Later this week, MaxPreps will announce its 2020-21 Male and Female
Athletes of the Year. The honor dates back to 2008 with past winners
including Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin, Super Bowl champion
Patrick Mahomes and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Before
crowning our top high school sports athletes, we are identifying the
best from all 50 states – which includes a bevy of big names heading off
to the college level next year. While special consideration was given
to multi-sport athletes, some one-sport stars were too special too
overlook.
The MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year
will be announced Wednesday and the MaxPreps Female Athlete of the Year
will follow on Thursday.
Continue reading for a look at who earned the nod as the top senior female athlete in your state.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, Hawaii did not sanction any official high school sports seasons in 2020-21.
Softball standout Rylee Holtorf of O'Connor was our choice for the top female athlete in the state of Arizona.
Photo by Mark Jones
Top female athlete in each state
Alabama
Chanice Spicer, Brewbaker Tech (Montgomery)Sports: Track and field
Resume: Spicer has the top sprint times in the state this year, running the 100 meters in 11.51 seconds and the 200 meters in 23.57 seconds. Her 400-meter time of 53.87 is 2.5 seconds faster than the No. 2 runner.
Alaska
Amelia 'Uhila, Bartlett (Anchorage)Sports: Basketball
Resume: The Bears went 17-0 with 'Uhila averaging 17.4 points and 7.1 steals. She was the Alaska MaxPreps Player of the Year and a three-time all-state selection.
Arizona
Rylee Holtorf, O'Connor (Phoenix)Sports: Softball
Resume: Holtorf ranks as one of the best in the nation with a .500 career batting average that includes 117 RBI, 28 doubles and 33 home runs. She's headed to the University of Washington.
Arkansas
Jersey Wolfenbarger, Northside (Fort Smith)Sports: Basketball
Resume: Northside went 26-2 and won the 6A championship this year. Wolfenbarger averaged 19 points and 8.8 rebounds and was the MaxPreps State Player of the Year. She was also a McDonald's All-American and will play at Arkansas.
California
Mia Kragh, Torrey Pines (San Diego)Sports: Swimming
Resume: Bound for Cal Berkeley, Kragh led Torrey Pines to a state championship in April and set new records in the 50 freestyle (22.99) and the 100 butterfly (52.22).
Colorado
Grace Weigand, Regis Jesuit (Aurora)Sports: Field hockey, basketball, lacrosse
Resume: One of the top 10 recruits in the nation, Weigand also played three years of field hockey and basketball for the Raiders.
Connecticut
Samantha Forrest, GlastonburySports: Soccer, lacrosse
Resume: Besides setting the school record for career goals, Forrest is also one of the nation's top lacrosse recruits.

Samantha Forrest, Glastonbury
File photo by Todd Kalif
Delaware
Charlee Crawford, St. Georges Tech (Middletown)Sports: Track and field
Resume: Crawford is the state's top sprinter, holding the top time in the 400 meters by over two seconds (56.27). She also has the top 200 time (24.77) and the fifth-best 100 meter time (12.42).
District of Columbia
Azzi Fudd, St. John'sSports: Basketball
Resume: Injuries slowed down an otherwise fabulous career for the 2018-19 MaxPreps National Player of the Year. Fudd is the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2021 by ESPN and averaged 25.2 points for the Cadets last year.
Florida
Paris Thompson, Fort MyersSports: Volleyball
Resume: A second team MaxPreps All-America choice, Thompson was the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball after amassing 413 kills and 228 digs. She will play at Notre Dame next year.
Georgia
Raven Johnson, Westlake (Atlanta)Sports: Basketball
Resume: The MaxPreps National Player of the Year, Johnson led the Lions to a fourth straight state title, a GEICO Nationals title and MaxPreps National Championship while averaging 15.6 points and 6.0 assists. She finished her career with 1,675 points.
Idaho
Kelsey Oyler, Rocky Mountain (Meridian)Sports: Soccer
Resume: Oyler earned All-American honors by the United Soccer Coaches during the fall.

Kelsey Oyler, Rocky Mountain
File photo by Julian Jenkins
Illinois
Jayden Ulrich, East Alton-Wood River (Wood River)Sports: Track and field
Resume: Ulrich dominated the shot put and discus competition this year. Her best put of 51.9 feet was nearly three feet better than the closest competitor. Her toss of 168 feet in the discus was nearly 18 feet greater than the No. 2 thrower.
Indiana
Ali Hornung, Providence (Clarksville)Sports: Volleyball
Resume: Headed to Purdue, Hornung was a first team MaxPreps All-America selection and has been a three-time all-state selection. She had 446 kills and 366 digs last year.
