Vote: Who should be Statesman Journal high school girls Athlete of the Year?

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Jun 29, 2025 - 12:00

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Vote: Who should be Statesman Journal high school girls Athlete of the Year?

The 2024-25 high school sports season has wrapped up, and athletes from the Salem-Keizer area produced countless memorable performances this past school year.

Now it's your turn to vote for who is the best.

Nominees for Statesman Journal girls Athlete of the Year are:

Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field
Emma Brewer, Salem Academy basketball
Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball
Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling and soccer
Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball
Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country
Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball
Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball
Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer
Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball
Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball
Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball
Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball
Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling
Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball
Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field
Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field
Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball
Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball

Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at 11 a.m. Friday, July 4.

Kennedy’s Tia Allen throws during the 2A discus during day one of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field

The senior claimed the Class 2A state discus title and took seventh in the shot put. Allen finished the season with a personal-best discus throw of 149 feet, 4 inches, third-best in the state regardless of classification.

Salem Academy's Emma Brewer spikes the ball against Western Christian. Brewer was voted the 2A volleyball state player of the year.

Emma Brewer, Salem Academy volleyball

The junior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after leading Salem Academy to the state title.

Brewer, who is committed to play at San Diego, racked up 27 kills in a 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 win over Crosshill Christian in the state title game at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.

McKay’s Sarahi Chavez is paraded as the winner in the girls 6A/5A 100-pound match at the OSAA Wrestling State Championships March 1 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling

The senior captured her second state wrestling title, winning the 6A/5A 100-pound championship by technical fall despite wrestling with a ruptured knee ligament.

Scio's Myleigh Cooper was named the 3A softball state player of the year for the third time after leading the Loggers to the program's first state championship.

Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball

For the third consecutive season, Cooper was named the Class 3A state player of the year. A Cal Poly signee, she led Scio to its first-ever state title.

Cooper was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oregon. She broke the state record for home runs, ending her career with 75. Cooper finished as the third-winningest pitcher in state history with 83 victories.

Silverton’s Hadley Craig (3) goes up for a basket during the OSAA 5A semifinals against South Albany on March 14 at Linfield University in McMinnville.

Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball

The junior earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping Silverton to a third-place finish at the state tournament at Linfield University in McMinnville. Craig was named to the all-tournament team.

North Salem’s Nelida Dalgas competes in the 6A girls 3,000 meters during the second day of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships on May 30 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country

The junior took second place at the Class 6A state cross-country meet at Lane Community College. A week later, she took sixth place at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships in Eagle, Idaho. Dalgas' personal-best time of 16 minutes, 46.3 seconds at the Rose City Championship Invite was the 18th-fastest in the nation this season.

During the spring track and field season, Dalgas placed second in the 3,000 (9:49.45) and seventh in the 1,500 (4:38.82) at the state meet at Hayward Field.

Sprague's Brooke Friesen, right, is awarded the Volleyball Athlete of the Year during the 2025 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 10 in Salem.

Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball

The sophomore was named the Central Valley Conference player of the year and earned Class 6A first-team all-state recognition after helping Sprague reach the state quarterfinals.

Philomath's Belle Muir, left, and Stayton's Kenzi Hollenbeck wrestle for the ball during the OSAA 4A girls state championship at Forest Grove High School on March 15 in Forest Grove.

Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball

The senior was named the Oregon West Conference co-player of the year and earned Class 4A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Stayton to the state title.

In the spring, Hollenbeck earned first-team all-league honors on the softball field.

Salem Academy’s Celia James wins the 2A girls 4x100-meter relay during the second day of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships on May 30 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer

For the third time in her career, the Crusaders' versatile senior won the Class 2A 400-meter state title (57.69) on the track. She took third in the 800 (2:24.41) and ran anchor legs for Salem Academy's state title-winning 4x400 relay team (4:04.62) and first-place 4x100 relay team (50.48).

On the basketball court, James earned first-team all-state honors after leading the Crusaders to the 2A state title.

She was a team captain for Salem Academy's soccer team, which went 11-6 on the year and reached the second round of the state playoffs.

West Salem's Braeli Martin pitches against McNary during a game at West Salem High School on April 30 in Salem.

Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball

The Titans' senior was named the Class 6A pitcher of the year and earned first-team all-state honors after helping West Salem reach the state quarterfinals.

On the basketball court, Martin was a first-team all-Central Valley Conference selection.

On the volleyball court, she earned second-team all-league recognition.

Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball

The senior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after helping Western Christian reach the state title game.

Muroya was named to the all-tournament first team.

Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball and track and field

The freshman took third place in both the 100 (12.28) and 200 (25.05) at the Class 5A state meet at Hayward Field.

She also played third base and hit leadoff for Dallas' softball team, which reached the state playoffs.

The Amity girls basketball team defeated Banks, 43-41, in Coos Bay to capture the Class 3A state title.

Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball

On the soccer field, the junior earned Class 3A/2A/1A first-team all-state recognition and was named 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 co-player of the year after leading Amity to the second round of the state playoffs.

On the basketball court, Nisly earned honorable mention all-state honors while helping the Warriors win the 3A state title.

Dallas’ Polly Olliff won her third OSAA 6A/5A girls wrestling title at the state tournament. This one came at 115 pounds.

Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling

The senior won her third consecutive 6A/5A wrestling title, this time capturing the 115-pound championship by 10-3 decision.

Olliff won the 105 title as a sophomore before winning the 110 crown as a junior.

Santiam’s Averie Peterson competes in the 2A girls 1,500 meters during the second day of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships on May 30 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field

The versatile senior won the Class 2A 800-meter state title with a state meet-record time of 2:15.71. She took second at state in the 1,500 (4:41.94) and triple jump (36-4 3/4).

Peterson, a St. Mary's College track and field commit, finished the season with 2A top-10 marks in the 200, 400, 800, 1,500, long jump and triple jump.

Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball

The senior was named the Class 3A state player of the year after leading Jefferson to the state semifinals.

Cascade’s Lillian Pickett celebrates a win in the 4A girls 400 meters during the third day of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships on May 31 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field

For the second consecutive season, the senior won the Class 4A 400 state title. She clocked a personal-best time of 55.77 — the sixth-fastest time in the state this season, regardless of classification. Pickett's time was also the third-fastest ever for a 4A girls runner in the state of Oregon.

She also finished as runner-up in the 200 (25.25).

Cascade's Malia Scanlan hits the ball during the game against North Marion on May 7 in Turner.

Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball

The Cougars' senior was named the Oregon West Conference player of the year after helping the Cougars reach the state playoffs.

A Western Oregon University signee, Scanlan hit .543 on the year and ranked among the state leaders with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 62 RBIs.

Silverton's Marley Wertz (44) shoots during a girls soccer match against David Douglas. Wertz was a first-team all-state selection.

Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball

The Foxes' sophomore was named the Mid-Willamette Conference player of the year and earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Silverton to the state quarterfinals.

On the basketball court, Wertz received honorable mention all-league recognition.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote for Statesman Journal high school girls Athlete of the Year