Our First 15: Looking at Nos. 11 to 25 among top female athletes since 2000

It was a list that took the TR sports staff months to compile.

The Muskingum Valley’s top athletes from the last 25 years is a deep and talented list from the 11 schools within our coverage area – Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties.

To be eligible, athletes must not have graduated earlier than 2001, which means the fall season of 2000 got the ball rolling.

Emphasis was placed on individuals who earned Division I scholarships, excelled in multiple sports and won state championships. They weren’t the end-all, be-all factors, however.

Most importantly, the “eye test” still carried plenty of weight. Some players you simply don’t need statistics or postseason awards to know they belong.

To do this, we consulted longtime area coaches, former athletes and local media personalities to cross check and collect insight. It helped us fortify our own opinions.

In the end, it left us with a highly difficult task. Inevitably, deserving players would be left out. This list is truly the best of the best.

Without further ado, here are the first 15 female athletes on our list.

25. Molly Nash, Rosecrans, 2014

Nash, who finished with 1,440 points and excelled as a rebounder, was as consistent of a producer as a four-year starter can be on the court.

Her career was culminated by a trip to the Division IV state championship game as a senior, when she led the team in scoring. She surpassed the 1,000-point milestone as a junior and was part of three sectional title squads prior to the state appearance in 2013-14. She received All-Ohio honors all four years, including being First Team as a sophomore.

Nash was Co-Player of the Year in the East District as a sophomore and senior. She was also selected three times to to the Team Ohio squad in its annual Border Battle with Michigan.

The Bishop standout also excelled in other sports. She was a member of the 4x200 and 4x400 relays that reached state, helping the Bishops to two Division III district titles in the process. She also lettered three times in soccer, leading the program to three sectional titles.

24. Bailee Smith, Maysville, 2021

One of area's best shooting guards became the all-time leading scorer for Maysville and the MVL before heading to West Liberty.

Smith was a four-time All-Ohioan and made First Team as a junior and a senior, as she averaged more than 26 points in her final season. She was also a two-time MVL Player of the Year.

Smith also contributed to the volleyball and track programs during her time, including reaching the state track meet as a sophomore on the 4x400 relay.

23. Rachel Poorman, Maysville, 2007

Poorman's presence was crucial to the Panthers' early basketball success under Pat Miller, starting all 93 games and leading them to the Division III regional tournament as a senior.

Poorman made First Team All-Ohio that year and was a three-time All-Ohio pick during her career. She also led the Panthers to the MVL championship for the first time in 20 years and received the league's Player of the Year award as a junior and senior.

Her accolades also went to the district level where she was a four-time District 12 and East District honoree, making District 12 first team three times and East District first team twice. Poorman was voted the 2007 East District Player of the Year and played in the Ohio North-South and Kentucky-Ohio all-star games and finished with 1,385 points and 270 assists.

Along with four letters in basketball, Poorman also had three in volleyball and two in track. She went on to play basketball at Ashland University.

Poorman was a four-year letter winner for Ashland, starting 50 times in 97 games. She set the school record for assists in a game (10) and finished with 633 steals, 157 assists, 83 blocks and 6.5 points per game. She made the All-GLIAC Academic team in 2010 and was given the All-GLIAC Academic Excellence Award in 2011.

22. Tricia Smith, Tri-Valley, 2005

There was plenty of talent in the MVL in the early 2000s, and Smith was part of that group, as the Scotties reached the State Final Four as a senior.

Smith contributed on both ends of the floor. As a senior, Tri-Valley had a 16-0 MVL campaign, leading to Smith being named the league's Player of the Year.

Smith, who also competed in volleyball and track, averaged 14.3 points as a senior, making First Team All-Ohio. She finished with more than 1,100 points, 700 rebounds and 400 steals in her career and earned MVP honors in the All-State All-Star game that year.

Her all-around game led to an opportunity to play for Division I Lehigh University.

21. Leilah Castro, New Lexington, 2020

The New Lexington product set the trend for girls wrestling in our area, highlighted by winning the 121-pound state title at the inaugural Ohio High School girls state wrestling tournament. She pinned all her opponents on being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.

She was ranked nationally, won several national titles and wrestled for Team USA at the United World Wrestling World Championships, finishing fifth in her weight class.

Castro, who qualified for the boys district tournament in 2018, was selected to be the inaugural recipient of the Toccara Montgomery Most Outstanding Wrestler Award from the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association. She won the USA Folkstyle Nationals in 2019 and finished fifth at the 2018 Cadet World Championships.

Castro, a two-time Super 32 champion, went onto wrestle for Campbellsville University.

20. Kori Sidwell, Maysville, 2016

The Sidwells are part of the storied athletic history at Maysville, and the youngest, Kori, left her mark in three sports, mainly basketball.

Sidwell did a little bit of everything, from scoring on the block to running the fast break. Her all-around game led her to being named the East District Player of the Year and All-Ohio First Team as a senior, where she tallied 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.1 steals.

The Panthers won four straight MVL titles and 97 games with Sidwell in uniform. She collected nearly 1,400 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists and went on to play for Division II Mercyhurst University.

Sidwell was also a consistent force in softball and volleyball, earning numerous league and district accolades during her career. Maysville also reached the regional softball tournament three times with Sidwell at shortstop.

19. Danielle Curry, Sheridan, 2007

Curry was another in a long run of great Generals' throwers, highlighted by being a three-time MVL champion in the shot and discus.

She qualified for the state meet three times for both events and was a four-time All-Ohioan, three in the shot. As a senior, Curry was the state runner-up in the discus and third in the shot put.

Curry went on to throw for Youngstown State University then transferred to Clemson University.

