Meet this year’s outstanding Kansas City Star Scholar-Athlete honorees, by school

You won’t find a finer group of young people in 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.

Honorees are listed below, alphabetized by school. The 2026 nominations came from faculty and staff at dozens of 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 campuses.

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

Judges reviewed all nominees’ portfolios for athletic and academic prowess, as well as standout examples of community service.

Along with the Royals, our partner in presenting these awards, we are proud to share a little bit more about each honoree.

Barstow

Eshan Patel

Valedictorian with 4.71 GPA. Earned four varsity letters in soccer and two in tennis. Made all-district, all-conference, and all-region teams before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society.

College: Northwestern.

Belton

Bella Scherfenberg

4.26 GPA, ranked first in her class. Earned four varsity letters in volleyball, three in track and field, three in wrestling and basketball. four-time all-State and all-Conference. National Honor Society; graduated with 23 college credits.

College: Texas.

Bishop Miege

Daniel Neenan

4.46 GPA on a 4.0 scale, ranked 10th in class. Earned three varsity letters in football and baseball. First-team All-EKL and first-team all-state. Was a member of student government and the National Honor Society.

College: Missouri.

Bishop Ward

Adalize Arevalo

4.36 GPA on a 5.0 scale used for honors students. Ranked fifth in her class. Earned four varsity letters in volleyball and made history as first female wrestler at Bishop Ward to qualify for state in 155-pound weight class. National Honor Society.

College: Grinnell.

Blue Springs

Eveylynn Lowe

Gymnastics accomplishments include placing second in floor exercise and third in vault at 2025 Winter Cup in Louisville. Also competed at U.S. Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. Maintained 3.86 GPA.

College: Oklahoma.

Blue Springs South

Mary Hoffman

4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale; ranked 63rd in her class. Earned four varsity letters in soccer and two in softball. First-team all-State. Won Class 5A softball state championship as freshman. National Honor Society and a member of student government.

College: Oregon State.

Blue Valley West

Carlie Pandjaris

4.068 weighted GPA. Earned four varsity letters in volleyball and four in track and field. Made first-team All-EKL in 2025. Exceeded 500 career digs. Captain of KSHAA state championship team.

College: Rockhurst.

De Soto

Sydney Cinotto

4.218 weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, ranked 24th in class. Earned four varsity letters in soccer and basketball and one in bowling. Four-time all-conference pick in soccer, once in basketball. National Honor Society. Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

College: Kansas State.

East High

Jonathan Labrada

Earned three varsity letters in baseball and one in football. All-conference selection. Member of the Sabor Latino leadership club at East High School.

College: Avila.

Eudora

Bailey Hammerschmidt

4.0 GPA, No. 1 in class. Earned three varsity letters in track and field and two in volleyball. Class 4A state qualifier in triple jump and 4x100 relay; earned sixth in 4x100. All-area 2025 in volleyball. National Honor Society and senior advisory member.

College: Kansas.

Fort Osage

Isaac Ward

3.9 GPA, ranked 49th in graduating class. Earned four varsity letters in football and wrestling. Named first-team all-state and won a Class 5 wrestling state championship.

College: Missouri Baptist.

Gardner Edgerton

Cooper Payton

4.50 weighted GPA, ranked third in his class. Earned three varsity letters in cross-country and one in baseball. Helped Gardner Edgerton qualify for state in 2025. Kansas Governor’s Scholar and National Honor Society member. Played in the orchestra.

College: Central Missouri.

Hogan Prep

Samya Daniels

3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale; ranked third in her class. Earned four varsity letters in basketball and three in track and field. Made all-district in track and field.

College: undecided.

Kearney

Whitaker Steward

3.994 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Missouri Swimmer of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Seven-time individual state champion. Earned four varsity letters in swimming and four in cross country/track. Member of the USA Junior Team. Student council president 2021-25.

College: Tennessee.

Lansing

Avery Sands

4.0 on a 4.0 scale, ranked 25th in her class. Earned four varsity letters in volleyball. Won the UKC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024. Offensive Player of the Year and state all-tournament team in 2025. UKC first team in 2024 and 2025.

College: Missouri State.

Lawson

Kamryn Florea

4.27 GPA, ranked seventh in her class. Earned four varsity letters in softball, track, and basketball. Made all-state in all three. School record in pole vault. Student council and National Honor Society.

College: Missouri Southern.

Lee’s Summit

Paul Kim

4.59 GPA, ranked No. 2 in class. Four swim letters, three years all-conference, all-state 200 medley relay as junior/senior; All-state 200 free relay as senior. School records in both. National Honor Society; VP of Spanish National Honor Society.

College: undecided.

Lee’s Summit North

Tre Paulding

4.42 GPA on a 4.0 weighted system, ranked fourth in class. Earned four varsity letters in basketball and two in both soccer and baseball. Three-time all-conference, three-time all-district, three-time team MVP; conference player of the year, all-state.

