Here are the Class of 2023 SIAC Male and Female Athlete of the Year finalists

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another year. Another talented group of athletes.

The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference announced its finalists for the 2023 Banterra Bank Outstanding Athlete of the Year on Wednesday. Each member school is traditionally allowed to name just one male and one female senior athlete for the award.

The honor is based upon athletic achievement, success in the classroom and work in the community. The winners will be announced as part of the 14th annual “Celebration of Champions” on July 7.

Here are the finalists for Male Athlete of the Year: Xayvion Terry-Robinson (Bosse), John Purdy (Castle), Luke Robards (Central), Luke Watkins (Harrison), Grant Young (Jasper), Mason Wunderlich (Mater Dei), Kelton Farmer (Memorial), Cale Johnson (North), Kiefer Parsons (Reitz), Zachary Steffey (Vincennes Lincoln).

Here are the finalists for Female Athlete of the Year: Alexia Smith (Bosse), Brooklyn Ballis (Castle), Evelyn Lovell (Central), Jordan Mackey (Harrison), Ally Wigand (Jasper), Kate Wenger (Mater Dei), Emily Mattingly (Memorial), Alyssa Wilke (North), Taylor Johnson (Reitz), Gracie Kramer (Vincennes Lincoln).

Here is a brief rundown of each finalist based on information provided or known: what sport(s) they played, academic success (if provided) and future plans.

SIAC Male Athlete of the Year

Xayvion Terry-Robinson, Bosse: Played soccer, basketball, track and golf. Two-time soccer team captain. Honorable Mention All-City selection at goalkeeper. Kiwanis Award winner. Will play soccer at Oakland City University.

John Purdy, Castle: Played football and wrestling. IFCA Top 50 and First Team All-State in football. Led the regional champions with 200 tackles. Three-time All-SIAC selection. Won the individual state championship in wrestling at 195 pounds. Four-time All-SIAC selection. Will play football at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Luke Robards, Central: Played football and wrestling. Four-year varsity letterman in both sports. Three-time All-SIAC selection in wrestling. Ranked fifth in school history with 125 victories and finished seventh at the state championship. Four-time Academic All-City in both sports and senior academic all-state in wrestling. Two-time Kiwanis Award winner. Will attend University of Indianapolis.

Luke Watkins, Harrison: Played football, soccer and track. Two-time All-SIAC selection in soccer and Third Team All-State as a senior. Led the team in goals and assists. City champion and regional qualifier in the 4x100. Team captain in all three sports. Kiwanis Award winner. Will attend Indiana University.

Grant Young, Jasper: Played football and basketball. Two-year starting quarterback including an undefeated regular season in 2021. Two-year starter in basketball and sectional finalist this past winter. Team captain in both. Earned honor roll 12 of 12 semesters with a 4.185 GPA. National Honor Society and Academic All-State honorable mention. Will attend Indiana University.

Mason Wunderlich, Mater Dei: Played football and basketball. Finished fourth in school history for career passing yards. Two-time All-State and All-SIAC selection. Finished third in the Indiana Mr. Football voting and led the team to a state championship. Helped the basketball team to the sectional final. Team captain in both. Cum Laude academic honor. Will play football at Ball State University.

Kelton Farmer, Memorial: Played football and wrestling. Two-time All-City and All-SIAC in football. All-State as a senior with 101 tackles and 4.5 sacks for the sectional champions. Three-time state qualifier in wrestling and finished as the runner-up at heavyweight. Two-time Academic All-City and team captain. Kiwanis Award winner. Will play football and wrestling at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Cale Johnson, North: Played football, wrestling and track. Earned nine varsity letters. First Team All-SIAC in football as a senior. Finished with 104 career wins, three-time semistate qualifier and regional champion this past winter in wrestling. Team captain in football and wrestling. Two-time Academic All-State. Two-time Kiwanis Award winner. Will play football at Lindsey Wilson College.

Kiefer Parsons, Reitz: Played soccer and baseball. Earned five varsity letters. Team captain in soccer. Had a 1.75 earned run average on the mound in baseball. Four-time Academic All-City and three-time Academic All-State. Wayne Weller Award winner in both. National Honor Society. Kiwanis Award winner. Will play baseball at Oakland City Unviersity.

Zachary Steffey, Vincennes Lincoln: Played football, basketball and baseball. Earned nine varsity letters and team captain in two sports. Was a member of two sectional championship teams. 2023 Curtis Painter Male Athlete of the Year. Undecided on college plans.

SIAC Female Athlete of the Year

Alexia Smith, Bosse: Played volleyball and track. Team captain in both. One of the most decorated athletes in track program history: won nine sectional titles, eight City titles, seven SIAC titles and six regional titles. State champion as a junior in the long jump and 400 as a senior. Three-time Kiwanis Award winner. Will compete in track at Purdue University.

Brooklyn Ballis, Castle: Played softball. Three-time All-SIAC and All-State - first team as a senior - selection. Holds the program single-season record for home runs (13). Will play softball at Northern Kentucky University.

Evelyn Lovell, Central: Played volleyball and basketball. Earned six varsity letters and was a starter/team captain in volleyball. National Honor Society. Four-time Academic All-City. Academic All-State. Attending Murray State University.

Jordan Mackey, Harrison: Plays volleyball, basketball and softball. Will be a senior in the fall. Three-year starter and team captain in basketball and softball. Two-time All-SIAC selection in softball. Finished top five in the SIAC in several categories including home runs and RBI. Academic All-City and National Honor Society. Committed to play softball at University of Southern Indiana.

Ally Wigand, Jasper: Played tennis and cross country. Three-time state qualifier, two-time SIAC champion, All-SIAC selection and 2022 sectional champion in cross country. Three-time state finalist, three-time All-SIAC selection and completed undefeated season at No. 3 singles as junior in tennis. National Honor Society and two-time Academic All-State. IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner. Will attend Purdue University.

Kate Wenger, Mater Dei: Played soccer, basketball and track. Earned 10 varsity letters and member of state champion soccer team. All-SIAC and All-State honorable mention selection in basketball while finishing fifth in Class 3A in rebounds per game. Regional qualifier and City runner-up in track. 10-time Academic All-City and three-time Academic All-State. Class President and Kiwanis Award winner. Will attend Purdue University.

Emily Mattingly, Memorial: Played basketball and soccer. Earned seven varsity letters along with four All-SIAC and two All-City selections. Member of back-to-back soccer state championship teams. All-State honorable mention and SIAC Player of the Year in basketball. Seven-time Academic All-City. Academic All-State and National Honor Society. Will play basketball at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Alyssa Wilke, North: Played volleyball and softball. Team captain in volleyball. Starting infielder for the regional champion softball team. Two-time All-SIAC selection. Six-time Academic All-City. Academic All-State and National Honor Society. Three-time Kiwanis Award winner. Will play volleyball and softball at Wabash Valley College.

Taylor Johnson, Reitz: Played soccer, track and volleyball. Four-time All-City and All-SIAC selection in soccer. Two-time All-State selection and program all-time leader in assists. Her track & field accomplishments: four-time SIAC champion, three-time City champion, two-time sectional and regional champion. State qualifier in five different events. Two-time Academic All-State and Kiwanis Award winner. National Honor Society. Will play soccer and track at University of Evansville.

Gracie Kramer, Vincennes Lincoln: Played basketball and cross country. Four-time team captain. Two-time regional qualifier in cross country. All-SIAC and HSBCA District selection in basketball. National Honor Society. Will attend Indiana University East.

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA sports SIAC athlete of the year finalists