Best Preps Nominee Claire Stoermer of Grace Monday, March 18, 2024. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Tyler Legacy senior tennis player Audrey Deatherage has been named the inaugural Greater Texas Ford Dealers Class 6A Female Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 school year.

“Audrey is the best kid you could possibly have as a teammate and getting to coach her for six years,” Tyler Legacy head tennis coach Charlie Sizemore said. “She’s an all-around good kid. She’s a hard worker. Her character is great. Everybody loves her. It’s not just her tennis, but obviously her tennis is very good. What an honor for her. And for her to win the first one ever at the highest level, that is awesome for her, for the school district and the community. She is very deserving.”

Deatherage is a two-time qualifier to the UIL State Tennis Tournament. Deatherage qualified in girls singles in 2022, marking the first tennis state qualifier for Tyler Legacy since 2010. This year, Deatherage returned to state in girls doubles with partner Sophie Miller. Deatherage and Miller advanced to the Class 6A semifinals and went 49-4 this year and 71-6 the past two years.

In 2022, Deatherage was selected as the winner of the M. Roberts Digital Award for Girls Tennis at Best Preps Tyler.

Deatherage will play college tennis at the University of Texas at Austin.

Other Class 6A finalists were Emiliee Sikora, San Angelo Central volleyball; Jade Workman, Odessa Permian volleyball; Jubilee Rendon, El Paso Franklin wrestling; Hannah Krueger, Midland swimming; Erinn Sewell, Copperas Cove wrestling; Amaya Williams, El Paso Eastwood basketball; Jayada Ramos, El Paso Franklin wrestling; and Alivia Rivera-Norman, Odessa Permian track and field.

The Class 2A winner was Union Grove multi-sport athlete Ava Wightman. Wightman averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 2.3 assists for the Union Grove basketball team. In track and field, she was a regional qualifier in the 200-meter dash, long jump and relays. She was on the Union Grove cross country team that qualified for state. Wightman also played volleyball and was a cheerleader.

Other finalists in Class 2A were Kalli Speasmaker, Bruceville-Eddy volleyball, basketball, track and field, softball, cross country and cheer; Maddie McAfee, Beckville golf and volleyball; Marisela Blood, Mart softball, volleyball, basketball, cross country and cheer; Lucy Richards, Vega basketball and rodeo; Briley Waters, Wellington basketball; Zoey Welch, Roscoe Collegiate powerlifting and cross country; Lilliana Coronado, Valley Mills tennis and cross country; and Lainey Jernigan, Goldthwaite track and field and basketball.

The Class 5A winner was basketball player Aaliyah Chavez of Lubbock Monterey. Chavez is the No. 1-ranked player in the country in the Class of 2025.

Other finalists in Class 5A were Destinee Loeza, El Paso Hanks volleyball; Mally Lumpkin, Texas High volleyball; Diana Wong, El Paso volleyball; Mallory Moore, Amarillo Tascosa, cross country; Liliana Nelson, Belton swimming; Jimena Rodriguez, Wichita Falls Rider soccer; Ella Cross, Mount Pleasant softball; and Sereneti Collins, Texas High track and field and basketball.

The Class 4A winner was basketball player Londyn Shain of Seminole High School.

Van basketball and volleyball standout Landry Jones was a finalist in Class 4A.

Jones, the Christus Orthopedics and Sports medicine Institute Female Athlete of the Year at Best Preps Tyler, was a four-year starter for the Lady Vandals basketball program. As a senior, she averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game. She was named to the TABC All-Region Team for Class 4A Region II. She was also an All-State selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, and she was Academic All-State. Jones was selected to the TGCA 1A-4A Legacy All-Star Team. In volleyball, Jones was named a first-team Tyler Morning Telegraph All-Rose Country Volleyball Team selection as a senior after recording 395 digs, 351 kills, 323 assists, 227 receptions, 42 aces and 39 blocks.

Other finalists in Class 4A were Ashlyn Lang, Midland Greenwood volleyball; Katrina Greer, Waco Connally basketball, volleyball and track and field; Randieunna Jeffery, Pittsburg basketball, cross country, volleyball and track and field; Sydnee Winfrey, Canyon volleyball and basketball; Vida Fierro, Dumas softball and volleyball; Eva Ray, Kilgore softball and drum major; and Cloe Viasana, Big Spring softball.

The Class 3A winner was golfer Maecy Schmidt of West.

Other finalists in Class 3A were Avery Vinson, Jim Ned volleyball; Hadalee Saunders, Early volleyball and cross country; Adalynn Cunningham, Eastland volleyball; Anna Beth Black, Hooks basketball; Keke Murphy, West Rusk basketball, volleyball, softball and track and field; Valeria Crespo, Alpine track and field; Madisson Pedraza, Dalhart softball; and Heidi Siebert, Bowie tennis.

The Class 1A winner was runner and powerlifter Taytum Goodman of Springlake-Earth. Goodman won 13 state championships in cross country and track and field. She won state cross country all four years, was a four-time winner in the 3,200-meter run, a three-time winner in the 1,600-meter run and a two-time winner in the 800-meter run.

Newcastle junior multisport athlete Mattie Dollar was a finalist in Class 1A. As a sophomore, she played at Martin’s Mill. Dollar led Newcastle to its first basketball championship and was the championship game MVP. She also went to state in cross country and tennis.

Other finalists in Class 1A were Viviana Maldonado, Crowell cross country, volleyball, basketball, golf and track and field; Matti Dixon, Oglesby volleyball, basketball and golf; Bailey White, Klondike volleyball; Trinity Schlueter, Valley basketball; Jace Chisum, Jayton track and field, basketball and cross country; Natalie Immel, Robert Lee track and field; and Samantha Griffin, Grady tennis and basketball.

The private school winner was Temple Holy Trinity Catholic’s Kate Boone, who competes in cross country, track and field, soccer and volleyball.

Grace Community soccer player Claire Stoermer and Brook Hill volleyball player Gracie Dawson were finalists in the private school ranks.

Stoermer, the goalkeeper, made the game-winning save in a shootout in the TAPPS Winter Girls Soccer Division II championship against Katy St. John XXIII College Prep. Stoermer, an Oklahoma Baptist University signee, conceded zero goals in district play this season and recorded 63 saves. She was the Tyler Morning Telegraph Award winner for girls soccer at Best Preps Tyler.

Dawson had 485 kills, 495 digs, 38 aces and 21 blocks. Dawson also played softball on the Guard’s state championship team and was a cheerleader.

Other private school finalists were Kayleigh Khan, Longview Christian Heritage volleyball and track and field; Mabry McPherson, Trinity Christian golf; Raegan Lee, Lubbock Christian basketball; Harlie Brabham, San Jacinto Christian tennis, basketball and volleyball; Kaitlyn De La Rosa, Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic soccer; and Kenzie Miller, Longview Christian volleyball and basketball.