There was no shortage of excellent athletes in Section V for the 2024-25 academic year. But some stood out above the rest.
Over the last several months, the Democrat and Chronicle and Daily Messenger staff, with input from Section V coaches, recognized XX Athletes of the Year in girls sports. Among them, some state champions, sectional champions and future Division I athletes.
Who was the cream of the crop in this collection of elite athletes? Your vote determines which Section V player deserves the honor of the 2024-25 All-Greater Rochester Girls Athlete of the Year presented by Faber Builders. Each honorees’ credentials are listed above the poll — which will be live until 8 p.m. Friday, July 25. The winner will be announced on our Instagram page Monday, July 28.
You can find the poll at the bottom of this page or jump straight to the poll by clicking here.
Vivian Bishop, Alpine Skier of the Year
Why Bishop was Alpine Skier of Year: The North Rose-Wolcott junior was named the overall champion at the Section V championships in February, after sweeping first place in both the slalom and giant slalom races. Bishop then placed third at the state championships in the giant slalom, finishing with a combined time of 2:01.18.
Kiera Cornman, Large School Volleyball Player of the Year
Why Cornman was the Player of the Year: Section V had many great volleyball players last fall, but senior Kiera Cornman was the best. The three-time AGR first teamer ended her Fairport career as a two-time state champion. Cornman’s Raiders compiled a 60-3 record through their run of three straight Section V titles.
Cornman earned NYSPHSAA Class AAA Tournament MVP honors during both state title runs, finishing with a career-high 33 kills in November’s NYS championship match. A future Division I Hawaii beach volleyball player, Cornman powered Fairport to wins over state powers St. Mary’s and Pittsford Sutherland, as well as a straight sets triumph over Section VI’s Lancaster in regionals. She earned Section V Class AAA Tournament MVP after a 3-0 win over Rush-Henrietta in the section final.
Along with AGR Large School Player of the Year, Cornman was also named MaxPreps Player of the Year for New York state and New York Gatorade Player of the Year. Fairport has not lost a regular season or postseason match she has played in since 2022. The Raiders dropped one match while Cornman recovered from an injury this season before she returned to help them finish 20-1.
In 2023, Cornman helped Fairport complete a perfect 21-0 season. Cornman surpassed 1,000 career kills as a junior and recorded 299 kills last fall, including 33 in the state final.
Hannah Devine, Cross Country Runner of the Year
Why Devine was the Cross Country Runner of the Year: Devine was fastest runner among girls in Section V at the state championships. She won the Section V Class A Championship and came in 10th, the best finish among Section V runners, during the McQuaid Invitational Bob Bradley Premier girls race. Her résumé in Section V includes selection to three AGR Girls Cross Country Teams.
Emma Goodell, Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Why Goodell was the Athlete of the Year: When the high school outdoor track and field season came to an end, Goodell was either first or second on the Section V leaderboards for the pentathlon, 100-meter hurdles and high jump.
Goodell’s top pentathlon score (100 hurdles, high jump, long jump, 800-meter race and shot put) of 3,334 points at a state qualifier meet ranks No. 5 on Section V’s all-time performance list. The sophomore then went on to place fourth (3,144) at the state championships.
Only one athlete in Section V topped Goodell’s best 100 hurdles time of the season, a race in 14.75 seconds during the Monroe County Championships in May. Goodell is a member of four other AGR teams because of her ability to clear hurdles with speed.
Her best high jump of the season was 5-feet-5.25 inches during a pentathlon competition at the Section V Class A state qualifier.
Paige Harding, Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Why Harding was the Girls Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Harding, who was slowed by an injury last school year, rebounded to a runner-up finish at the indoor track state championships.
There were four girls in the state who jumped 12 feet or higher during the indoor season, including Harding, who cleared 12 feet Feb. 6 at Rochester Institute of Technology.
She plans to attend Attend Slippery Rock University (Pa.), double majoring in biology and exercise science, and will also be on the indoor/outdoor track and field team.
Mallory Heise, Basketball Player of the Year
Why Heise was Player of the Year: The reigning All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, Heise somehow improved in 2024-25. After leading Hilton to the Section V title and a NYSPHSAA finals appearance during the 2023-24 season, Heise pushed the Cadets to 18 straight wins to start this season, helping her team earn the No. 1 overall seed in a deep Class AA division.
In the process, Heise set numerous program records at Hilton, including career (2,140 points) season (702) single-game (43) scoring, 3s in a game (nine), 3s in a season (101), and 3s in a career (226). Heise’s career total is 14th all-time in Section V history and fifth among girls players from Monroe County.
