Gatorade established an award honoring America's elite high school student-athletes in 1985 and now recognizes standouts in football (boys), volleyball (girls), boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, baseball (boys), softball (girls), and boys and girls track & field. State players of the year are selected for their outstanding athletic performance, academic achievement and exemplary personal character.
The following athletes went on to be recognized as national players of the year:
- Christie Welsh, soccer, 1998
- Nicole Kaczmarski, basketball, 1999
- Tina Charles, basketball, 2006
- Aisling Cuffe, cross country, 2010
- Breanna Stewart, basketball, 2012; also selected as overall national athlete of the year.
- Katelyn Tuohy, North Rockland cross country, 2017, 2018, 2019.
- Katelyn Tuohy, North Rockland track and field, 2018; also selected as overall national athlete of the year.
- Angelina Napoleon, track and field, 2023.
For more information, visit the
Gatorade site.
| | BASKETBALL | | |
| 1985-86 | Sue Harnett | Moore Catholic | |
| 1986-87 | Monika Kost | Lindenhurst | Forward |
| 1987-88 | Tammi Reiss | Eldred | Guard |
| 1988-89 | Laura Miele | Christ the King | Guard |
| 1989-90 | Anita Kaplan | Bethlehem | Center |
| 1990-91 | Anita Kaplan | Bethlehem | Center |
| 1991-92 | Nakia Hill | Christ the King | Center |
| 1992-93 | Tahnee Heins | Ichabod Crane | Guard |
| 1993-94 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Christ the King | Center |
| 1994-95 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Christ the King | Forward/center |
| 1995-96 | Kelly Scanlon | Shenendehowa | Forward |
| 1996-97 | Nicole Kaczmarski | Sachem | Guard |
| 1997-98 | Nicole Kaczmarski | Sachem | Guard |
| 1998-99 | Nicole Kaczmarski | Sachem | Guard |
| 1999-00 | Bethany LeSuer | Garden City | Guard |
| 2000-01 | Bethany LeSuer | Garden City | Guard |
| 2001-02 | Shay Doron | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2002-03 | Shay Doron | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2003-04 | Nkolika Anosike | St. Peter's | Center/forward |
| 2004-05 | Kia Vaughn | St. Michael's | Center |
| 2005-06 | Tina Charles | Christ the King | Forward |
| 2006-07 | Lorin Dixon | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2007-08 | Samantha Prahalis | Commack | Guard |
| 2008-09 | Bria Hartley | North Babylon | Guard |
| 2009-10 | Bria Hartley | North Babylon | Guard |
| 2010-11 | Breanna Stewart | Cicero-North Syracuse | Forward |
| 2011-12 | Breanna Stewart | Cicero-North Syracuse | Forward |
| 2012-13 | Saniya Chong | Ossining | Guard |
| 2013-14 | Sierra Calhoun | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2014-15 | Lauren "Boogie" Brozoski | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
| 2015-16 | Dominique Toussaint | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2016-17 | Andra Espinoza-Hunter | Ossining | Guard |
| 2017-18 | Emily Engstler | St. Francis Prep | Forward |
| 2018-19 | Celeste Taylor | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
| 2019-20 | Celeste Taylor | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
| 2020-21 | Sonia Citron | Ursuline | Guard/forward |
| 2021-22 | Paris Clark | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
| 2022-23 | Kate Koval | Long Island Lutheran | Post |
| 2023-24 | Syla Swords | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
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| | CROSS COUNTRY | | |
| 2007-08 | Emily Lipari | Roslyn | |
| 2008-09 | Emily Lipari | Roslyn | |
| 2009-10 | Aisling Cuffe | Cornwall | |
| 2010-11 | Aisling Cuffe | Cornwall | |
| 2011-12 | Jillian Fanning | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
| 2012-13 | Bella Burda | Arlington | |
| 2013-14 | Jessica Lawson | Corning | |
| 2014-15 | Bella Burda | Arlington | |
| 2015-16 | Jessica Lawson | Corning | |
| 2016-17 | Kelsey Chmiel | Saratoga Springs | |
