second-team and all-conference first-team pick. Twice lead team in scoring. Four tennis letters; three-time state qualifier with best finish of 7th. Four basketball letters; all-conference first-team as a senior. Two track and field letters. Class treasurer and National Honor Society treasurer. Chairperson of school’s canned food drive.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Madison Piva, Joseph Goodman
MIDWAY
BAYLEE RUSS
3.89 GPA on 4.0 scale. Third in class of 38. Four volleyball letters. Four all-district, three all-conference, and three Missouri all-state selections. Four basketball letters. Two all-district and all-conference teams. Four track letters, member of 4x400 state champion relay and 4x800 state runner-up relay teams. Vice president in student council and National Honor Society secretary. Also chapter president of FFA.
College: Mount Mercy University
Also nominated: none
MILL VALLEY
KATIE SCHWARTZKOPF
4.26 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 16th in class of 320. Four cross country letters. 2018 and 2021 individual cross country champion. Member of three state champion teams. GKCCCA Kansas Girls Runner of the Year in 2018 (finalist three other times). Three track and field letters. Member of 2019 4x800 state champion relay team; medalist in 2021 3,200 and 4x800 relay. National Honor Society member; volunteer with Relay for Life and local food kitchen.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Emree Zars, Cody Moore
NORTH KANSAS CITY
CHARLES MOLONEY
4.0 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 10th in class of 416. Three letters in cross country and track and field. Four-year district qualifier in cross country and three-time KC Metro medalist. Two-year president of National Honor Society. National President candidate for speech and debate. Academic all-American. Three-time national qualifier for Chamber Choir; ‘1’ rating at state in bass solo.
College: Oklahoma State
Also nominated: Keilan Powell Jr., Abbi Schweisberger
NORTHEAST
JUSTIN WHITE
3.09 GPA on 4.0 weighted scale. 21st in class of 126. Three letters in soccer; two in track and field; one in football. All-district wide receiver and all-conference linebacker. Member of Kappa League and juvenile judge with Kansas City Youth Court.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: none
NORTHLAND CHRISTIAN
JANIE WILSON
3.8 GPA. Four volleyball letters, four all-state academic teams. 2021 all-district pick. Three track letters; all-state academic team pick. One basketball letter and competed in dance for two years. Student body president, vice president, and treasurer
College: Spurgeon College
Also nominated: Kate Day, Blake Doss
NOTRE DAME DE SION
SOPHIA MCCLURE
4.3 GPA. Three golf letters. Two all-district teams; member of second-place state team. Three soccer letters and one basketball letter. Four years in student council; National Honor Society member; president of Health and Wellness Club.
College: Arkansas
Also nominated: Ava Albracht, Anna Sheedy
OAK GROVE
ANNIKA HOLTORF
4.29 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale; First in class of 126. Three soccer letters. Two all-conference, all-district, and all-district selections; one first team all-state pick. Holds seven school records. Class president for three years. Member of National Honor Society. Show choir participant
College: Avila
Also nominated: none
OAK PARK
TY CLEMENS
3.98 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Fourth in class of 376. Three football letters; two in basketball. Owns school single-season records in total yards, passing yards, as well as career touchdown passing record. Two-time academic all-state team member. Gold Medallion Honors Diploma, and won academic letter.
College: Dordt University
Also nominated: Ryan Bishop, Jett Sutton
ODESSA
BRITTANY AFFOLTER
3.67 GPA. 23rd in class of 115. Four softball letters. First-team all-state as a senior; two first-team all-conference and all-district picks. Three basketball letters; first-team all-district. Three track letters. Member of two top-10 state relay teams. Four years in student council; National Honor Society vice president. Four years of chamber choir.
College: Southeast Missouri State
Also nominated: Garrett Bayless, Keilee Johnson
OLATHE EAST
WILL WHITEHEAD
4.41 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ninth in class of 506. Four letters in cross country and track. Finished third in 2021 state cross country; qualified for state in 2019. 2021 4x800 state medalist. National Honor Society president, Spanish National Honor Society, member of marching and symphonic bands.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Abby Horsch, Andrew Pronske
OLATHE NORTH
KAYLEE TOBABEN
4.48 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 20th in class of 427. Four cross country letters. Four all-state teams, three all-metro teams, two academic all-state teams. Three track letters. All-metro and all-state in 2021; placed third at state in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600. National Art Honors Society member; student council participant, member of Distinguished Scholar Academy.
