VAN WERT – Coaches in the Western Buckeye League met on Sunday afternoon and tabbed Elida senior Addisyn Freeman as the 2022-23 Western Buckeye League Player of the Year.
Freeman scored her 1,000th career point this season in a January 10th contest against Bluffton and helped her team to a sectional finals appearance after defeating Kenton in the tournament opener. Averaging double digits points and rebounds this season Freeman was a focal point for opposing defenses.
Joining Freeman on the first team were seniors Elena Oliver (Bath), Cora Rable (St. Marys), and Van Wert’s Kyra Welch. Juniors Gracie Freiberger of Shawnee and Katie Kaufman of league champion Ottawa Glandorf rounded out the top squad.
Making appearances on the second team were seniors Rachel Clark (Bath), Tatum Miller (Kenton), Ania Pearson (Shawnee), Morgan Hesse (St. Marys), and Sofi Houg of Van Wert. Freshman standout Karsyn Erford of OG was the only freshman named to any All-WBL team this season.
Juniors Elisabeth Good of Wapak and Anne Oliver of Bath led the third team along with Ottawa Glandorf sophomore Kaelyn Grothause and three seniors in the form of Celina’s Taylor Klingshirn, Mira Horvath of Defiance, and Bella Lopez of Elida.
Honorable mention slots were handed out to three sophomores, Kaitlyn Kimmet (OG), Sydney Burris (Shawnee), and Reese Rable (St. Marys). Seniors Kyilla Billingsley (Celina) was joined by classmates Kinley Maynard (Defiance), Payton Kuhn (Elida), Ali Harpel (Kenton), Maria Bagley (Van Wert), Reagan Courter (Wapak) and one junior in Bath’s Claire Foust.
League champion coach Troy Yant of Ottawa Glandorf who finished a perfect 9-0 conference campaign was named Coach of the Year. Yant’s selection is his eighth such in his 11 year tenure that has features seven WBL Player of the Year winners and a pair of Co-winners.