| 2017-18 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | |
| 2018-19 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | |
| 2019-20 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | |
| 2020-21 | Brooke Rauber | Tully | |
| 2021-22 | Karrie Baloga | Cornwall | |
| 2022-23 | Karrie Baloga | Cornwall | |
| 2023-24 | Zariel Macchia | William Floyd | |
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| | SOCCER | | |
| 1997-98 | Abby Wambach | Rochester Mercy | Striker |
| 1998-99 | Christie Welsh | Massapequa | Forward |
| 1999-00 | Courtney Smith | Westhill | Forward/defender |
| 2000-01 | Elizabeth Roberti | Southside | |
| 2001-02 | Marisa Kanela | Wantagh | Defender/midfielder |
| 2002-03 | Meghan Rourke | Honeoye Falls-Lima | Striker |
| 2003-04 | Lorraine Quinn | Farmingdale | Midfielder |
| 2004-05 | Christina DiMartino | Massapequa | Midfielder |
| 2005-06 | Marci Pasenello | Honeoye Falls-Lima | Forward/midfielder |
| 2006-07 | Hannah Cerrone | R.C. Ketcham | Midfielder |
| 2007-08 | Alaina Beyar | Rockville Centre South Side | Forward |
| 2008-09 | Kim DeCesare | Massapequa | Defender/midfielder |
| 2009-10 | Crystal Dunn | Rockville Centre South Side | Forward |
| 2010-11 | Tatiana Saunders | Rye | Goalkeeper |
| 2011-12 | Cari Roccaro | East Islip | Midfielder/defender |
| 2012-13 | Alana O'Neill | Washingtonville | Defender |
| 2013-14 | Kayla Cappuzzo | Calhoun | Midfielder |
| 2014-15 | Keri Cavallo | Rockville Centre South Side | Forward |
| 2015-16 | Hope Breslin | Massapequa | Forward |
| 2016-17 | Madisyn Pezzino | Grand Island | Forward |
| 2017-18 | Molly Feighan | Arlington | Forward |
| 2018-19 | Chloe Delyser | Marion | Forward |
| 2019-20 | Chloe Delyser | Marion | Forward |
| 2020-21 | Shae O'Rourke | Lancaster St. Mary's | |
| 2021-22 | Lia Howard | Massapequa | Forward/midfielder |
| 2022-23 | Linda Ullmark | Nichols | Midfielder |
| 2023-24 | Keegan Smith | Bath | Midfielder |
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| | TRACK AND FIELD | | |
| 1985-86 | Therese Devlin | Wantagh | Middle distance |
| 1986-87 | Kim Batten | Rochester East | Jumps/hurdles |
| 1987-88 | Christine Gentile | Babylon | Middle distance |
| 1988-89 | Cheri Goddard | Saragota Springs | Distance |
| 1989-90 | Jennifer Finnegan | Sidney | Middle distance |
| 1990-91 | Jen Norton | East Islip | Distance |
| 1991-92 | Stacey Schroeder | Grand Island | Shot/discus |
| 1992-93 | Karen Elliot | Penfield | Hurdles |
| 1993-94 | Erin Davis | Saratoga Springs | Distance |
| 1994-95 | Gina LoMonaco | Half Hallow Hills | Discus |
| 1995-96 | Tamieka Grizzle | George Washington | Middle distance |
| 1996-97 | Keyon Soley | Uniondale | Sprints |
| 1997-98 | Keyon Soley | Uniondale | Sprints/long jump |
| 1998-99 | Jen Donovan | Half Hollow Hills East | Middle distance |
| 1999-00 | Shanae Dawkins | New Rochelle | Sprints/hurdles |
| 2000-01 | Stacey Ann Livingston | Boys and Girls | |
| 2001-02 | Molly Huddle | Elmira Notre Dame | Distance |
| 2002-03 | Nicole Blood | Saratoga Springs | Distance |
| 2003-04 | Nicole Blood | Saratoga Springs | Distance |
| 2004-05 | Mary Saxer | Lancaster | Long jump/pole vault |
| 2005-06 | Lindsey Ferguson | Saratoga Springs | Steeple/distances/hurdles |
| 2006-07 | Dalilah Muhammad | Cardozo | Hurdles |
| 2007-08 | Charlene Lipsey | Hempstead | Sprints |
| 2008-09 | Shelby Greany | Suffern | Distances |
| 2009-10 | Melissa Kurzdorfer | Lancaster | Shot/discus |
| 2010-11 | Aisling Cuffe | Cornwall | Distance |
| 2011-12 | Mary Cain | Bronxville | Distance |
| 2012-13 | Sabrina Southerland | Cardozo | Middle distance |
| 2013-14 | Zola Golden | Arlington | Sprints |
| 2014-15 | Sammy Watson | Rush-Henrietta | Middle distance |
| 2015-16 | Sammy Watson | Rush-Henrietta | Middle distance |
| 2016-17 | Sammy Watson | Rush-Henrietta | Middle distance |
| 2017-18 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | Distance |
