Cast your vote for Monroe County Region Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year

The Monroe News has been selecting Monroe County Region Athletes of the Year since 1992.

That tradition will continue this year with one big change.

You get to be a part of the process for the first time.

The boys and girls winner for the 2023-24 school year will be picked by combining votes from the fans with what our sportswriters have to say.

The choice will not be easy.

In the girls vote, for instance, Milan’s Malea Wourman is back to defend her title after playing four varsity sports for the second straight year.

She is trying to join Payge Salenbien of Dundee (2016-17), Janie Bunge of Whiteford (2014-15), Morgan Kaiser of Flat Rock (2012-13) and Ashley Gilson of Summerfield (2006-07) as two-time winners of the award.

Wourman is a junior, so she has a chance to make history as the first three-time Athlete of the Year. But repeating will be tough.

Bedford’s Victoria Gray was the Region Player of the Year in both volleyball and basketball while Alana Aulph of Monroe, Kennedy Irwin of Dundee and Jessica Schrader of Ida all excelled in three sports each.

Versatility is essential in the criteria for the award.

On the boys side, last year’s winner, Ben Przytula of Gibraltar Carlson, has graduated. That leaves the door wide open for an outstanding list of candidates.

Dundee’s Braiden Whitaker was the Region Player of the Year in basketball and All-Region in football. He added track and field to his resume for the first time in 2023-24.

Also in the mix are three-sport athletes such as Luke Beuadrie of Jefferson, Tyler Defoe of Summerfield, Cole Kreger of Erie Mason, Ethan Layton and Ryan Zanger of Dundee, Kolby Masserant and Ryin Ruddy of Whiteford, Jack Mills and Cooper Nye of Airport.

Don’t miss your chance to help determine the winner. Polls will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are the candidates in alphabetical order:

GIRLS

Alana Aulph, Monroe : All-Region in volleyball with 197 digs and 112 assists; averaged 5.3 points per game in basketball; All-Region in softball with .511 average, 9 home runs, 39 homers and 15 doubles.

Brenna Baker, Airport : All-Region in basketball with school record for 3-pointers and average of 10.6 points per game; All-Region in softball with .319 average, 38 runs.

Addison Dolencic, New Boston Huron : State qualifier in bowling; Player of the Year for soccer.

Jessica Costlow, SMCC : All-Region in volleyball with 430 kills, .343 hitting percentage and 533 digs; part of state championship 400-meter relay team in track and field.

Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock : All-Region in volleyball by leading her team with 262 kills and 252 digs; All-Region in softball with .481 average, .728 slugging percentage and 26 RBI.

Victoria Gray, Bedford : Player of the Year for volleyball by leading her team with 467 kills, .426 hitting percentage and 130 blocks; Co-Player of the year for basketball with averages of 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.

Kennedy Irwin, Dundee : Member of the volleyball team; averaged 5.2 points per game in basketball; All-Region in softball with school records for batting average (.598), runs (70) and stolen bases (52).

Jaeli Jones, Summerfield : Special Mention All-Region in volleyball; All-Region in basketball with averages of 11 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Nyah Mullins, Bedford : All-Region in basketball with average of 8.3 points per game; All-Region in softball hitting .430 with 44 RBI, 13 doubles, 8 home runs.

Makenna Payne, SMCC : All-Region in volleyball with 828 assists; high jump state qualifier in track and field.

Jenna Pilachowski, Jefferson : Cross Country Runner of the Year; placed ninth in the 3,200 meters and 11th in the 1,600 at the Division 2 state track and field finals.

Payton Pudlowski, Bedford : Co-Player of the year for basketball with averages of 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game; All-Region in softball with .458 average, 11 home runs, 52 RBI.

Jessica Schrader, Ida : Special Mention All-Region in volleyball; All-Region in basketball with averages of 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game; All-Region in softball with .418 average, 37 runs and 21 steals.

Elizabeth Sweeney, Erie Mason : All-Region in volleyball with average of 5 kills per set and 90.7 percent serving; track and field Athlete of the Year after placing top three at Division 3 state finals in three events.

Malea Wourman, Milan : All-Region in volleyball with 314 kills and 224 digs; All-Region in basketball averaging 15.6 points and 4 steals per game; member of the soccer team, part of two relays that finished 10th in Division 2 track and field state championships, including one that set a Monroe County Region record.

BOYS

Luke Beaudrie, Jefferson : Special mention All-Region in football; averaged 6.2 points per game in basketball; All-Region in baseball with .482 average and 46 stolen bases.

Drew Bylow, SMCC/Dundee : Monroe County Region Swimmer of the Year for Dundee after setting school records in the backstroke and 200-yard freestyle; All-Region in baseball for SMCC with .410 average, 19 RBI and 1.21 ERA.

Tyler Dafoe, Summerfield : All-Region in football as a receiver with 16 catches for 370 yards; All-Region in basketball with averages of 15 points. 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game; member of the baseball team.

Graham Junge, Flat Rock : All-Region in football as a quarterback, throwing for 2,419 yards and 27 TDs; All-Region in basketball going over 1,000 career points as a junior and averaging 18.5 points per game.

Cole Kreger, Erie Mason : All-Region in football as linebacker with 144 tackles; averaged 4.3 points per game in basketball; special mention All-Region baseball with .319 average, 21 RBI, 10 stolen bases.

