06/06/23 – Johnson, Ferree Named 2022-23 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

June 6, 2023 2022-2023 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2023

The 2022-23 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated this week on the campus of Midway University, as Rafaella Johnson of Elizabethtown (Cross Country) and George Ferree of Trinity (Louisville) (Wrestling) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

Beginning in May 2016, Midway has presented a Female Student-Athlete of the Year award at each KHSAA girls’ state championship event. The awards program was expanded in 2019-20 to include male student-athletes, with Midway honoring a deserving student-athlete in each of the 19 officially recognized KHSAA sports and sport-activities.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes online at khsaa.org, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway.

2022-23 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

• Archery: Hannah Ramsey, Model; Thane Hudelson, Cooper
• Baseball: Aydan Hamilton, Campbell County
• Basketball: Haven Ford, Rowan County; Sam Stone, Mayfield
• Bass Fishing: Dalton Blakley, Harlan County
• Bowling: Austyn Raymer, Pleasure Ridge Park; Larry McKnight, John Hardin
• Competitive Cheer: Lauren McDonald, Knox Central
• Cross Country: Rafaella Johnson, Elizabethtown; Gavin Breunig, Elizabethtown
• Dance: Reagan Prather, Scott County
• eSports: Trenton Pigg, Great Crossing
• Field Hockey: Mia Schoenbeck, Christian Academy-Louisville
• Football: Daniel Thomas, Bell County
• Golf: Trinity Beth, Marshall County; Hayden Engler, Christian Fellowship
• Soccer: Amanda Schlueter, St. Henry District; Colin Elder, Bullitt East
• Softball: Paige Stewart, Campbell County
• Swimming & Diving: Katherine Woodall, Lexington Catholic; Nathan Zhu, Paul Laurence Dunbar
• Tennis: Ellie Hammond, Sacred Heart; Matthew Marlette, Ryle
• Track & Field: Caroline Murphy, Glasgow; Daniel Puckett, Calloway County
• Volleyball: Jamison Gordon, Frederick Douglass
• Wrestling: Trinity Gottler, Tates Creek; George Ferree, Trinity (Louisville)

* 2022-23 overall winners in bold

Overall Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

• 2016-17: Brooke Forde, Sacred Heart (Swimming & Diving)
• 2017-18: Sara Hieneman, Russell (Softball)
• 2018-19: Maci Ferguson, Russell (Russell)
• 2019-20: Lee Ann Gordon, Assumption (Field Hockey); Michael Chou, Trinity (Louisville) (Tennis)
• 2020-21: Claire Lehmkuhler, Woodford County (Softball); Jackson Smallwood, Grant County (Track & Field)
• 2021-22: Renae Kopser, Ryle (Track & Field); Ben Gloyd, Mayfield (Baseball)
• 2022-23: Rafaella Johnson, Elizabethtown (Cross Country); George Ferree, Trinity (Louisville) (Wrestling)

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 284 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches, and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.