Our I70Sports Best Of Standout Athletes are chosen for more than just their stat lines. The athletes listed below are multi-sport athletes who have had significant parts of two or more sports seasons and have also demonstrated strong signs of leadership, sportsmanship and other intangibles during the 2025-2026 school year.
Overall Female Standout Athletes:
Dayana Haslett, BSE-SEB: The junior showed out on the basketball court again and was a big piece of a rebuilding Lady Eagles softball team in her third high school year. The BSE guard picked up where she left off from a huge sophomore year and kept ticking off milestones in 2025-2026. After already scoring her 1000th point as a sophomore, Haslett surpassed the 1,500 point threshold, became the all-time leading scorer in BSE program history and now sits at 1,997 career points after scoring 549 points this season. She finished the season averaging 20.7 points per game, 5.1 steals per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game. Haslett again picked up numerous in season and postseason honors including being named First Team All-State for this season, making her a three-time All-State selection after being named Second Team All-State her sophomore year and Third Team All-State as a freshman. On the softball field, the shortstop and centerfielder hit .263 with 20 hits, five being extra base hits, 14 RBI, 24 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases while also putting together a .918 fielding percentage between her time on the infield and in the outfield.
Presley Williams, BSE-SEB: In her final high school seasons, Williams again excelled on the volleyball and basketball courts. In the fall, the senior right side hitter capped off her high school volleyball career with a big role in the Lady Eagles offensively and defensively. She finished the 2025 season with 170 kills, 31 aces, 17 blocks, 213 digs and 10 assists. Williams was named First Team All-Conference in both the National Trail Conference and Egyptian Illini Conference. In the winter, the guard saw her game continue to grow and adapt in her final high school season becoming an even bigger defensive threat while also becoming an important cog in the offensive ball movement scheme for the team this year. Williams had career highs in steals averaging 5.6 steals per game and in assists averaging 3.4 a game. While still a threat to score from the perimeter or off the dribble drive, Williams averaged 6.6 points per game and also grabbed an average of 4.9 rebounds per game. Williams was named First Team All-Conference for in the Egyptian Illini and Second Team All-Conference in the National Trail Conference.
Addie Sasse, BSE-SEB: Sasse continued to build her athletic resume on the volleyball and basketball courts in her finals seasons. On the volleyball court, she again served as a do it all type of player for the Lady Eagles, excelling in both offensive and defensive areas. Sasse amassed 329 assists as a setter for SEB but also racked up 132 kills, 186 digs, 36 aces and 27 blocks. She was named Egyptian Illini Conference MVP for the second straight year and was named First Team All-Conference for the National Trail Conference. On the basketball court, the forward became known as a top defender in the area as she continued to raise the bar in her final season. Sasse drew many tough assignments across the Bombers tough schedule of opponents and became known as a defensive pest often able to shut down opponents in the post and on the perimeter. Sasse was tough on the board, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with averages of 6 points per game, 2.1 steals per game and 1.8 assists per game. Sasse was named to the Dieterich Holiday Tournament and National Trail Conference All Tournament teams this season and also earned postseason honors being named Second Team All-Conference in both the National Trail and Egyptian Illini Conferences.
Lauren Johnson, South Central: The senior Lady Cougar finished off high school but big parts on the South Central volleyball, basketball and softball teams. In the fall, Johnson led the Lady Cougars with 135 kills while serving as an outside hitter, She also picked up 49 digs, 9 blocks and 4 aces. On the basketball court, Johnson was one of a few seniors tasked with leading a young and small Cougars team. Playing forward, Johnson averaged 6 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds per game. In her top sport in the Spring, Johnson had arguably her best high school season on the mound helping lead South Central to their fifth straight Regional title. On the mound, Johnson pitched 76 innings and going 11-4 with a 2.11 ERA and 81 strikeouts holding opponents to a .236 batting average. At the plate, she hit .287 with a .374 on base percentage, 25 hits, 24 RBI, 3 home runs, 18 runs scored and had a .904 fielding percentage working between first base and the pitchers mound.