An all-around player, Heise also averaged 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals per game.
“Mallory’s success is a testament to her approach,” Hilton coach Dave Heise said. “I have never played with or coached anyone with her work ethic. There’s an intent and purpose to every rep, every drill, every game. She’s helped her teammates and our program build that mindset. Her legacy will always be that hard work and humility matter.”
Of the 48 Section V coaches who submitted All-Greater Rochester ballots, 28 selected the Hilton senior as their top player. No other player received more than three nominations.
The Hilton senior plans to attend St. Bonaventure University and play Division I basketball.
Meredith Hogan, Swimmer of the Year
Why Hogan was Swimmer of the Year: Hogan has been one of the area’s fastest swimmers her entire career, and proved to be Section V’s best as a senior. The Victor star will graduate with 10 Section V Class A championships, repeating as the queen of the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly when she earned her second Section V Class A Swimmer of the Meet honor last fall.
Hogan concluded her career with a pair of podium appearances in those same events at the NYSPHSAA championships. Prior to Hogan’s individual section titles, she swam legs on multiple Section V championship relays: the 200-yard freestyle relay (thrice), 200-yard medley relay (twice) and the 400-yard freestyle relay. She will continue to swim at Division I Binghamton.
Destiny Jodoin, Golfer of the Year
Why Jodoin was Golfer of the Year: Jodoin won the most important tournament played during the fall, the Section V Championship. The three-time AGR team member won by eight strokes at Country Club of Rochester, including a four strokes over par 76 on the second and final day. The Victor junior tied for second at Monroe County Tournament of Champions, one stroke off the lead at Monroe Golf Club. She finished the season with the best nine-hole average over par in Section V, 2.4.
Jenna Lawrence, Nordic Skier of the Year
Why Lawrence was the Skier of the Year: The Honeoye Falls-Lima junior finished second this winter at the New York state championships.
Lindsay Lenhard, Soccer Player of the Year
Why Lenhard was Player of the Year: No Section V girls soccer program has been consistently dominant to the degree of Spencerport, and Lenhard is a primary reason why.
The midfielder helped the Rangers capture sectional bragging rights in all five of her varsity seasons (including this fall), that also spanned a 59-match unbeaten streak — one of the longest such streaks in New York state history. Her career numbers of 85 goals, 70 assists and 240 total points land her atop Spencerport’s all-time leading scoring list.
New York state’s Class AA player of the year in 2023 as a junior, Lenhard upped her game in last fall as a senior. Despite playing two fewer games, her 29 goals and 86 total points — the latter ranked No. 2 in all of Section V, while playing in a tough Monroe County league — were both improvements from 2023.
With scoring ability came a competitive tenacity and hunger for ball possession that made Lenhard, arguably, Section V’s most difficult mark. In addition to her selection as AGR Player of the Year, Lenhard was named first team all-state in Class AA and was Section V’s lone All-American selection by the United Soccer Coaches association.
Addie Morgan, Flag Football Player of the Year
Why Morgan was the Player of the Year: Coaches in Section V gave their votes to Morgan for her consistent production in key moments on both offense and defense. Webster Schroeder, a first-time Section V champion, advanced to the Class B state championship game where the Warriors defeated Tappan Zee 20-14.
Morgan intercepted three passes in the state tournament final, one for a touchdown and another during Tappan Zee’s final drive. Morgan picked off 16 passes this season, 11 during the playoffs.
“It comes down to, you have to practice how you play,” Morgan said after the Section V tournament final. “We practice like a champion, apparently.”
Faith Pasquantonio, Small School Volleyball Player of the Year
Why Pasquantonio was Player of the Year: Junior Faith Pasquantonio’s dominance guided Finney to the program’s first Section V championship since 2017, when her sister, Sarina, played. Their mother, Megan, coaches the Falcons.
Faith Pasquantonio helped Finney avenge losses to Perry and NYS No. 1-ranked York en route to the Section V Class D1 title, and another straight sets win over Elba in the crossover match. Her regional performance, though, may have been the best match of her career. She terminated 28 kills and 10 aces and nearly clinched a trip to states for Finney.
Pasquantonio’s prowess often led to her being the best player on the court, guiding the Falcons (20-5) to regular season wins over eventual Section V Class B champ Aquinas and previously unbeaten Lyons.
Melody Queri, Field Hockey Player of the Year
Why Queri was the Player of the Year: “Beyond her skills and her goals, which were some of the best in (Monroe) county this year, Mel has infectious energy. She leads by example. The whole team is brought to another level by her infectious energy,” Pittsford Sutherland coach Kathy Hutteman said.
