With the 2025-26 high school season wrapping up, it’s time for readers to choose the Herald-Times IU Health Girls Athlete of the Year in our latest poll.
Here are some of the top performers and our players of the year in each sport for you to choose from. Readers may vote as much as they like until the poll closes at noon on Friday, June 26.
Ellie Barada, South, Sr.
Track: Had a heck of a high school season and took it to another level on a national stage last week, taking second in the 800 in 2:02.72 at the USATF U20 meet to earn a spot on Team USA for the World Championships. She then went 4:34.25 to win the mile race at the Nike National meet. At state, repeated as 800 champ (school record 2:05.33) and anchored 4×800 to second and 4×400 to eighth as the Panthers were state runners-up, best team finish ever. Also set school record in 1,600. Soccer: Speedy center-mid was more involved in the attack this year, finishing with 14 assists to go with three goals. Will run at North Carolina.
Ally Bland, Edgewood, Sr.
Softball: Taylor-bound pitcher went 24-4 with an 0.86 ERA and two saves, striking out 291 in 170 innings. At the plate, batted .452 (47-104) with seven doubles, two homers, eight steals and 20 RBIs. Second Team All-State. Basketball: All-Area performer led Mustangs in scoring at 13.6 ppg while shooting 43% from the floor and the same at the 3-point line (43-of-99). Averaged 2.7 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.3 assists per game. Cross country: Varsity runner helped Mustangs make it back to the state meet with a season best 20:59 at regional.
Mira Bruce, North, Jr.
H-T Girls Golfer of the Year improved her average by an amazing 27 shots from last season to 87 for 18 holes. Seventh at Conference Indiana Tournament (90) and was fifth at sectional (91) as North made it out as a team.
Val Bunde, South, Sr.
The first repeat winner of H-T Soccer Player of the Year honors was a big-time playmaker for the Panthers, who were sectional champions, piling up 22 goals and a career-best 20 assists. ICSA All-District 4 and Second Team All-State. Will play at Brandeis.
Everly Clark, South, Jr.
H-T Volleyball Player of the Year led the Panthers to their first sectional title since 2018 and a school record 28 wins. She was the top offensive threat on a balanced team reaching double-figures in kills 18 times to finish with 354. She was No. 2 in digs at 267 and 70 aces and 47 blocks. Named Class 4A All-District by the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association.
Esther Crane, Eastern Greene, Sr.
One of the T-Birds’ top athletes in cross country and track. Made state cross country meet for a school record third time after missing the early part of season due to illness. Set her career best at regional in 19:05. Regional qualifier and school record holder in the 3,200 (11:25.92). Helped 4×800 to regional where it lowered the school record to 10:29.71. Will run at Grace.
Macey Crider, Edgewood, Sr.
Track and field: State qualifier in the shot put in her first year in the event, she hit the 40-7½ during the season, while also the Mustangs’ top sprinter with best times of 12.76 in the 100 and 27.00 in the 200. Anchor for the 4×100 team that lowered the school record to 49.61 at regional. Basketball: All-Area performer averaged 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, blocked 12 shots and had 44 steals. Finished with 946 points and 579 rebounds. Soccer: Starting goalkeeper for the WIC champion Mustangs with 103 saves and nine shutouts after picking up the sport as a sophomore. Will play basketball and run track at DePauw.
Carla Demeter, South, Jr.
Repeat winner as H-T Girls Tennis Player of the Year, played No. 1 singles again, leading the Panthers to a repeat sectional title and a run to the regional final.
Harper Eakin, South, Sr.
H-T Co-Swimmer of the Year has been a Panthers’ distance standout all four years, earning seven individual spots at state in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Will swim at Ohio.
Taylor Helbert, Lighthouse Christian, Jr.
A force for the Lions’ volleyball team, leading it with an area best 443 kills while hitting .272. Fired 71 aces, had an area best 112 blocks (88 solos) and 262 digs.
Jaclyn Hillenberg, South, Sr.
H-T Wrestler of the Year was an unlikely state qualifier, down 13-0 in her second match at regional and wincing on an injured leg. But she came up with a pin to secure a spot in the state finals. Will complete at Manchester.
Julia Lashley, South, Sr.
Area’s top basketball player the past two seasons. On track for another huge season when she broke a bone in her right hand late in the season. Came back for the regional, but was limited. Averaged 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal per game and reached the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Jasmine Martoglio, South, Sr.
H-T Cross Country Runner of the Year had a best time of 17:40 and was just off that mark (17:45) with the best time a Panther has even run at state while taking ninth and helping the Panthers to their best ever finish at state (third). This spring, had a leg for the state runner-up 4×800 relay and went on to move up the field to take seventh in the 3,200 in a school record 10:33.48 as South took second as a team for another best ever finish.
Adriene Shaevitz, South, Sr.
Track: Had a breakout season this spring, smashing the school record in the 100 hurdles, dropping it to 13.84 while winning a regional title and went on to place fourth at state. Picked up the 300s for the first time and got within an eyelash of the school record in that event, making it to state with a 46.55. In addition, she won another fourth-place medal at state as the Panthers broke the school record in the 4×100 with a 47.54. Also broke a 48-year-old school record in the long jump with a leap of 18-10. Volleyball: Had 164 kills while hitting .150 for an offense with several weapons and had 64 blocks and 52 digs. Will run at IU Indianapolis.
Aubrey Sparks, Owen Valley, So.
Basketball: Had one of the most productive seasons in program history as a sophomore. Averaged an area best 21.6 ppg to go with 8.0 rpg. Shot 54% inside arc (118-of-217) and 41% outside it (41-of-99) and 81% at the line (95-of-117). Had six double-doubles, with 14 games of 20 points or more. Named IBCA Underclass Honorable Mention All-State.
Ashley Stegemoller, North, Jr.
Rare three-sport starter at a 4A school, basketball is her best sport. She averaged 6.7 points and a team best 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 69% at the line. In the fall, she helped the volleyball team with 112 kills, 16 blocks and 32 digs. And this spring, she was a part of the Cougars’ No. 2 doubles team in tennis.
Ellie Vagedes, Edgewood, Sr.
Swimming: H-T Co-Swimmer of the Year earned two rare spots at state for the Mustangs (the first since 2009) as the area’s only two-time sectional champ. Ended up setting seven school records (100 & 200 freestyles, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke plus all three relays). Will swim at IU Indianapolis. Cross county/track: One of the top runners in cross country (best time 19:46), helping the Mustangs make state. In track, team’s best in the 800, qualifying for regional and ran anchor leg for 4×800.
Abree Wells, Owen Valley, Jr
Volleyball: All-arounder was Patriots’ best player, piling up 254 kills with 35 aces, 11 blocks, 262 digs and handled 404 serves with just 24 errors. Softball: Batted .410 (28-65) with 16 RBIs and 18 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Ellie Mae Winders, Lighthouse Christian, Jr.
Had some help carrying the load this year for the basketball team, but still piled big numbers to reach the 1,000-point mark for her career. Averaged 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.8 steals. Shot 65% at the line (104-of-160) and had a team-best 28 3-pointers. IBCA Underclass All-State honorable mention.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: VOTE in the Herald-Times Girls Athlete of the Year poll presented by IU Health
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