Kinlee Thompson, South Central: Thompson finished off her high school career with her strongest all around year yet. On the volleyball court, Thompson was part of a strong group of attackers at the net, being second on the team in kill attempts and ending the season with 79 kills. She was second on the team in blocks with 23 on the season playing the front row for the Lady Cougars. In her favorite sport Thompson, a pitcher and centerfielder, helped lead South Central to their fifth straight Regional title as she hit .435 with a .500 on base percentage as she collected 40 hits including 16 extra base hits and 4 home runs to go along with 36 RBI, 32 runs scored and 9 stolen bases. She pitched 32 innings with a 2-3 record and 6.56 ERA tossing 29 strikeouts and also was as steady as they come with a .966 fielding percentage in the centerfield and pitching positions.
Ryleigh Sarver, CHBC: A quiet and steady contributor for CHBC in three sports, Sarver stepped up as a senior leader in all three in her final seasons. In the fall, Sarver was a defensive specialist for the Lady Bobcats and finished the season with 74 digs, 13 aces, 9 assists and also had 4 kills. On the basketball court, Sarver was tasked with being a leader for a small and young team of just 7 players. Working as a point guard and shooting guard, Sarver finished her final season with 3 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. The infielder and leader for the Lady Bobcats finished her high school career with a big season batting .418 BA and .508 on base percentage with 23 hit, 4 home runs, 23 RBI and 17 runs scored. She had a slugging percentage of .709 and stole 10 bases.
Anna Benhoff, Ramsey: After a volleyball season in the fall that saw the freshman get some Varsity time for the Lady Rams where she picked up 11 kills, 10 digs and two aces, the guard burst onto the area sports scene in a big way in the winter. She lead the Lady Rams in scoring on the season with 12.6 points per game and averaged a season double-double, also grabbing an average of 10 rebounds per game. Benhoff was named Second Team All-Conference for the Egyptian Illini Conference. Benhoff continued her big year with a huge debut season for the Lady Rams as she bore the brunt of the pitching duties with 126 innings pitched earning a 3.84 ERA and striking out 142 batters. At the plate, she was very strong hitting .467 with a .576 on base percentage, 29 hits, 11 extra base hits, 31 RBI and 22 runs scored.
Mia Waggoner, Ramsey: Always a steady contributor during her first two years if high school for Ramsey, Waggoner was a big part of all three Lady Rams sports her junior year. In the fall, Waggoner stepped up as a leader for a Lady Rams team and finished her 2025 season with 188 assists, 133 digs, 51 kills, 44 aces and 8 blocks. Waggoner was named First Team All-Conference for the Egyptian Illini Conference. In the winter, Waggoner continued to get better as she increased her totals across the board averaging 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists per game this season. This spring on the softball field, the catcher and leader for the Lady Rams picked up where she left off from a strong sophomore season with an even better 2026, hitting .516 with a .591 on base percentage. She had 31 hits, 15 extra base hits, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, 20 runs scored and 8 stolen bases. She again earned All Conference honors for the Egyptian Illini Conference.
Allison Shields, CHBC: The sophomore had an overall breakout year in her second high school year. On the volleyball court, the middle hitter was big for the Lady Bobcats finishing the season with 185 kills, 192 digs, 34 aces and 13 blocks. Shields was named Second Team All-Conference for the National Trail Conference and First Team All-Conference for the Egyptian Illini Conference. After a break in the winter, Shields again had a big season, this time on the softball field. The shortstop had a very strong season hitting .471 with a .520 on base percentage. She collected 32 hits, 5 RBI and 24 runs scored. Shields was hard to get out once on the basepaths with 35 stolen bases.
Ella Nelson, Altamont: The Lady Indians had to make several adjustments in the 2025-2026 season under a new coaching system and in a season in which they lost two starters to injury Nelson, a junior guard, stepped up and lead the team in scoring with 6.9 points per game as well as leading the team with 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. She also shot 70.6% from the free throw line. Nelson was named to the National Trail Conference All-Tournament Team. On the softball field, Nelson took over full-time catching duties and was steadfast behind the plate with an impressive .985 fielding percentage. At the plate, she hit .230 with 17 hits, 10 RBI and 14 runs scored and also stole four bases.
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