The 2025-26 school year was another successful season in high school athletics for Southwestern Indiana.
A handful of individuals and teams won state championships, plus several more finished runner-up. The number of talented athletes in the area would be too many list. This is where you come in. Who has your vote for the Courier & Press Male High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Orthopaedic Associates?
Below are the nominees with brief info on their athletic accomplishments this school year. You can vote as often as you’d like until 12 p.m. CT on Friday, July 3. This will be updated with a story on the winner.
Cole Breeden, Mater Dei: The sophomore was 8-1 on the mound with a 1.76 ERA and 60 strikeouts for the Class 2A state baseball champion. First Team All-SIAC. Averaged a team-high 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in basketball. First Team All-SIAC and Underclass Small School All-State.
Brooks Carroll, North: The senior batted .430 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and 10 doubles for the regional baseball champion. First Team All-SIAC and IHSBCA All-Star. Also a First Team All-State and All-SIAC midfielder in soccer with three goals and three assists for the sectional champion.
Alex Cook, Castle: The freshman was one of the top golfers in the state this spring. Finished third overall at the state championship (68-75) to help the Knights place fourth, best in program history, as a team. SIAC Player of the Year. Individual SIAC and sectional champion.
Cooper Collins, Vincennes Lincoln: The junior batted .471 with four home runs, nine doubles and 30 RBIs in baseball. SIAC Player of the Year. First Team All-SIAC. Also passed for 647 yards (six touchdowns) and rushed for 220 yards (three touchdowns) in five games in football.
Jett Goldsberry, Heritage Hills: The senior passed for 2,017 yards and 25 touchdowns, rushed for 1,355 yards and 31 touchdowns, plus registered 45 total tackles and three sacks for the regional champion. Pocket Athletic Conference MVP. Top 50 All-State selection. One of five finalists for Mr. Football.
Peyton Gray, Heritage Hills: The senior was a three-sport standout. Had 577 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, plus five interceptions, in football for the regional champion. All-PAC honorable mention. Averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in basketball. Second Team All-PAC. Batted .479 with 13 extra-base hits and 33 RBIs in baseball. First Team All-PAC and IHSBCA All-Star.
Cohen Havill, Memorial: The senior had 26 goals and eight assists for the SIAC champions. First Team All-State. SIAC and City Player of the Year. Fifth all-time in career goals at Memorial.
Edwin Holmes, Princeton: The senior led the regional basketball champions in scoring (15.0 points), rebounds (9.1), assists (5.0), steals (2.4) and blocks (1.2). Large School Senior All-State and First Team All-PAC. Fourth in program history in career scoring.
Sam Howard, Boonville: The junior wrestler went 53-1 at 190 pounds with his only loss coming in the state championship. Howard was the first in program history to reach the final match of the state finals. Won the PAC, sectional, regional and semi-state titles.
Ozzy Jankowski, Mount Vernon: The senior finished third in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 100 backstroke at the swimming state finals. Also a member of the state qualifying 200 freestyle relay. A sectional champion in all three events and set meet records in the individual races.
Jake Mazzier, Gibson Southern: The senior was a dominant 8-2 with a 1.33 ERA on the baseball mound with 98 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings for the regional champions. First Team All-PAC and IHSBCA All-Star.
Max Miller, Mater Dei: The senior batted .479 with 13 extra-base hits, 26 RBIs and 26 runs for the Class 2A baseball state champions. Also was 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. First Team All-SIAC and IHSBCA All-Star. Also among the Wildcats’ leaders in tackles in football.
Henry Trapp, Castle: The sophomore went 20-4 in the fall and reached the state individual semifinals in tennis. Helped the Knights win the team sectional championship. SIAC Player of the Year.
Ricky White Jr., North: The senior had a team-high 97 total tackles (33.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in football. All-State, First Team All-SIAC and City Player of the Year. Huskies had their most regular-season victories since 2007.
Carter Zieren, Reitz: The junior was one of the top distance runners in the state. Sectional champion and finished sixth at the state finals in cross country. Sectional and regional champion in the 1,600 and 3,200. Placed in the top four in both events at the state finals. SIAC Runner of the Year in cross country and track.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Vote for Courier & Press Male High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Orthopaedic Associates
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland and Markos Tsegaye, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Sokeland and Markos Tsegaye, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