College: Drexel.

Lee’s Summit West

Landon Wegleitner

4.29 GPA on a 4.0 scale, ranked 26th in his class. Earned four varsity letters in track and field and cross country. All-state as a junior and senior. First-team all-conference and first-team all-district as a senior.

College: Northwest Missouri St.

Lincoln Prep

Kaleb Smith

3.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale; ranked 22nd in his class. Earned three varsity letters in football and two in baseball. Mr. Blue and Gold winner in 2024, defensive player of the year in 2025. National Honor Society and student government.

College: Alabama State.

Louisburg

Andrew Jamison

4.0 GPA and valedictorian honors. Four varsity letters as a swimmer. All-league first team all four years. All-state final three years. Holds five school records for swimming. National Honor Society and student government.

College: Rockhurst.

Lutheran

Joel Ada

3.94 GPA, ranked third in his class. Earned four varsity letters in both cross country and track and field. Academic All-State during the 2025-2026 season. National Honor Society and student government.

College: Kansas.

Midway

Cooper Jones

4.041 GPA on a 4.0 scale, ranked first in his class. Earned four varsity letters in football and two in baseball. 2023 most improved player. 2024 Academic All-State. 2025 defensive player of the year; 12th-grade National Honor Society, class president.

College: UMKC.

Oak Grove

Luke Schartz

4.57 weighted GPA, ranked fifth in his class. Earned four varsity letters in football and basketball and three in baseball. Leading passer in Oak Grove history. Team captain. Student class treasurer and National Honor Society.

College: undecided.

Odessa

Brooklyn Burks

4.070 GPA, ranked 17th in class. Earned three varsity letters in softball and three in track and field and basketball. State runner-up in Class 3 shot put. Second-team all-conference infielder in softball. National Honor Society.

College: State Fair C.C.

Olathe East

Audrey Lennard

4.5 GPA, ranked 11th in class. Earned four varsity letters in wrestling, two in cross country. Class 6A Girls Senior Wrestler of Year (Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association). State champion at 145-lb. class. Qualified for state four times.

College: undecided.

Olathe North

Avani Hocker Singh

4.612 on a 4.0 scale, 22nd in class. Two-time All-American at state. MileSplit Kansas Girls Athlete of Year. Ninth all-time Kansas history for 300 hurdles; second all-time 400 hurdles. Black Student Union Executive, Diversity Council-founder/VP.

College: Yale.

Olathe Northwest

Bryan Branstrom

3.71 GPA. Four letters each in swimming, tennis. All-league two years, all-state two years, 50-free state champ 2026, 100-free state runner-up 2026. Broke league records in 50 free & 100 free. Regional doubles champs 2025, eighth place at state 2025.

College: Oklahoma Christian.

Olathe South

Quinncy Schiessler

4.63 weighted GPA on a 5.0 scale, seventh in class. Varsity letters (four) in soccer. All-league seoncd team 2025, two-time captain. defensive player of year ‘24, ‘25. National Honor Society and Terry James Social Science Achievement Award.

College: Mid-America Nazarene.

Olathe West

Hayden Renoux

4.61 GPA, ranked fifth in class. Four varsity letters each in track, cross country, swimming. State champ in 500 free 2025. Runner-up in ‘26. First-team all-state swimming; nine state medals. National Honor Society and student govt.; National Merit finalist.

College: N/A.

Osawatomie

Jasper Sallee

A 3.88 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in basketball and two in football. Team captain as a junior and senior. Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All Academic All-State Honoree, National Honor Society. Student Council.

College: Johnson County Community College

Paola

Brock Johnson

3.88 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in wrestling. First all-class all four years of high school. Three-time regional wrestler of the year and three-time 4A state champion. Four-year member of FBLA and STUCO.

College: South Dakota St.

Park Hill

Myer Cohara

4.13 GPA on 4.0 weighted scale. Three letters volleyball, three soccer. Varsity soccer captain as senior; three-time academic all-state; 2025 conference champ in volleyball and soccer. National Honor Society VP; Fellowship of Christian Athletes president.

College: Missouri.

Pembroke Hill

Helena ‘Lanie’ Tietjen

4.0 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned two varsity letters in swimming. Six-time Missouri State individual champion. Senior class president.

College: Princeton.

Piper

Nora Turney

3.80 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in track and field and powerlifting. 5A state powerlifting champion. 5A state champion in 100-meter hurdles. Currently ranked No. 1 in 100-meter hurdles.

College: Texas at Tyler.

Pleasant Hill

Fredrick Manda

4.38 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked third in class of 191. Earned three varsity letters in football and two in track and field. Football team captain. Two-time all-district and three-time Academic All-State.

College: Missouri S&T.

Raymore-Peculiar

Gabe Voelker

4.29 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked fifteenth in a class of 412. Earned four varsity letters in cross country and track and field. Three-time all-state; 2025 state champion in 3,200 meters. Four-year All-Conference Suburban Gold.