Iowa
Kenzie Roling, Waverly-Shell Rock (Waverly)Sports: Soccer
Resume: Roling easily led the state in goal scoring this year with 72, nearly 20 more than the No. 2 player in the state. She also notched 17 assists. She scored four goals in the championship game to lead Waverly to its first championship.
Kansas
Payton Verhulst, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission)Sports: Volleyball, basketball
Resume: The Stags went 23-1 and won the 4A basketball championship with Verhulst leading the way. She was named the state MaxPreps Player of the Year. She also played on the Bishop Miege volleyball team.
Kentucky
Eleanor Beavin, Mercy (Louisville)Sports: Volleyball
Resume: Beavin was a second team MaxPreps All-America pick as a libero with 493 digs, 75 assists and 28 aces. She will play at Kentucky next year.
Louisiana
Brooke Fegley, Captain Shreve (Shreveport)Sports: Swimming
Resume: Headed to Texas A&M, Fegley was named the state's Most Outstanding Division I swimmer after winning the gold medal at the state meet in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Maine
Annika Hester, FalmouthSports: Volleyball
Resume: Falmouth had a shortened season due to COVID, but she is a three-time state Gatorade player of the year winner and she made all-state three times. She will play at San Diego next year.
Maryland
Paige McKenna, DamascusSports: Swimming
Resume: The No. 5 recruit in the nation by Swimswam.com, McKenna's mile time ranks No. 7 all-time for ages 15-16. She will compete at the University of Wisconsin next year.
Massachusetts
Caroline Ducharme, Noble & Greenough (Dedham)Sports: Basketball
Resume: A two-time state player of the year selection, Ducharme led her team to an 11-0 record while averaging 31.0 points and 15.3 rebounds. She finished her career with 2,092 points. She will play at UConn next year.
Michigan
Julia Bishop, Mercy (Farmington Hills)Sports: Volleyball
Resume: Voted Miss Volleyball in Michigan, Bishop finished her career with 5,575 career assists. The MaxPreps All-America ppick will play at Michigan State next year.
Minnesota
Peyton Hemp, AndoverSports: Ice hockey
Resume: Earned Miss Hockey honors this year after scoring 34 goals and picking up 46 assists during Andover's 2A runner-up finish. She helped lead Andover to a state championship as a junior.
Mississippi
Parker Bracken, Jackson Academy (Jackson)Sports: Volleyball
Resume: Bracken will play at LSU next year after earning first-team MaxPreps All-America honors. She had 473 kills and 330 digs on the season and is the two-time state Gatorade player of the year.
Missouri
Sydney Juszczyk, Trinity Catholic (St. Louis)Sports: Track and field
Resume: She grew up playing youth football, but now she concentrates on the javelin. She leads the nation in the event with a throw for 177-11.
Montana
Dani Bartsch, Capital (Helena)Sports: Volleyball, basketball
Resume: She led Capital to a 17-1 record and a Class AA hoops championship. She averaged 15.5 points and 10.9 rebounds.
Nebraska
Jordyn Bahl, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion)Sports: Softball
Resume: The No. 1 recruit in the nation is headed to Oklahoma next year. She batted .504 in her career with 188 RBI and 58 home runs. She also had a career pitching record of 95-3 with 978 strikeouts.

Jordyn Bahl, Papillion-LaVista
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
Nevada
Isabella Flocchini, Galena (Reno)Sports: Soccer
Resume: The North Region Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year, Flocchini ran away from the field as the state leader in goals and points scored. The San Jose State-bound midfielder scored 68 points and 32 goals during Galena's 11-0 season.
New Hampshire
Ella Fraser, ExeterSports: Soccer
Resume: Fraser earned All-American honors from United Soccer Coaches after leading Exeter to a pair of state championships and a 33-match win streak. She also scored 45 goals and had 29 assists on the season.
New Jersey
Claire Manning, MontclairSports: Soccer
Resume: NJ.com named Manning its state player of the year during the 2020 fall season. She had 20 goals and seven assists on the season and will play at Georgetown next year.
New Mexico
Sports: Basketball
Resume: The state MaxPreps Player of the Year, Cumber averaged 26.5 points and 9.3 rebounds during a shortened season that saw Sandia go 7-4. She will play at New Mexico.
New York
Sonia Citron, Ursuline (New Rochelle)Sports: Basketball
Resume: McDonald's All-American led Ursuline to a 14-0 record while averaging 26.3 points and 11.2 rebounds. She will play at Notre Dame next year.
