MUNCIE — The best high school athletes and coaches in Delaware County were recognized Sunday, May 17, at the third annual Delaware County Athletic Awards show.
The Muncie Sports Commission put on the event for the third year in a row and the second at the Horizon Convention Center. Athletes from all eight high schools within Delaware County were eligible for awards — Burris, Cowan, Daleville, Delta, Muncie Central, Wapahani, Wes-Del and Yorktown — with nominees for each award submitted by coaches and athletic administrators from each school.
The event began with a red carpet photo-op, sponsored by the YMCA of Muncie, and a pre-show reception, sponsored by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, for the student-athletes being recognized. Awards honored the high school players of the year for each sport, plus coaches of the year, scholar-athletes of the year, mental attitude awards, and the Tim Cleland Youth Development Champion Award.
The Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year Awards went to Yorktown senior Jabin Barnes and Delta senior Jordan Bunch, respectively. They also each won Player of the Year in their respective sports — Barnes for football and Bunch for girls soccer — and saw those two teams bring home the Boys and Girls Team of the Year awards.
“It’s good to see awards that aren’t necessarily about chasing numbers, especially when it’s voted on by people who are watching and peers,” Barnes said. “I’m not necessarily a person who likes to be the center of attention, but it’s just proof that winning isn’t loyal, but the work is loyal to everybody. Everybody wants something to work their butt off in, and I’m just proud to be part of something that recognizes people in this community.”
The selection committee for the awards was composed of members of the Muncie Sports Commission, local coaches and local media, including The Star Press. Local celebrity award presenters included Munciana volleyball club director Mike Lingenfelter, longtime Star Press sports journalist and 2026 Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Doug Zaleski, Muncie Sports Commission board president Brad Edmondson, Burris Broadcast director Rob Jones, and Star Press sports journalist Cade Hampton.
Here are all of the winners and nominees from the 2026 Delaware County Sports Awards:
2026 Delaware County Sports Awards
(Winners are listed in bold.)
Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Boys Tennis
Girls Golf
Football
Volleyball
Boys Swimming/Diving
Girls Swimming/Diving
Boys Wrestling
Girls Wrestling
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Boys Track and Field
Girls Track
Girls Tennis
Boys Golf
Softball
Baseball
Cheer Recognition
Boys Mental Attitude
Girls Mental Attitude
Boys Coach of the Year
Girls Coach of the Year
Boys Scholar-Athlete
Girls Scholar-Athlete
Tim Cleland Youth Development Champion Award
Boys Athlete of the Year
Girls Athlete of the Year
Boys Team of the Year
Girls Team of the Year
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: 2026 Delaware County Athletic Awards honors county’s best high school athletes
Reporting by Cade Hampton, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
