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It was a banner year for athletes throughout the Eugene-Springfield area.
The 2025-26 high school sports season has come to a close. It featured countless local standouts who produced all-state, all-league and state title-winning performances.
Now, it's time to recognize the best of the best.
Vote for who you think should be The Register-Guard 2025-26 girls athlete of the year, sponsored by Active Chiropractic.
Nominees for The Register-Guard Girls Athlete of the Year are:
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, June 28.
Thurston's senior Brooklyn Anderson cemented her status as the best girls high-hurdler in Class 5A history this spring. Anderson clocked 14.12 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles to move to the top of the 5A all-time leaderboard and fourth on Oregon's all-time list. She ended the year with her second consecutive 100 hurdles title at the 5A state meet, and also placed fourth in the long jump and seventh in the 100.
North Eugene junior midfielder Payton Buschelman was named the Class 5A co-player of the year after leading the Highlanders to the 5A title game, the Midwestern League title and a 17-1 record.
Churchill senior outfielder Sienna Brown earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping the Lancers to a 20-7 record and a state playoff appearance.
South Eugene's duo of Ellie Cho and Ellie Park took home the Class 6A doubles state title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Sheldon's Hayden Kearney and Alyssa Piquette. They are the first doubles pairing in school history to win a state title.
Harrisburg senior third baseman Sierra Clark earned Class 3A first-team all-state honors and was named the Mountain Valley Conference offensive player of the year after leading the Eagles to the league title and the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Springfield freshman Nuari Filipe received Class 5A first-team all-state honors after leading the Millers to the state title game. Filipe averaged 20 points per game on the year.
Springfield junior Sailor Hall earned Class 5A second-team all-state honors on the basketball court after helping the Millers to the state title game.
During the spring track and field season, Hall won the 5A state title in the discus. Her 2026 personal-best throw of 137-1 ranked third in the state, regardless of classification.
Creswell junior outside hitter Piper Hanson, a University of Oregon commit, was awarded Class 3A first-team all-state honors. She was named the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year after helping the Bulldogs reach the state playoffs.
South Eugene freshman Eva Johnson Hess was the Class 6A runner-up in both the 1,500 (4:30.84) and 3,000 (9:47.08) at the Class 6A state championships. On June 7, she turned up to the Brooks PR Invitational in Renton, Washington, for a one-mile race featuring many of the fastest ninth-graders in the U.S. Johnson Hess won in a personal-best 4:41.41.
During the fall cross-country season, she placed third at the 6A state championships and finished the year with a 5,000-meter personal-best of 17:40.9, good for sixth-best in all of Oregon.
Creswell senior Elliette Kinney received Class 3A first-team all-state honors after helping lead the Bulldogs to the Class 3A/2A/1A state semifinals. She scored 18 goals and had 14 assists.
Kinney also earned Class 3A first-team all-state honors on the basketball court and was named the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year after leading the Bulldogs to the state semifinals.
Churchill senior Addison Kleinke was already the greatest girls pole vaulter in state history coming into the year. The Texas A&M signee further cemented her status this spring by winning her fourth consecutive Class 5A title with a mark of 13-1/4. She is the first high school girl in state history to claim four championships in the event.
Marist Catholic sophomore Fina Miret won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 13.44 seconds. She also took third in the 500 freestyle (5:23.23).
Sheldon junior libero Savannah McKibben earned Class 6A second-team all-state honors and was named to the Southwest Conference first team. After helping the Irish to a fifth-place finish at the state tournament, she earned second-team all-tournament honors.
She also received second-team all-Southwest Conference recognition for Sheldon's softball team.
Marist Catholic junior forward Libby McLaughlin led the Spartans to their second consecutive Class 4A title and was named the 4A player of the year.
Midway through the 2025 season, she broke the state record for career assists. With one season left to play, she has already racked up 98 assists — 35 more than any player in state history.
It was an ultra-busy year for Thurston senior Addison Nelson, who won the Class 5A state triple jump title at the OSAA championships. Simultaneously in the spring, she played for the Colts' softball team and was the starting quarterback for their flag football team.
In the fall, she was a second-team all-Midwestern League outside hitter for Thurston. In the winter, she earned second-team all-league honors on the basketball court.
North Eugene senior Cricket Phipps won her second consecutive Class 5A title at 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 4:31.12. Phipps' time was the fifth-fastest in the state, regardless of classification.
During the fall cross-country season, she clocked a 5,000-meter personal-best of 17:43.7 — good for ninth-best in the state.
Sheldon senior midfielder Kendall Quinney received Class 6A first-team all-state honors after leading the Irish to the Southwest Conference title and the state quarterfinals.
Harrisburg sophomore Eden Ridgley won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title at 100 pounds. She finished the year with a 47-3 record.
Marist Catholic junior Lauren Rohman was a focal point on the Spartans' state title-winning squad. She was named the Class 4A player of the year, as well as the Sky-Em League player of the year.