College: Iowa State
Also nominated: Yiibari Nwidadah, Delaney Stanley
OLATHE NORTHWEST
COLE ABENDROTH
4.36 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 17th in class of 429. Three soccer letters. Second-team all-state and first-team all-conference. One tennis letter.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Jayden Oquendo, Caroline Foeller
OLATHE SOUTH
MATTHEW TOLMAN
4.53 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Second in class of 496. Four letters in cross country. Member of 2021 state championship team; finished 6th at state to earn all-state honors. All metro first-team in 2021. Three letters in track and field. Two-time state qualifier in 3,200. Governor’s Scholar and National Honor Society member.
College: Creighton
Also nominated: Raegan Halliday, Jadyn Sheffield
OLATHE WEST
KENDALL STARCEVICH
4.55 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Second in class of 410. Four soccer letters. First-team all-state, second-team all-conference and all-Metro. Four basketball letters. Three golf letters, individual state qualifier. National Honor Society and Rho Kappa History National Honor Society member. FCA participant. Heisman high school scholarship winner, National History Day senior group exhibit national finalist, two bronze Presidential Service Awards.
College: Drake
Also nominated: Will Krzykowski
ORRICK
TRISTYN BANNING
3.88 GPA. Second in class. Four volleyball letters, academic all-state pick. Three basketball and softball letters. National Honor Society vice president and reporter for FFA.
College: Central Missouri State
Also nominated: none
OSAWATOMIE
AVERY DEMPSEY
4.0 GPA. First in class of 88. Four volleyball letters. First-team all-conference, three-time Tri-County All-Area team pick. Four basketball letters, member of state qualifier. Three track letters; state qualifier in javelin. Student council participant. Four years of FCA, science club and FCCLA.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Rosalyn Johnson, Matthew Fanning
OSKALOOSA
JUSTIN MILLER
3.72 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four letters in football and wrestling. Twice named a conference first-team offensive lineman; one all-state honorable mention offensive line. Three-time state qualifier in wrestling with a best finish of sixth. Three baseball letters. Three years in band, one in choir. Volunteered at local nursing home.
College: Mid-America Nazarene College
Also nominated: Cannon Cramer, Olivia Kilgo
PARK HILL
TOMMY MATTHYS
4.34 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Third in class of 475. Four letters in tennis. Team’s no. 1 player all four years; also earned all-conference and all-district honors all four years. Qualified for state as a junior. Vice President of National Honor Society; National Merit Commended Scholar. Two-time DECA district champion. AP Scholar with Distinction. College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Jake Powell, Kennedy Townsend
PARK HILL SOUTH
KEEGAN GOOD
4.21 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Eighth in class of 399. Three volleyball letters. Three all-district, all-conference, and academic all-state teams. Three soccer letters. One all-conference and all-district team. National Honor Society and National Merit Finalist. Received Superintendent art award.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: Kate Hermelink, Mudia Reuben
PEMBROKE HILL
RYAN LEE
3.8 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four letters in golf. Two-time individual state champion. His two-day score of 7-under 133 in 2021 is lowest in Missouri high school history, dating back to at least 1936. Team won 2019 Class 3 state title. Four years of debate, highlighted by all-district debate team as a senior. Qualified for individual debate Tournament of Champions. Volunteered as tutor at local education center.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Sarah Lattan, Audrey Lambert
PIPER
GRANT LOCKWOOD
4.33 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 152. Three letters in track and field. State medalist in the 400-meter dash, and also owns school record. Four letters in cross country. Three-time state qualifier.
College: Kansas
Also nominated: Kaia Cordill, Ian Hein
PLATTE COUNTY
KATE BROWN
3.9 GPA. Four volleyball letters. Two first-team all-state and all-district picks. Member of third-place team, the best finish in school history. Holds school career record in kills. National Honor Society member; four academic all-state teams.
College: Newberry
Also nominated: none
PLEASANT HILL
CHEYANN JOHNSON
4.39 GPA. Second in class of 157. First-team all-metro and all-conference, second-team all-state, academic all-state pick in soccer. Three girls wrestling letters; academic all-state. Two band letters. National Honor Society treasurer.