North Carolina
Saniya Rivers, Ashley (Wilmington)Sports: Basketball
Resume: Rivers earned MaxPreps All-America honors after averaging 36.8 points per game and 11.5 rebounds. Three-time all-state selection.
North Dakota
Molly Black, Devils LakeSports: Ice hockey
Resume: The North Dakota state association's top female athlete for 2020-21 while earning all-state honors. She recorded over 4,400 saves in her career as the team's goalkeeper.
Ohio
Taylor Huff, Madison Comprehensive (Mansfield)Sports: Soccer
Resume: A four-time All-American and was named the national player of the year by the United Soccer Coaches. She had 34 goals and 21 assists as a senior.
Oklahoma
Aaliyah Moore, MooreSports: Basketball
Resume: A two-time state player of the year and McDonald's All-American this year. She averaged 25.2 points and 11.6 rebounds while finishing her career with 1,803 points.
Oregon
Daley McClellan, CanbySports: Volleyball
Resume: Set to play at Oregon next year, McClellan played a shortened season but still managed 256 kills. She was a two-time all-state selection.
Pennsylvania
Paige Morningstar, North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.)Sports: Volleyball, basketball
Resume: The state player of the year by the Pittsburg Post-Gazette and a three-time all-state player in volleyball, Morningstar had 715 assists while leading North Allegheny to an 18-0 record and a state championship. She was also a starter on the basketball team that won a state championship.
Rhode Island
Katherine Barker, Mt. Hope (Bristol)Sports: Ice hockey
Resume: Barker earned all-state first team honors three times, led East Bay to its fourth straight state championship match appearance and led the RIIL in scoring with 17 goals and 10 assists.
South Carolina
Emma Schimpf, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mt. Pleasant)Sports: Golf
Resume: Schimpf scored the lowest total in South Carolina girls history shooting a 67 on the first day of the state tournament and 66 on the second for the lowest score ever at 133. Her total was two strokes better than the state record.
South Dakota
Haleigh Timmer, More (Rapid City)Sports: Volleyball, basketball, track and field
Resume: The South Dakota MaxPreps Player of the Year in basketball, she averaged 20.7 points and 6.6 rebounds. A three-time all-state selection, Timmer also was a four-time all-league choice in track and a three-time all-league pick in volleyball.
Tennessee
Gretchen Walsh, Harpeth Hall (Nashville)Sports: Swimming
Resume: The Virginia-bound Walsh is top-ranked in the Class of 2021 and holds national records in the 100 and 50 freestyle.
Texas
Jasmine Montgomery, Reagan (San Antonio)Sports: Track and field
Resume: Montgomery holds the best times in the nation in the 100 meters (11.09) and the 200 meters (22.94). She won two golds at the UIL state meet and set three city records.
Utah
Sage Mortimer, American Leadership Academy (Spanish Fork)Sports: Wrestling
Resume: Last summer, Mortimer placed seventh in the Junior Greco-Roman division at 100 pounds — against male competition. She also won the Cadet women's freestyle tournament. Last year, she won a divisional against male competition, becoming the first female in Utah to accomplish the feat. She won a state championship in the girls division this year.
Vermont
Molly Ardren, Essex (Essex Junction, Vt.)Sports: Volleyball
Resume: A two-time all-state player, Ardren's 141 assists helped Essex to a 9-0 record in a shortened season.
Virginia
Torri Huske, Yorktown (Arlington)Sports: Swimming
Resume: Huske is No. 2 by Swimswam.com and has the best 200 individual medley time in the class of 2021 at 1:56.65. She's headed Stanford next year.
Washington
Amy Tang, Lakeside (Seattle)Sports: Swimming
Resume: Ranked No. 4 in the nation by Swimswam.com, she will join Virginia's Huske at Stanford next season. She has clocked under-NCAA times in the 100 free and 100 back this year.
West Virginia
Marlee Porter, Wheeling Park (Wheeling)Sports: Cross country, track and field
Resume: Porter has the top times in the state in the 300 meter hurdles (46.01), second in the 100 meters (12.58), third in the 200 meters (25.69) and first in the 4x55 shuttle hurdles relay. She also participated in cross country for Wheeling Park.
Wisconsin
Brooke Mosher, WaterlooSports: Volleyball
Resume: Posted 1,992 kills in her career, earning all-state honors three times. Had 463 kills and 385 assists as a senior.
Wyoming
Sydney Thorvaldson, RawlinsSports: Cross country
Resume: Thorvaldson set state records at meets in Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho.