2023 PNJ Fall All-Area: Standouts from cross country, golf, swimming and volleyball
Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to award season.
For the first time in the 2023-24 high school calendar, we reveal who was the best and brightest in athletics. Whether on the links, a muddy course, in the pool or on the hardwood, some of the biggest local stars made plenty of noise, some of which reverberated across the state.
The Pensacola News Journal staff went across the area to bring you the finest athletes with their top achievements from four of the season’s sports: cross country, golf, swimming and diving and volleyball.
Football, the last fall sport, is scheduled to be celebrated near Christmas.
2023 PNJ Spring All-Area: Which athletes from the Pensacola-area stood above the rest
2023 PNJ Winter All-Area: Pensacola's finest from basketball, soccer, wrestling and more
2022 PNJ Fall All-Area: Pensacola's best from football, volleyball, golf and more
Without further ado, here’s a look at the winners.
Volleyball
Volleyball Player of the Year
Bella Satterwhite, Gulf Breeze
If you look up the word dominance, a picture of Bella Satterwhite should show up. While she wasn’t at the top of the list for area stats, it was the all-around play that helped Satterwhite lead Gulf Breeze to yet another district title and strong season. Satterwhite recorded 295 kills in 76 sets, averaging 3.9 kills per set. She finished the season on a 15-game streak where Satterwhite recorded 10 or more kills, with a season-high 22 kills in the Dolphins’ five-set loss to Ponte Vedra in the Region 1-6A semifinals. Outside of kills, Satterwhite had 246 digs, 40 aces and 28 blocks. She still has one more season before she heads to Division I Arizona State for beach volleyball.
Offensive Player of the Year
Kaitlyn Montgomery, Navarre
Leading the area in kills, Kaitlyn Montgomery recorded 307 during the 2023 season, averaging 3.3 kills per set with a .214 hitting percentage. Montgomery’s offense was crucial, especially in games like the District 1-6A semifinal matchup where Navarre had a “reverse sweep” against Pace. In that game, Montgomery recorded 17 kills – but her season-high was a 20-kill performance against Choctaw. Similar to the volleyball Player of the Year, Montgomery also has another year to keep up her top offensive skillset.
Defensive Player of the Year
Sarah Frazee, Gulf Breeze
Coming off a Newcomer of the Year season in 2022, Sarah Frazee continued to impress at libero for Gulf Breeze. Coming into this campaign with an added confidence after committing to Southern Methodist University, Frazee recorded 331 digs with just one error all season long. She recorded 12.7 digs per match. On top of her defense, she was able to keep the Dolphins off defense a good amount this year, serving 33 aces. Playing in the back row as libero, Frazee gave Gulf Breeze a boost on offense with 365 serve receptions, recording just 19 errors during the season.
Newcomer of the Year
Sarah Quarells, Booker T. Washington
Standing at 6-foot-1, Sarah Quarells already had a big advantage of going into the volleyball season. Booker T. Washington stuck her in the middle of the court, and the sophomore quickly rose to prominence. Leading the area with 85 blocks, with 3.2 blocks per match, Quarells had just one blocking error in her first season with the Wildcats. Offensively, Quarells threw down 193 kills with a .267 hit percentage. In the 3-1 win against West Florida in September, Quarells recorded a season-high 15 kills.
Coach of the Year
Jasmine King/Steven Clay, Gulf Breeze
With head coach Jasmine King stating that her top assistant “was just as much a part of this,” Steven Clay accepts the award on behalf of a dominant Dolphins campaign as the program advance to another regional tournament, captured its fifth-straight district championship and collected a 20-plus-win season. The coaching duo led the Dolphins to being ranked 13th overall in the state (25.630 rating), and second in Class 6A across the entire state. Gulf Breeze was also the top seed in the Region 1-6A tournament, and posted a 14.20 strength of schedule with a 23-3 record – with 20 wins coming by way of sweep. The team’s only regular-season losses were to Alabama’s Spanish Fort and McGill-Toolen, the latter was the Class 7A State Champion in Alabama. The Dolphins’ final game, a 3-2 loss to Ponte Vedra in the Region 1-6A semifinals, was the team’s only five-set match in 2023.
All-Area First Team
MB/MH - Zariah Allen, Milton
DS/L - Sarah Frazee, Gulf Breeze
S - Julia Irmen, Navarre
OH - Kaitlyn Montgomery, Navarre
OH - Marley Manning, Pace
MB/MH - Sarah Quarells, Booker T. Washington
OH - Bella Satterwhite, Gulf Breeze
All-Area Second Team
DS/L - Addison Danforth, Navarre
S - Chloe Biggs, Tate
OH - Hannah Bradley, Booker T. Washington
OH - Payton Garrett, Tate
OH - Zoe Malloy, Pensacola
MB/MH - Sophie Pan, West Florida
MB/MH - Lexi Pannunzio, Gulf Breeze
Honorable Mention: Riley Bloomberg, Gulf Breeze; Jaden Gentry, West Florida; Caroline Pickens, Booker T. Washington; Layla Prochazka, Navarre, Riley Robbins, Tate; Brooke Romero, Pensacola; Sydney Sutter, Gulf Breeze; Addisyn Tolbert, Gulf Breeze; Avery Varias, West Florida; Daylin Williamson, Pace
Golf
Boys Golfer of the Year
Bentley Van Pelt, West Florida
A Top-25 finish at the state 2A boys golf tournament capped off what was a remarkable season – and high school career – for West Florida’s Bentley Van Pelt. Leading the Jaguars to a District 1-2A championship, Van Pelt carded a 75 to send West Florida to the regional tournament. While West Florida didn’t have its best outing at Perdido Bay Golf Club at the region tournament, Van Pelt still led the team with an 82 – and earned an at-large bid to the state tournament. He finished in a four-way tie for 23rd, the best position of all area boys golfers, with a two-round score of 157 (80, 77). During the regular season, Van Pelt also won the Miracle Strip Golf Tournament at Fort Walton Beach Golf Club with a 71 – beating the rest of the field by at least three strokes. In 21 nine-hole matches, Van Pelt averaged a score of 36.9. For his season iWR, Van Pelt was among the best in the area, but edged out a couple other golfers. His nine-hole iWR was a 0.534 while his 18-hole was 1.376.
Girls Golfer of the Year
Islay Benoit, Pensacola Catholic
Returning to the Pensacola Catholic girls golf team, Islay Benoit took the area by storm. A commit to Division I Florida Gulf Coast University, Benoit took the field by storm during the 2023 season. Benoit posted a 70, finishing second at the District 1-1A golf tournament – among a Crusaders team where all five golfers finished in the top 10 – and leading Catholic to a district title. Benoit then won the Region 1-1A tournament with a 72, punching an automatic bid to the state tournament. She finished the tournament on Wednesday in a four-way tie for 23rd, with a two-round score of 149 (74, 75). Benoit led Catholic with a nine-hole average score of 35.1 across 18 rounds. Her 18-hole iWR was a 2.397 across six rounds, and her nine-hole iWR was a 0.579 across 20 rounds.
Coach of the Year
Keith Kirchharr, Pace
Pace continued its team-wide dominance throughout the season. Once again the only team to compete at the state tournament, the Patriots finished 16th with a team, two-round score of 661 (334, 327). The Patriots claimed their fourth consecutive district title with a team score of 288 – 19 strokes ahead of second-place Gulf Breeze – and finished fifth at the regional tournament with a 312, enough for an at-large bid at the state tournament.
All-Area Teams
Boys
Braden Duvall, Pace
Hudson Mitchell, Pensacola Catholic
Mark Piver, Gulf Breeze
Bentley Van Pelt, West Florida
Jack Wallace, Tate
Honorable Mention: Evan Covington, Pensacola Catholic; Parker Crain, Gulf Breeze; Judah Talley, Pace; Baylor Touchstone, Tate; Sammy Tucker, Booker T. Washington
Girls
Islay Benoit, Pensacola Catholic
Gabby Hultstrand, Pensacola
Anna Kunkel, Northview
Elizabeth Palmer, Pensacola Catholic
Abby Vernier, West Florida
Honorable Mention: Michelle Burt, Gulf Breeze; Eva Grissom, Tate; Hailey Netro, Navarre; Sarah Rudd, Pine Forest; Gabi Wright, Milton
Cross Country
Girls Co-Runners of the Year
RaeAnne Tutton/Jaimee Tutton, Pensacola Christian Academy
The Tutton sisters have competed side-by-side at the front of the field for the last four years. And for the final time, the duo were the area’s cream of the crop. Jaimee Tutton, a sophomore, and RaeAnne Tutton, a senior were selected by claiming the top girls prize for the fourth season in a row. Leading the top-ranked Warriors, the Tuttons combined for wins in three meets, two of which they finished 1-2. And to no one's surprise, they were central to school history being made at state.
Boys Runner of the Year
Drew Beroset, Gulf Breeze
After setting school records at the middle school level, the Dolphins freshman has impressed since hearing the starting pistol go off in his first race. He won that race - the Viking XC Classic on Aug. 26 - and hasn’t slowed down since. Beroset captured two more victories before placing second at districts and regionals. All that was only a precursor to a spectacular debut at state, as he finished fourth with a personal-record time 15 minutes, 25 seconds.
Coach of the Year
Scott Cochran, Pensacola Christian Academy
Cochran is a perfect 6-for-6 in this department. In his sixth season, the coach of the area’s best team is our Coach of the Year for the sixth consecutive time. Following the second straight time, the PCA boys and girls teams both earned district and regional titles. Those feats would pale in comparison to his biggest accomplishment, as the girls captured the school's first team state title in school history. Meanwhile, the boys claimed eighth at state.
All-Area Teams
Boys
Drew Beroset, Gulf Breeze
Jed Fears, Pensacola Christian
Dominic Litchfield, Pensacola Christian
Xander McLaughlin, Pensacola Catholic
Andrew Sheppard, Pensacola Christian
Honorable Mention: Eric Dennard, Escambia; Landyn Crandall, Gulf Breeze; Walter Goncalves, Pensacola Christian; Carson Ohman, Pensacola Christian; Riley Valdez, West Florida
Girls
Elyse Carmichael, Booker T. Washington
Addison Garrett, Pensacola Catholic
Reagan Smith, Pensacola Christian
Jaimee Tutton, Pensacola Christian
RaeAnne Tutton, Pensacola Christian
Honorable Mention: Adalynn Curtis, Navarre; Clara Goncalves, Pensacola Christian; Karissa Keyser, Pensacola Christian; Sofia Peterlevitz, Pensacola Christian; Eliana Reynolds, Pensacola Christian
Swimming and Diving
Boys Swimmer of the Year
Logan Robinson, Booker T. Washington
What a way to cap a prep career. Robinson became the first area swimmer to win multiple state titles in a single year since Gulf Breeze’s Victoria Bindi in 2015. The Wildcats senior earned All-American consideration by knocking off convincing triumphs at state in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200 freestyle before teaming with Ian Malone, Coulson Voeltz and Max Little to take a victory in the 200-yard medley relay. The same foursome went on to claim second in the 400 freestyle relay.
Next up for Robinson in the pool is the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trails next June in Indianapolis before he embarks on a collegiate career next fall at Florida State.
Girls Swimmer of the Year
Taylor Clements, West Florida
This sophomore was the fastest in the area, let alone among a group of speedy Jaguars. Making a splash during her freshman campaign, Clements continued her pace by rolling to high podium finishes in all four events she participated in at the Class 2A State Championships. She helped the team claim a pair of third-place finishes in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Individually, Clements managed another third in the 100 breaststroke while taking fourth in the 200 individual medley.
What more does she have in store? The area has two more years to find out.
Coach of the Year
Justin Luciano, West Florida
Luciano has guided the Jaguars to its finest run in program history. And this year, under his guidance, they had their best year yet. West Florida produced 12 state qualifiers between the boys and girls teams, more than any other area program. The girls team claimed a program-best third place finish at state while the boys finished tied for 19th.
All-Area Teams
Boys
Jackson Hebert, West Florida
Max Little, Booker T. Washington
Ian Malone, Booker T. Washington
Logan Robinson, Booker T. Washington
Isaiah Simpson, West Florida
Honorable Mention: Lukas Currie, West Florida; Aidan Hall, Booker T. Washington; Braedan Jacobs, Tate; Donovan Lawerence, Pace; Coulson Voeltz, Booker T. Washington
Girls
Taylor Clements, West Florida
Kaylee Loper, West Florida
Jennifer Mims, West Florida
Jaydah Phelan, West Florida
Shelby Smith, West Florida
Honorable Mention: Ashley Beam, Gulf Breeze; Josephine Harris, Pace; Caroline Smith, Gulf Breeze; Lillian Vige, Tate, Avery Witte, West Florida
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 2023 Fall All-Area: Pensacola News Journal reveals top performers in four sports