College: Missouri S&T
Also nominated: Ryan Perisho. Molli Johnson
PLEASANT RIDGE
LOGAN BEYING
3.98 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Ranks second in his class. Four cross country letters; all-league first-team. Three basketball letters. One baseball letter. Member of student council and national honor society.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Justin Johnson, Jordyn Mohan
RAYMORE-PECULIAR
JOHN ‘TUCKER’ MILLER
4.07 GPA on 5.0 scale. 41st in class of 460. Three football letters. First-team all-state and second-team all-metro as a junior. Twice named first-team all-conference. Four basketball letters; one all-conference honorable mention. Three baseball letters; second-team all-district as a junior. Member of student council and National Honor Society.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: Kanen Huff, Nicholas Karr
RAYTOWN
DYLAN SEARLS
3.91 GPA. Ranks 18th in class. Four swimming letters. Finished first-team all-state in three events as a senior. Three all-conference teams, lead team to four conference titles. One letter in golf. National Honor Society member. Received Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish as a senior.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Victoria Jones, Cedrick Owens Jr.
RAYTOWN SOUTH
LEAH MCINTYRE
4.3 GPA on 4.0 scale. First in class of 250. Four swimming letters. Four golf letters; two all-conference honorable mentions. President of National Honor Society. School musical ensemble, Youth Advisory Council member, president of Interact Club.
College: UMKC
Also nominated: Marcus Foster, Ja’Niyah Davis
RICHMOND
LAYNE CAVANAH
3.5 GPA on 4.0 scale. 40th in class of 104. Four letters in basketball, three-time all-conference pick. Three football letters; three-time all-conference pick. Two track letters, one all-state selection. Member of 4x100 runner-up team at state. Participates in leadership and journalism.
College: William Jewell
Also nominated: Alexis Bokarae
ROCKHURST
RYAN THOMPSON
4.6 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four soccer letters. Two-time first-team all-state at goalkeeper. Named Missouri Goalkeeper of the Year and twice named first-team all-Metro. Prep Soccer All-American and member of All-American Best XI. Member of state championship team, and recorded 30 shutouts in last two years. Scored 34 on the ACT. National Merit Society Commended Scholar; AP Scholar with Distinction; two-time president of the Regis Club (for community service).
College: Tulsa
Also nominated: Joey DeVreugd, Issac Koch
RUSKIN
FOLI ASSIONGBON
4.17 GPA on 4.0 weighted scale. First in class of 201. Four track and field letters. Named to all-conference, all-district, and all-sectional teams. Four letters in soccer. Member of student council for two years and National Honor Society member.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: DeAngelo Woods, Jayleigh Mieritz
ST. JAMES ACADEMY
ELIZABETH (BETH) GRANT
4.49 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four golf letters. Four top-10 individual state finishes, including runner-up as a junior. Multiple all-state and all-conference picks. Four basketball letters. Two swimming letters. Four debate letters, two-time state qualifier. National Honor Society member. More than 120 hours of community service over high school career.
College: Nebraska-Kearney
Also nominated: Hannah Cordova, Tyler Claiborne
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
JACQUELINE DEMAREA
Third in class of 97. Four basketball letters; second-team all-district as a junior. Three soccer letters; two cheerleading letters. VP of National Honor Society; student ambassador, student leadership; peer mentor for SMILE Zone.
College: Rockhurst
Also nominated: Anna Coke, Kayce Cooper
ST. TERESA’S
AMELIA ARRIETA
96.62 on 100 scale GPA. One cross country letter. Finished third at state in 2021; all-Metro first-team pick; GKCCCA Missouri Girls Runner of the Year. Owns school 5K record. One track letter. All-state in 4x800 relay. National Honor Society member. Yearbook staff member; Hispanic Honor Society member; math tutoring and campus ministry.
College: Villanova
Also nominated: London Porter, Katie Massman
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
BEATRICE CULLITON
4.5 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four basketball letters. 5A Player of the Year and state tournament most outstanding player in 2021. DiRenna Award finalist in 2021 and 2022. Three-time all-tournament team at state. McDonalds all-American nominee. Member of two state title teams. School’s leading rebounder; third in career points. National Honor Society member. Special Olympics basketball coach.