Described as an unselfish player, Queri moved from attack to midfield in at least five or six games to help the Sutherland Knights defensively. “It was also a way to throw off our opponents strategically,” Hutteman said.
She scored 27 goals during the season.
Peyton Rothfuss, Lacrosse Player of the Year
Why Rothfuss was Player of the Year: Rothfuss did it all this year for Penfield, helping the Patriots win their first New York state title and sixth Section V title.
The junior was a major piece of the Patriots’ offensive output. An attack, Rothfuss does her best work from behind the cage where she expertly finds a cutting teammate for a goal, or can create scoring opportunities for herself. Her 64 goals and 102 points were the highest totals for the program in at least a decade.
One of Section V’s best in the circle, Rothfuss totaled 166 draw controls this spring, which ranked second in the section.
She was at her best in the biggest games. In the Class A section final against Rush-Henrietta, Rothfuss racked up 12 draw controls to help Penfield dominate possession, and added two goals. In the state semifinals against defending champion Cicero-North Syracuse, was the Penfield’s leader with five goals.
Teegan Sibble, Wrestler of the Year
Why Sibble was the Wrestler of the Year: One of two girls who wrestled in Section V and won a state title at the first girls wrestling state championships, Sibble received almost all of the votes among area coaches for this season’s top wrestler.
Sibble finished with a 12-0 record in girls wrestling. The senior was also a lightweight on the Bolivar-Richburg varsity boys wrestling team and finished as a first team Steuben County league all-star with a 34-6 record. Last season, Sibble won a Section V boys class title and placed third in the 101-pound weight class at the Section V Division II (small schools) boys wrestling state championships qualifier.
Anella Tillman, Bowler of the Year
Why Tillman was Bowler of the Year: Penn Yan’s Anella Tillman separated herself from every other Section V bowler with her consistent play throughout the regular season. The Division I bound bowler averaged an impressive 205.56 pins through 39 games. Tillman was the only girl who carried a pins average above 200, and her 8,017 total pins were 254 more than Section V’s next best regular season score.
A University of Alabama at Birmingham commit, Tillman ended her varsity career on Section V’s Division II composite team at the state tournament. The Penn Yan star rolled a 223-1,080 at states. Tillman also guided the Mustangs to a third-place finish at the Section V Class C championships.
Leyla Tozin, Tennis Player of the Year
Why Tozin was Player of the Year: Unquestionably Section V’s best tennis player this decade, senior Leyla Tozin was an easy choice to win this award for the third time. The Brighton star hasn’t dropped a set, nevertheless a match, to a Section V opponent since 2021. Tozin will graduate with over 100 wins to just nine losses.
Tozin has been Section V’s top performer at the NYSPHSAA tournament. She placed third the last two years and finished fourth in 2022 as a singles player. Tozin has won an astounding 12 Section V championships. The list includes six team bricks, five singles titles and a doubles championship in 2019.
Tozin also guided Brighton (14-2) to their second NYS team tournament this fall after capturing the program’s ninth consecutive Section V team championship. Leyla’s mother, Anna, was also a Brighton tennis star with two Section V singles titles and a third-place finish at states.
Kaili Witherell, Softball Player of the Year
Why Witherell was Player of the Year: Kaili Witherell is the latest pitcher to be honored as the All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year after leading her team to the state championship game. A right-handed senior, Witherell, who also became the third Section V softball player to be named New York Gatorade Player of the Year, guided the Haverling Rams to the program’s first state final. Witherell also won the Section V Class B1 championship, Haverling’s first title since 2016, and pitched a long-awaited win over reigning state champ Wellsville.
A Division I Texas State University commit, Witherell was the clear choice for AGR POY after Section V coaches voted. Witherell ended her career with a 72-13 record in over 556 innings pitched, and a school record 1,108 strikeouts (there are at least eight other Section V pitchers with 1,100 Ks). She ended her career with a .142 OBP after ending the 2025 season with a .144 OBP and 252 strikeouts.
Witherell was just as lethal at the plate. As Haverling’s leadoff hitter, she was 4-for-4 in the state semifinal while helping her cause with a shutout in the circle. Witherell recorded a .532 BA with six doubles, three triples and a home run this spring. Over her five-year career, Witherell registered a .502 BA with 36 doubles, 16 triples and seven homers.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Poll: Who should be AGR’s 2024-25 Girls Athlete of Year presented by Faber Builders?
Reporting by James Johnson, Justin Ritzel, Marquel Slaughter and Bill Wolcott, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
