(Note: To cast your vote, click here.)
The conclusion of the winter sports season means area high-schoolers are donning their ball gloves, track and field uniforms, golf clubs, and even tennis rackets for the spring season.
But first, readers are invited to vote once again for the Iola Register Athlete of the Month nominees. Three boys and three girls have been nominated for February. The top vote-getters will get a free specialty pizza courtesy of Rookies in iola
February nominees are, on the girls side, Kinley Edgerton of Crest, Keira Fawson of Iola and Payton Scharff of Marmaton Valley.
For the boys, Iolan Corbin Cloud, Marmaton Valley’s Tyler Lord and Humboldt’s Cole Mathes are up for consideration.
Girls
Crest High’s Lady Lancers romped through the Three Rivers League basketball schedule like a steamroller, going 11-0 to win their first league title since 2001. With a 14-6 overall record, 2023-24 marked the squad’s first winning season since 2004.
One of the key cogs was Edgerton, a sophomore who racked up 6.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.5 blocks and more than 1 assist per game.
FAWSON made her final days as a high school basketball player ones to remember.
The Mustang senior averaged more than 11 points per game in February, including twice scoring 17 — the first against league champion Anderson County; the other in a thrilling win over Wellsville.
Fawson, who played most of the season with a broken nose that forced her to wear a cumbersome mask on the court, shined brightest on Senior Night, when she hit the game-winning shot in the win over Wellsville.
Fawson also sparkled on the tennis court, earning state tournament bids her junior and senior years.
MARMATON Valley’s girls narrowly missed out on a state tournament bid this season, advancing to the Class 1A-I Substate Championship before bowing out to Olpe.
Scharff, a standout athlete in multiple sports, was a big reason why.
The Wildcat senior averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds. 1.1 assists and 2.0 steals per contest.