College: Michigan St.

Raytown

Brendan Santellan

3.98 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in cross country and track and field. Two-time cross-country all-conference. Track and field all-conference first team. State qualifier in cross country and 4x800 relay. National Honor Society.

College: McKendree.

Raytown South

Ryan Willengton

3.80 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked No. 28 in a class of 244. Earned three varsity letters in golf. Participated in symphonic, pep and jazz bands. Was part of mock trial team.

College: Longview Community College

Richmond

Genevieve Didier

Earned a 4.11 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked second in class of 112. Two varsity letters volleybal, three basketball, one golf. Volleyball team captain. All-league first-team basketball. Academic all-conference. National Honor Society. Student government president.

College: Missouri.

Rockhurst

Liam Dean

Earned a 4.5 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked top five in a class of 200. Earned four varsity letters in soccer. Two-time all-district. First-team all-metro, all-region, all-state. National Honor Society,

College: Rockhurst.

Saint James

Ellie Wurtenberger

Earned a 4.06 on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked No. 7 in class of 250. Four varsity letters in cross country and track and field. Senior team captain. State champion in 400 and 4x400 relay, regional in 400, 200, 4x400. National Honor Society.

College: Benedictine.

Saint Michael the Archangel

Phillip Howard

Earned a 3.93 GPA on A 4.0 weighted scale. Four varsity letters in basketball and three in soccer. Three-time all-conference in basketball. All-state and defender of year in soccer. National Honor Society. Peer Mentor in Special Needs SMILE Program.

College: Rockhurst.

Saint Pius X

Grayson Vacanti

4.23 weighted on a 4.0 scale. Ranked fifth in a class of 97. Earned four varsity letters in soccer and basketball and one in golf. Three-time first-team all-state and all-conference. National Honor Society. Student government.

College: North Dakota.

Saint Teresa’s

Muriel Gamble

4.0 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned three varsity letters in soccer. Varsity soccer captain. Second-team all-district. ECNL Midwest conference champion. National Honor Society; 130+ community-service hours.

College: Washington University

Shawnee Mission East

Catherine Beltrame

4.73 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in tennis and three in track and field and two in cross country. All-City track and field selection in the 400 meters and 800 meters. Distance team captain. National Honor Society.

College: undecided.

Shawnee Mission North

Brittney Betancourt

4.25 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in cross country and track and field. Four-time state qualifier in cross country. Three-time regional qualifier in track and field. National Honor Society.

College: UMKC.

Shawnee Mission West

Brendan Hunn

4.73 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in soccer and one in tennis. Second-team All-Sunflower League. National Honor Society. Student government. National Merit finalist.

College: Wartburg.

Smithville

Emily Duckwitz

4.31 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked first in class of 198. Earned three varsity letters in track and field, four in dance. National Dance Association All-American. Pole vault, conference champion. National Honor Society. Science Club founder and president.

College: Stanford.

Staley

Sam Hennenfent

4.75 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked first in class of 515. Two-time state champion. NISCA High School All-American. Four-time school record holder. National Honor Society vice president. National Merit semifinalist.

College: Duke.

Sumner

Emily Olivas Varela

4.14 GPA on 4.0 weighted scale. Two varsity letters cross country and track, three in soccer. First-team all-conference in cross country and track. League champ in 4x800 meter relay. Three-time league champ soccer. National Honor Society. Latino Student Union.

College: Kansas.

Tonganoxie

Kalea Baldock

Earned a 4.23 weighted GPA. Ranked third in her class. Earned four varsity letters in volleyball, three in basketball and softball. 2024 Frontier League honorable mention. National Honor Society. Student Government president.

College: Auburn.

Turner

Isabella Brown

Earned a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked 22nd in a class of 207. Earned four varsity letters in golf and three in wrestling. Two-time state qualifier. State runner-up in wrestling.

College: Kansas.

University

Cameron McFarlin

3.5 weighted GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Earned four varsity letters in track and field, three in football. Four-time all-state medalist. Multi-conference champion. School record holder. National Honor Society.

College: Houston.

Van Horn

Jan Carlo Pena Sanchez

4.07 GPA on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked 14th in a class of 239. Earned four varsity letters in soccer. All-state, all-region and all-conference honoree. National Honor Society.

College: undecided.

Washington

Reddi Johnson

Earned a 3.93 GPA on 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked fifth in class of 277. Four varsity letters in wrestling, two in track and field, three in cross country. Wrestling state champ 2026 at 130 pounds. National Honor Society. Air Force JROTC.

College: undecided.

William Chrisman

Grace Candillo

4.3 on a 4.0 weighted scale. Ranked ninth in a class of 301. Earned three varsity letters in soccer, two in volleyball, cross country and swim and dive. All-conference in soccer. National Honor Society. Debate team, theater and choir.

College: Missouri.