photo by: Shutterstock
The Journal-World All-Area teams are carefully selected by the Journal-World sports staff.
Coach of the Year: Richard Ebel, Baldwin
Richard Ebel
Ebel took over Baldwin’s girls golf program and kept the team on its top-of-the-state trajectory. The Bulldogs won their 4A regional tournament and finished fourth as a team in the 4A state tournament.
Player of the Year: Peyton Wright, Baldwin
Peyton Wright
Wright was once again one of the best golfers in the state and helped lead Baldwin to a fourth-place finish in the 4A state golf tournament while placing fourth individually. She won nine tournaments, including the regional tournament, and placed in the top three in 13 of 17 tournaments.
Brooklynn Akers, Eudora
Brooklynn Akers
Akers was one of the top golfers in 4A as a junior, placing sixth in the Frontier League, fifth in the regional tournament and 18th in the 4A state tournament. She finished in the top 10 nine times during the season, including winning the Turner Invitational.
Carson Chambers, Baldwin
Carson Chambers
Chambers placed 20th in the 4A state tournament and finished in the top 10 in 13 of the 17 tournaments she participated in. She placed seventh in both the Frontier League tournament and the 4A regional tournament.
Marleigh Grant, Eudora
photo by: Photo courtesy Susan DeVoe
Eudora golfer Marleigh Grant poses after placing 11th in the 4A state golf tournament at Hesston Golf Course on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Grant led the Eudora Cardinals throughout the season, including into the 4A state tournament. The senior took second in both the Frontier League tournament and the 4A regional tournament. At state, Grant placed 25th individually.
Claire Heinritz, Free State
Claire Heinritz
Heinritz, a senior, earned an All-Sunflower League honorable mention while leading Free State in scoring average this season. She placed in the top 10 at the regional tournament and finished in the top 20 in eight tournaments this season.
Paityn Van Middlesworth, Tonganoxie
Paityn Van Middlesworth
Van Middlesworth finished the season with a 42nd overall finish in the 4A state tournament after taking 11th in the regional tournament. She led the Chieftains in scoring average and was the only one to compete in the state tournament.
Jada Sansome, Baldwin
Jada Sansome
Sansome placed third in the Frontier League tournament, one of two tournaments in which Sansome finished in the top three. She placed fourth in the regional and 34th in the 4A state tournament. In total, she placed in the top 10 in 13 tournaments.
Laurel Stancil, Free State
Laurel Stancil
As a sophomore, Stancil reached day two of the 6A state tournament and earned an All-Sunflower League honorable mention. Her best tournament came in the Falcon Challenge when she placed second by scoring a 91, which was one of her best scores of the season.
Lilly Wright, Eudora
Lilly Wright
Wright finished her sophomore campaign as the No. 7 golfer in the Frontier League tournament and 18th in the 4A regional tournament. After starting the year on JV, Wright became a key member of the Cardinals’ varsity squad.
Honorable mentions: Maria Guerica, Lawrence; Cami Nauholz, Lawrence; Charity Thompson, Baldwin.