College: Oklahoma
Also nominated: Logan Seger
ST. PIUS X
JACK MOSH
4.3 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 76. Four football letters. Twice named all-state quarterback, member of 2022 All-Simone quarterback; three-time all-conference at quarterback and defensive back. Lead team to consecutive state championship game appearances. Owns school single-season records in completions and yards. National Honor Society member.
College: Missouri
Also nominated: Adanna Anikwe, Megan Giffin
SCHLAGLE
SHEA RAINEY
3.59 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 12th in class of 149. Four letters in football; all-conference at linebacker and receiver in 2021. Two basketball letters. Four baseball letters. Helped save his family from a house fire; spent senior year in temporary housing while home is being rebuilt.
College: Ottawa
Also nominated: Aleah Netherland, Ebany Hernandez
SHAWNEE MISSION EAST
TESS ROMAN
4.76 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four golf letters. Member of two state champion teams. Finished runner-up at state twice and in top-10 all four years. Four-time first-team all-state selection. Three basketball letters; 2021 all-conference honorable mention. Three track letters. Four combined top-10 finishes in long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Volunteers for math tutoring and youth golf camps. Member of SHARE volunteer organization and Rainbow Mennonite Youth Group.
College: Wichita State
Also nominated: Emmett Hill, Brady Fankhauser
SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH
JOSIE TYRRELL
3.94 GPA on 4.0 scale. Seventh in class of 307. Four cross country letters. State qualifier and all-conference selection. Four track letters. State qualifier and all-state in 4x800 relay. National Honor Society member, member of drumline, pep band, and band section leader. Also made all-state ensemble.
College: University of St. Mary’s
Also nominated: Jake Schneider, Owen Dooley
SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST
ELLA MACKIEWICZ
4.47 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 40th in class of 409. Four track and field letters. Finished second at state in high jump and 4x400 relay; third in 400 in 2021. Team finished third. Holds school record in high jump. Three basketball letters. Member of 2021 state title team. Three volleyball letters; member of three sub-state championship teams. Student council and National Honor Society member. Three years of FCA; barn hand at Covered Marena for six years; one year volunteer at animal shelter.
College: Wisconsin-Platteville
Also nominated: none
SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH
EMMA THURSTON
4.12 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Four soccer letters; second-team all-state and first-team all-conference in 2021. Three basketball letters; two-time all-conference honorable mention pick. National Honor Society member; member of Win 4 KC student board.
College: Southern Indiana
Also nominated: Lloyd Dodson
SHAWNEE MISSION WEST
TYLER VANDEVENTER
4.78 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Three soccer letters, one all-conference honor. Three tennis letters. One letter in basketball and bowling. Member of student council and National Honor Society. National Merit Finalist.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Sameen Basha, Ryan Buckner
SMITHVILLE
REGAN DUNN
4.27 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. First in class of 221. Four letters in soccer. Twice named first-team all-district and 2021 academic all-state. Four cross country letters. Two-time state qualifier and two-time all-district. Three track and field letters. State qualifier in 4x800 relay. Member of student council. AP Scholar with Distinction, Department of Education Presidential scholar nominee, National English Honor Society Member. Accepted into Mizzou Medical Exploration program.
College: Illinois
Also nominated: Kyle Corkill, Nick Harlin
SOUTHEAST
SHAYLA NELSON
3.16 GPA. 10th in class of 113. Three basketball letters. Three volleyball letters. Three track letters. National Honor Society member. Attended culinary school at Kansas City Public School Technical Training Center.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Jerrod Smith
SPRING HILL
MAGGIE MCNALLY
3.98 GPA on 4.0 scale. 19th in class of 197. Multiple softball letters. Honorable mention all-conference in 2021. Four-year participant in choir and school musicals. Member of student council. Also participates in powerlifting.
College: Johnson County CC
Also nominated: Vanessa Murray
STALEY
KAI WHITE
3.95 GPA on 4.0 scale. 25th in class of 448. Three cross country letters, qualified for state in 2021. Three track and field letters, finished fourth in 800 at 2021 Class 5 state meet. Member of scholar bowl and symphonic band. Scored 34 on the ACT.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: Bryce McCarthy
SUMMIT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
MADELIN MCCONNELL
3.9 GPA on 4.0 scale. 18th in class of 89. Three basketball letters. All-conference honorable mention, MSHSAA Sportsmanship Award, scholar athlete. Three soccer letters. All-regional first team; twice named to all-conference first-team. Holds MSHSAA state record in assists per season. Student council and National Honor Society member. Preschool church volunteer, concert chorale member, student ambassador.