| 2018-19 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | Distance |
| 2019-20 | Katelyn Tuohy | North Rockland | Distance |
| 2020-21 | Brooke Rauber | Tully | Distance |
| 2021-22 | Gianna Locci | Stillwater | Jumps |
| 2022-23 | Angelina Napoleon | Allegany-Limestone | Middle distance/distance |
| 2023-24 | Zariel Macchia | William Floyd | Distance |
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| | VOLLEYBALL | | |
| 1995-96 | Tori Seibert | Sweet Home | Middle hitter |
| 1996-97 | Tracee Brown | North Rockland | Middle hitter |
| 1997-98 | Bitsy Mayhle | Sweet Home | Middle hitter |
| 1998-99 | Bitsy Mayhle | Sweet Home | Outside hitter |
| 1999-00 | Lindsay Matikosh | North Tonawanda | Middle hitter |
| 2000-01 | Rachael Rush | Sweet Home | Setter |
| 2001-02 | Ashley DoEpp | Eden | Outside hitter |
| 2002-03 | Ashley DoEpp | Eden | Outside hitter |
| 2003-04 | Franci Girard | Fieldstone School | Outside hitter |
| 2004-05 | Stephanie Jansma | Lancaster | Setter/outside hitter |
| 2005-06 | Sarah Morton | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | Middle blocker |
| 2006-07 | Alyssa D'Errico | Byron-Bergen | Outside hitter |
| 2007-08 | Erin Little | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | Middle blocker |
| 2008-09 | Mary Cushman | Irondequoit | Outside hitter |
| 2009-10 | Mary Cushman | Irondequoit | Outside hitter |
| 2010-11 | Heather Feldman | Eden | Setter |
| 2011-12 | Melissa Rigo | John Glenn | Outside hitter |
| 2012-13 | Luisa Schirmer | Pittsford Sutherland | Outside hitter |
| 2013-14 | Luisa Schirmer | Pittsford Sutherland | Outside hitter |
| 2014-15 | Leah Meyer | Lancaster St. Mary's | Middle blocker |
| 2015-16 | Sam Burgio | Eden | Outside hitter |
| 2016-17 | Yvette Burcescu | Walter Panas | Outside hitter |
| 2017-18 | Mackenzie Cole | Connetquot | Outside hitter/libero |
| 2018-19 | Beth Miller | Portville | Hitter |
| 2019-20 | Mychael Vernon | Ossining | Outside hitter |
| 2020-21 | Carlie Rzeszotarski | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | Outside hitter |
| 2021-22 | Emma Werkmeister | Victor | Outside hitter |
| 2022-23 | Amya Davis | Hendrick Hudson | Outside hitter |
| 2023-24 | Carson Tyler | Lancaster St. Mary's | Outside hitter |
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| | SOFTBALL | | |
| 1997-98 | Veronica Maher | Warsaw | Pitcher |
| 1998-99 | Barbara Cook | Susquehanna Valley | Pitcher |
| 1999-00 | Lauren Bettinelli | Bay Shore | Pitcher/shortstop |
| 2000-01 | Lauren Bettinelli | Bay Shore | Pitcher/shortstop |
| 2001-02 | Laura Sweeney | John Jay | Shortstop |
| 2002-03 | Jennifer Martinez | Bellport | Pitcher/shortstop/1st base |
| 2003-04 | Mary Beth Puccio | Bay Shore | First base |
| 2004-05 | Maddy Coon | Horace Greeley | Pitcher/shortstop |
| 2005-06 | Lauryn DePaul | Liverpool | Shortstop/3rd base |
| 2006-07 | Chelsea Plimpton | Williamsville South | Pitcher |
| 2007-08 | Cassie Reilly-Boccia | Yorktown | First base |
| 2008-09 | Olivia Galati | St. John the Baptist | Pitcher |
| 2009-10 | Tammy Wray | Somers | Shortstop |
| 2010-11 | Marissa Diescher | Livingston Manor | Pitcher |
| 2011-12 | Kristen Brown | MacArthur | Shortstop/pitcher |
| 2012-13 | Sydney O'Hara | Cicero-North Syracuse | Pitcher |
| 2013-14 | Julia DiMartino | Brockport | Pitcher |
| 2014-15 | Toni Polk | Niagara Falls | Shortstop |
| 2015-16 | Sarah Cornell | W.T. Clarke | Pitcher |
| 2016-17 | Calista Phippen | Ichabod Crane | Pitcher |
| 2017-18 | Calista Phippen | Ichabod Crane | Pitcher |
| 2018-19 | Makenzie Stiles | Deposit | Pitcher |
| 2019-20 | Shannon Becker | Mahopac | Pitcher |
| 2020-21 | Shannon Becker | Mahopac | Pitcher |
| 2021-22 | Atalyia Rijo | Corning | Shortstop |
| 2022-23 | Stefania Abruscato | Hauppauge | Catcher |
| 2023-24 | Mila Fiordalisi | St. Anthony's | Pitcher |
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