Joe Krolak, Gibraltar Carlson : All-Region in football as a quarterback running for 626 yards and throwing for 1,069; All-Region in baseball hitting .403 with 27 runs.

Ethan Layton, Dundee : All-Region in football as a defensive back with 122 tackles, including a school-record 30 in a game against Ida; All-Region in basketball with 12.1 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game; drove in 15 runs for the baseball team.

Kolby Masserant, Whiteford : All-Region in football as a receiver. setting school records with 46 catches for 995 yards; averaged 9.5 points per game in basketball; qualified for Division 3 state track and field finals in the long jump and 400-meter relay.

Jack Mills, Airport : All-Region in football as a running back with 1,410 rushing yards, 323 receiving and 22 TDs; All-Region in wresting with 37-2 record; All-Region in baseball with 438 average, 45 RBI, 12 doubles, 5 triples and 7 home runs.

Cooper Nye, Airport : All-Region in football as a quarterback with a school-record 1,739 pass yards and 22 TDs; All-Region in basketball with 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game; hit .383 in baseball.

Breylon Richards, Monroe : All-Region in football as an offensive lineman with 19 pancake blocks; All-Region in baseball with .321 average, 9 home runs and 31 RBI.

Ryin Ruddy, Whiteford : All-Region in football as a defensive back with 119 tackles including a team-high 49 solos; averaged 7.4 points per game in basketball; qualified for the Division 3 state track and field finals in three relays.

AJ Schrader, Ida : All-Region in basketball after leading team with averages of 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game; All-Region in baseball as a shortstop with .347 average, 50 stolen bases, 40 runs, 20 RBI.

Micah Smith, New Boston Huron : All-Region in football as a quarterback with 788 passing and 679 rushing yards; All-Region in baseball with 7-1 record and 1.08 ERA.

Braiden Whitaker, Dundee : All-Region in football as a receiver with 42 catches for 885 yards and 9 TDs; Player of the Year in basketball in basketball with 24.1 points, 8.6 rebounds per game and breaking school records for points in a game (44), season (620) and career (1,308); ran track and field for the first time and helped Dundee win a relay at the Mason Invitational.

Ryan Zanger, Dundee : Threw for 950 yards and 11 TDs in football; averaged 8.3 points per game in basketball; All-Region in baseball hitting .345 with 27 RBI, 29 runs and 1.06 ERA.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WINNERS

BOYS

2023: Ben Przytula, Carlson

2022: Cole Geisige, Whiteford

2021: Chase Molnar, Huron

2020: Hunter Assenmacher, Ida

2019: Brendan Dafoe, Summerfield

2018: Thomas Eitniear, Whiteford

2017: Joey Wiemer, Bedford

2016: Zach Kohn, Gibraltar Carlson

2015: Bryce Windham, SMCC

2014: Colin Lake, Whiteford

2013: Scott McCormick, Airport

2012: Kyle Ready, Gibraltar Carlson

2011: Jared Kujawa, Bedford

2010: Zac Richardson, Huron

2009: David Box, Milan

2008: Josh DuPree, Whiteford

2007: Audie Cole, Monroe

2006: Josh Winter, Bedford

2005: Aaron Roelfs, Erie Mason

2004: Kyle Upchurch, Erie Mason

2003: Casey Steffen, Flat Rock

2002: Dan Fugate, Dundee

2001: Jim Duffy, Airport

2000: Jim Duffy, Airport

1999: Carl Ford, Monroe

1998: Adam Ruffner, Carlson

1997: Scott Ciacelli, Summerfield

1996: Myke Thom, SMCC

1995: Craig Maddux, Jefferson

1994: Corey Simpson, Whiteford

1993: Ryan Stahr, Flat Rock

1992: Jamie Mossburg, Airport

GIRLS

2023: Malea Wourman, Milan

2022: McKenna Salley, Dundee

2021: Ryley Osentoski, Flat Rock

2020: Taylor Wegener, Ida

2019: Amy Jackson, Flat Rock

2018: Kaylyn Carsten, Ida

2017: Payge Salenbien, Dundee

2016: Payge Salenbien, Dundee

2015: Janie Bunge, Whiteford

2014: Janie Bunge, Whiteford

2013: Morgan Kaiser, Flat Rock

2012: Morgan Kaiser, Flat Rock

2011: Jaclyn Sawasky, Ida

2010: Abby McCollum, Monroe

2009: Heather Carlson, Summerfield

2008: Chae Small, Monroe

2007: Ashley Gilson, Summerfield

2006: Ashley Gilson, Summerfield

2005: Alyssa Eppler, Jefferson

2004: Katie Loosvelt, Carlson

2003: Jenifer Sulewski, Bedford

2002: Jen Hurst, Erie Mason

2001: Kelly Upchurch, Erie Mason

2000: Breanne Chany, Whiteford

1999: Carrie Schroeder, Mason

1998: Krissy Montague, Monroe

1997: Meghan Peregord, Monroe

1996: Wendy Adams, Whiteford

1995: Amy Laboe, SMCC

1994: Amy Wilson, Ida

1993: Tanya Potcova, Jefferson

1992: Jennie Bringman, Bedford

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Cast your vote for Monroe County Region Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year