Willamette sophomore goalkeeper Macy Rush was named the Southwest Conference keeper of the year and earned Class 6A second-team all-state honors.
On the basketball court, Rush was a second-team all-Southwest Conference selection. On the softball field, she also earned second-team all-conference recognition.
It was a breakout year on the track for Marist Catholic junior Tori Sherman, who captured the Class 4A state title at 1,500 meters. During the year, she clocked an 800 personal-best of 2:14.13, which ranked 10th in the state, regardless of classification.
Sherman was also a first-team all-state midfielder for the Spartans' state title-winning soccer team. She scored 15 goals and dished out 14 assists.
Harrisburg junior Paxton Steele won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title at 110 pounds. She finished the year with a 57-1 record.
After missing the entire 2025 track and field season due to injuries she suffered in a tragic car crash, Pleasant Hill senior sprinter Ryan Thomas overcame adversity in 2026 and won the Class 3A state title at 100 meters with a wind-legal personal-best time of 12.15 seconds. In the process, she set the Class 3A state record.
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote for Active Chiropractic high school girls athlete of the year
Continue reading...
The 2025-26 high school sports season has come to a close. It featured countless local standouts who produced all-state, all-league and state title-winning performances.
Now, it's time to recognize the best of the best.
Vote for who you think should be The Register-Guard 2025-26 girls athlete of the year, sponsored by Active Chiropractic.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nominees for The Register-Guard Girls Athlete of the Year are:
- Brooklyn Anderson, Thurston track and field
- Payton Buschelman, North Eugene soccer
- Sienna Brown, Churchill softball
- Ellie Cho and Ellie Park, South Eugene tennis
- Sierra Clark, Harrisburg softball
- Nuari Filipe, Springfield girls basketball
- Sailor Hall, Springfield basketball and track and field
- Piper Hanson, Creswell volleyball
- Eva Johnson Hess, South Eugene cross-country and track and field
- Elliette Kinney, Creswell soccer and basketball
- Addison Kleinke, Churchill track and field
- Fina Miret, Marist Catholic swimming
- Savannah McKibben, Sheldon volleyball and softball
- Libby McLaughlin, Marist Catholic soccer
- Addison Nelson, Thurston soccer, basketball, track and field, softball and flag football
- Cricket Phipps, North Eugene cross-country and track and field
- Kendall Quinney, Sheldon soccer
- Eden Ridgley, Harrisburg wrestling
- Lauren Rohman, Marist Catholic volleyball
- Macy Rush, Willamette soccer, basketball and softball
- Tori Sherman, Marist Catholic soccer and track and field
- Paxton Steele, Harrisburg wrestling
- Ryan Thomas, Pleasant Hill track and field
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, June 28.
You must be registered for see images attach
Brooklyn Anderson, Thurston track and field
Thurston's senior Brooklyn Anderson cemented her status as the best girls high-hurdler in Class 5A history this spring. Anderson clocked 14.12 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles to move to the top of the 5A all-time leaderboard and fourth on Oregon's all-time list. She ended the year with her second consecutive 100 hurdles title at the 5A state meet, and also placed fourth in the long jump and seventh in the 100.
You must be registered for see images attach
Payton Buschelman, North Eugene soccer
North Eugene junior midfielder Payton Buschelman was named the Class 5A co-player of the year after leading the Highlanders to the 5A title game, the Midwestern League title and a 17-1 record.
You must be registered for see images attach
Sienna Brown, Churchill softball
Churchill senior outfielder Sienna Brown earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping the Lancers to a 20-7 record and a state playoff appearance.
You must be registered for see images attach
Ellie Cho and Ellie Park, South Eugene tennis
South Eugene's duo of Ellie Cho and Ellie Park took home the Class 6A doubles state title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Sheldon's Hayden Kearney and Alyssa Piquette. They are the first doubles pairing in school history to win a state title.
You must be registered for see images attach
Sierra Clark, Harrisburg softball
Harrisburg senior third baseman Sierra Clark earned Class 3A first-team all-state honors and was named the Mountain Valley Conference offensive player of the year after leading the Eagles to the league title and the Class 3A quarterfinals.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nuari Filipe, Springfield girls basketball
Springfield freshman Nuari Filipe received Class 5A first-team all-state honors after leading the Millers to the state title game. Filipe averaged 20 points per game on the year.
You must be registered for see images attach
Sailor Hall, Springfield basketball and track and field
Springfield junior Sailor Hall earned Class 5A second-team all-state honors on the basketball court after helping the Millers to the state title game.
During the spring track and field season, Hall won the 5A state title in the discus. Her 2026 personal-best throw of 137-1 ranked third in the state, regardless of classification.
You must be registered for see images attach
Piper Hanson, Creswell volleyball
Creswell junior outside hitter Piper Hanson, a University of Oregon commit, was awarded Class 3A first-team all-state honors. She was named the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year after helping the Bulldogs reach the state playoffs.