18. Anna Foster, Sheridan, 2018

One of the area's most decorated distance runners etched her name among the state's best. She used a state record-setting time of 10:34.34 to claim the 3,200 Division II title in 2018. That record still holds to this day.

As a senior, she swept the three distance events (800, 1,600 and 3,200) at the MVL meet then won the 1,600 and 3,200 during the district and regional meets before focusing on the 3,200 at state. She still owns league records in the 800 and 3,200.

The three-time state cross country qualifier and two-time MVL champion went on to finish ninth at the state cross country meet as a senior. It followed a regional runner-up performance, as she continued her running career with Division II Clarion.

17. Sarah Van Horn, Morgan, 2005

Van Horn is one of the most decorated athletes in Raiders' history. She earned seven letters between basketball and track and field and is one of only four girls to surpass 1,000 career points.

Her contributions made Morgan a tough out in league and tournament play. Along with her scoring, she helped control the boards and leaned on defense to spark the Raiders. It led to her being voted a two-time All MVL and District 12 First Teamer. She also received All-Ohio Special Mention as a senior.

Van Horn was also versatile on the track. She qualified for the state track and field meet in the 300 hurdles twice and reached state in three events as a senior (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump).

She went on to play basketball at West Virginia Wesleyan.

16. Kendyl Mick, Sheridan, 2020

Mick was a crucial part to the Generals' surge to the top of the MVL, as the program won the MVL all four years of her career.

She was a four-time All-Ohioan, reaching as high as Second Team her junior season. That same year saw Sheridan return to the Division II state tournament for the first time since 2004, as the Generals fell to Zia Cooke and eventual state champion Toledo Rogers in the state semifinal.

Mick was a four-time selection in the MVL, Southeast District and District 12. She was also the program's leading scorer when she graduated with 1,296 points and currently sits third.

Mick also contributed in volleyball, as she was part of the Generals' back-to-back regional teams as an outside hitter.

15. Hanna Luburgh, Tri-Valley, 2010

The Tri-Valley product had the all-around game to shine on the basketball court. She scored nearly 1,300 points in her career and the Scotties went 80-13 during her four-year career. If not for being in Division I, there's a legit argument Tri-Valley would have played for at least one state title during her career.

Luburgh was a consistent force on both ends, leading to being named the MVL Player of the Year three times. She also made Third Team All-Ohio twice, especially impressive against the Division I talent throughout the state.

Luburgh also found success in volleyball, helping Tri-Valley win the 2007 league title, but basketball landed her a scholarship at the University of Akron. She played alongside fellow Scottie Carly Young and helped the Zips earn the program's first NCAA tournament appearance in 2014.

14. Hayley Flynn, Philo, 2013

The Electrics' fireballer was one of the best arms in softball. Flynn was a four-time All-MVL selection and a three-time All-Ohioan, including a first-teamer as a senior when Philo made the regional tournament. She totaled 1,150 career strikeouts and posted a career ERA of 0.89.

One of Flynn's most memorable accomplishments was notching a state single-game record for most strikeouts, 55 in a 24-inning game that was completed over multiple days. She also led the Electrics to a district and sectional championship in 2011.

Flynn went on to play softball for Eastern Kentucky.

13. Lexi Howe, Tri-Valley, 2023

The versatile Howe shined on the basketball and volleyball courts, leading the Scotties to plenty of success in both sports.

As a senior, Howe was a First Team All-Ohioan and became the basketball program's all-time leading scorer before heading to Ashland University. She did a little bit of everything for a younger squad, as she led the team in scoring (17.3 points), rebounding (7.5) assists (4.0) and steals (3.4). She also shot 77% from the line, 51% from the field and 45% from 3 that season.

Howe also made First Team All-Ohio as a junior and Second Team as a sophomore. She collected numerous league and district honors during her career, including being the MVL, East District and District 12 Player of the Year as a senior. She helped the Scotties reach the 2020 Final Four before the state tournament was canceled due to COVID. Tri-Valley claimed a pair of MVL titles, earned a regional appearance during her junior season and reached a Division I district final when she was a senior.

Howe's skillset carried over to the volleyball court. She made Second Team All-Ohio as a junior, helping the Scotties reach the Division II regional final. She also shared the Big School Division Offensive Player of the Year honor as a senior with Jamisyn Stinson.

12. Rebecca Bryant, New Lexington, 2001

Bryant was one of the league's best pitchers, giving the Panthers a chance every time she stepped into the circle.

The three-time MVL Softball Player of the Year led New Lex to the program's first MVL title in 2001 during her senior year. She went 18-2 with 15 shutouts and had more than 200 strikeouts that season. She also batted better than .400 that season and led New Lex in RBIs and runs scored.

In 2000, as a junior, Bryant helped New Lex claim the program's first district title since 1992. The Panthers fell in the regional semifinal that season, but she finished with a 17-4 mark and again batted over .400.

She was a three-time district honoree and two-time All-Ohioan and won three Times Recorder Athlete of the Year honors.

11. Logan Hursey, John Glenn, 2007

A two-time first-team All-Ohioan was dominant in the circle for the Muskies, leading them to three regional final appearances during her four-year career.

Hursey, who also played volleyball, won 85 games during her four seasons, making John Glenn the team to beat in the MVL and the district. Along with throwing several no-hitters and striking out double-digit batters, she could swing the bat. Her power highlighted a deep lineup which complemented her arm.

She still ranks among the Top 30 in state history for wins in a season (27) and career wins (85). Hursey also has two of the longest streaks of consecutive innings without a walk in the state (55 2/3 in 2007 and 45 in 2006).

Her talent led to a solid career at Ashland University.

bhannahs@gannett.com; X: @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Our First 15: Looking at Nos. 11 to 25 among top female athletes since 2000