LAFAYETTE — High school sports fans in the Lafayette area and from around the state have one final chance to make their voice heard before the 2024-25 season ends.
Seven athletes have been chosen for Journal & Courier Male Athlete of the Year voting.
These candidates were chosen based on what they achieved both as individuals and how those contributions led to their programs having success in 2024-25.
Fans can vote an unlimited number of times before the poll closes on July 11 at noon and a winner is announced Saturday morning.
Noah Weaver, Rossville
Weaver etched his mark as one of the greatest wrestlers in Lafayette area history. He finished his high school career winning two straight titles and lost once in 103 matches during that span. Weaver won his second state title mauling each of his opponents via technical fall. Weaver will follow in the footsteps of his father Matt and wrestle at Purdue.
Alonzo Clawson-Smith, Lafayette Jeff
Clawson-Smith was voted the Journal & Courier Big Schools Boys Basketball Player of the Year after leading Lafayette Jeff with 22.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals per game. He hit a game-winning 3-pointer against Kokomo on Jan. 31 and is signed to a basketball scholarship at IU-Kokomo.’
Ivan Gutierrez, Harrison
The junior led Harrison to its first undefeated season of 19-0-4 and No. 1 ranking in the country in the fall after he scored 28 goals and notched 13 assists. Gutierrez was voted the Journal & Courier Boys Soccer Player of the Year and currently plays club for Indy Eleven U/19.
Ryan Delgatto, Central Catholic
An aspiring pastor, Delgatto made his final year of football memorable for Central Catholic in 2024. Delgatto was voted the Journal & Courier Small Schools Defensive Player of the Year after making 99 tackles including 24 for loss and 22 sacks. Central Catholic rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to beat Guerin Catholic 22-21 and capture the Bishop’s Cannon, stunned West Lafayette on the road to get its first win over the Red Devils since 2016 and won the IHSAA 2A sectional title. Delgatto will play his final game as a member of the North team at the Indiana All-Star game on July 11.
Jake McGraw, Clinton Prairie
Clinton Prairie boys basketball became the toast of boys basketball after reaching an IHSAA state final for the first time. McGraw was at the forefront and was voted the Journal & Courier Small Schools Boys Basketball Player of the Year after he averaged 22.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals. McGraw became Clinton Prairie’s career scoring leader and will play college basketball at IU-Kokomo.
Keyen Crowder, Lafayette Jeff
From three injury-riddled seasons to breaking records, Crowder turned a cultural rebuild into a historic season for Lafayette Jeff. Crowder was voted the Journal & Courier Big Schools Football Player of the Year after he threw for 3,085 yards with 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 72.1% completion rate was the highest in school history while the Bronchos finished 11-1, the program’s best record since 1982. Crowder will play college football at Wabash College and was voted to the Indiana All-Star North team.
Grayson Schneider, Tri-County
Schneider finished with 125 strikeouts, the second in Indiana this season and was voted the Journal & Courier Small Schools Baseball Player of the Year. Schneider was an efficient hitter as well and batted .378 with two home runs, four triples, six doubles and 18 RBIs as a first baseman while Tri-County finished 17-7 and won its first IHSAA sectional title since 2011. Schneider pitched in the Indiana All-Star game and will play college baseball at Indiana Wesleyan.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Take your pick! Vote for the Journal & Courier Male Athlete of the Year
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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