You must be registered for see images attach
Eva Johnson Hess, South Eugene cross-country and track and field
South Eugene freshman Eva Johnson Hess was the Class 6A runner-up in both the 1,500 (4:30.84) and 3,000 (9:47.08) at the Class 6A state championships. On June 7, she turned up to the Brooks PR Invitational in Renton, Washington, for a one-mile race featuring many of the fastest ninth-graders in the U.S. Johnson Hess won in a personal-best 4:41.41.
During the fall cross-country season, she placed third at the 6A state championships and finished the year with a 5,000-meter personal-best of 17:40.9, good for sixth-best in all of Oregon.
You must be registered for see images attach
Elliette Kinney, Creswell soccer and basketball
Creswell senior Elliette Kinney received Class 3A first-team all-state honors after helping lead the Bulldogs to the Class 3A/2A/1A state semifinals. She scored 18 goals and had 14 assists.
Kinney also earned Class 3A first-team all-state honors on the basketball court and was named the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year after leading the Bulldogs to the state semifinals.
You must be registered for see images attach
Addison Kleinke, Churchill track and field
Churchill senior Addison Kleinke was already the greatest girls pole vaulter in state history coming into the year. The Texas A&M signee further cemented her status this spring by winning her fourth consecutive Class 5A title with a mark of 13-1/4. She is the first high school girl in state history to claim four championships in the event.
Fina Miret, Marist Catholic swimming
Marist Catholic sophomore Fina Miret won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 13.44 seconds. She also took third in the 500 freestyle (5:23.23).
Savannah McKibben, Sheldon volleyball and softball
Sheldon junior libero Savannah McKibben earned Class 6A second-team all-state honors and was named to the Southwest Conference first team. After helping the Irish to a fifth-place finish at the state tournament, she earned second-team all-tournament honors.
She also received second-team all-Southwest Conference recognition for Sheldon's softball team.
Libby McLaughlin, Marist Catholic soccer
Marist Catholic junior forward Libby McLaughlin led the Spartans to their second consecutive Class 4A title and was named the 4A player of the year.
Midway through the 2025 season, she broke the state record for career assists. With one season left to play, she has already racked up 98 assists — 35 more than any player in state history.
You must be registered for see images attach
Addison Nelson, Thurston soccer, basketball, track and field, softball and flag football
It was an ultra-busy year for Thurston senior Addison Nelson, who won the Class 5A state triple jump title at the OSAA championships. Simultaneously in the spring, she played for the Colts' softball team and was the starting quarterback for their flag football team.
In the fall, she was a second-team all-Midwestern League outside hitter for Thurston. In the winter, she earned second-team all-league honors on the basketball court.
You must be registered for see images attach
Cricket Phipps, North Eugene cross-country and track and field
North Eugene senior Cricket Phipps won her second consecutive Class 5A title at 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 4:31.12. Phipps' time was the fifth-fastest in the state, regardless of classification.
During the fall cross-country season, she clocked a 5,000-meter personal-best of 17:43.7 — good for ninth-best in the state.
You must be registered for see images attach
Kendall Quinney, Sheldon soccer
Sheldon senior midfielder Kendall Quinney received Class 6A first-team all-state honors after leading the Irish to the Southwest Conference title and the state quarterfinals.
You must be registered for see images
Eden Ridgley, Harrisburg wrestling
Harrisburg sophomore Eden Ridgley won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title at 100 pounds. She finished the year with a 47-3 record.
You must be registered for see images attach
Lauren Rohman, Marist Catholic volleyball
Marist Catholic junior Lauren Rohman was a focal point on the Spartans' state title-winning squad. She was named the Class 4A player of the year, as well as the Sky-Em League player of the year.
Macy Rush, Willamette soccer, basketball and softball
Willamette sophomore goalkeeper Macy Rush was named the Southwest Conference keeper of the year and earned Class 6A second-team all-state honors.
On the basketball court, Rush was a second-team all-Southwest Conference selection. On the softball field, she also earned second-team all-conference recognition.
You must be registered for see images attach
Tori Sherman, Marist Catholic soccer and track and field
It was a breakout year on the track for Marist Catholic junior Tori Sherman, who captured the Class 4A state title at 1,500 meters. During the year, she clocked an 800 personal-best of 2:14.13, which ranked 10th in the state, regardless of classification.
Sherman was also a first-team all-state midfielder for the Spartans' state title-winning soccer team. She scored 15 goals and dished out 14 assists.
Paxton Steele, Harrisburg wrestling
Harrisburg junior Paxton Steele won the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state title at 110 pounds. She finished the year with a 57-1 record.
You must be registered for see images attach
Ryan Thomas, Pleasant Hill track and field
After missing the entire 2025 track and field season due to injuries she suffered in a tragic car crash, Pleasant Hill senior sprinter Ryan Thomas overcame adversity in 2026 and won the Class 3A state title at 100 meters with a wind-legal personal-best time of 12.15 seconds. In the process, she set the Class 3A state record.
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote for Active Chiropractic high school girls athlete of the year
Continue reading...