College: Cedarville University
Also nominated: Cale Johnson, Will Osborne
SUMNER
ROBERT GRAVE-DYE
3.16 GPA. 129th in class of 198. Two letters in football and basketball. One letter in track and field.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: JaNae McKelvy
TONGANOXIE
ANDEW WILLSON
4.24 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Sixth in class of 132. Three basketball letters, all-conference honorable mention. Three golf letters. One all-conference honor; member of state-qualifying team as a freshman. Four years of student council. National Honor Society member. Educational Excellence participant for three years.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: none
TRUMAN
SARINA ULBERG
4.07 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. 36th in class of 339. Four volleyball letters. Two first-team all-metro selections, two first-team all-conference teams, first-team all-district as a junior. Three track letters; first-team all-conference. National Honor Society member. Winner of McCoy Award and academic letter.
College: Johnson County CC
Also nominated: Jack Getman, Katie Sutton
TURNER
MARTIN FIGUEROA LANDEROS
3.5 GPA on 4.0 scale. 25th in class. Three soccer letters. Three first-team all-conference picks, 2021 conference player of the year and all-state honorable mention. Member of student council and Captain’s Council – Leadership.
College: Undecided
Also nominated: none
UNIVERSITY ACADEMY
BROOKLYN DAVIS
3.43 GPA. Fourth in class of 34. Four track letters. Nine conference titles in three events; two-time state qualifier. Four all-conference teams. Four basketball letters; all-conference and all-district selection.
College: Milwaukee Technical
Also nominated: Tyrese Wilson
VAN HORN
KEANU SUA
4.36 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Seventh in class of 231. Three wrestling letters. Three-time all-conference pick; one state qualification. Two track and field and football letters. Student council president, Multicultural Club president, Questbridge National College program participant.
College: Stanford
Also nominated: Felicia Lawrence, Tyrique Ross
WASHINGTON
ROSIE LOPEZ
3.85 GPA on 4.0 scale. 14th in class of 220. Four soccer letters; three bowling letters; one volleyball letter. Editor of senior yearbook, first-chair orchestra, and member of theater club.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Akou Amedanou, Dante Wimer
WEST PLATTE
KAITLYNN GROOM
3.89 GPA on 4.0 scale. Fifth in class of 43. Three track letters. Two all-state, all-district, and all-conference teams. Member of 2019 4x800 state champion relay team and state championship team. Two top-five state finishes in 2021 state meet. Four cross country letters. Four all-conference and two all-district teams. Four volleyball letters; all-district honorable mention. Student council president, secretary, and treasurer. National Honor Society treasurer. Drum major, FFA and FCA member.
College: Pittsburg State
Also nominated: Trent Taylor, Tanner Rowe
WILLIAM CHRISMAN
KAMERON THOMPSON
4.21 GPA on weighted 4.0 scale. Seventh in class of 270. Four football letters; four all-conference picks and two all-district selections. Four track and field letters, named all-conference and all-district as a junior. One basketball letter. National Honor Society member.
College: Kansas State
Also nominated: Dayne Herl, Kiersten Playter
WINNETONKA
KIRSTYN CRANE
3.91 GPA on 4.0 scale. Sixth in class of 256. Two volleyball letters. All-district second-team. Two all-state academic teams. All-conference team. Student council treasurer, lead yearbook photographer, volunteer at Kansas City Zoo, National Society of High School Scholars, symphonic orchestra.
College: Benedictine
Also nominated: Mya Ramsey, Ty Ceasar
WYANDOTTE
CARLOS CASTRO-DE SANTIAGO
3.5 GPA on 4.0 scale. 43rd in class of 299. Four cross country letters and baseball letters. Received Friends of the Kaw Internship. Completed 2019 Kansas City Marathon.
College: Central Missouri
Also nominated: Adriana Molina, Veraly Gomez
This story was originally published June 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.