Katie Clute (left) and Connor Ackley (right), who both competed at CHAMPS National Cross-Country Championships
The Gatorade Player of the Year awards are some of the most prestigious awards that are given out to the top high school student-athletes in each of the 50 states for their respective sport, followed by a National Player of the Year in each sport (Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Track & Field, Softball, and Volleyball).
Three things are taken into consideration for one to be in the running for this award: Athletics, Academics, and Sportsmanship.
The two Ohioans that were announced for this award were Olmsted Falls' Katie Clute (January 23), and Hilliard Davidson's Connor Ackley (January 30), both of whom had stellar cross-country seasons, during the main Ohio season along with the post-season, with appearances on the national stage.
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Katie Clute
Katie Clute, who is slated to run for the Oregon Ducks next fall, closed off her high school cross country career in style by going undefeated the entire Ohio season, setting a scorching personal best of 17:02.68 early in the season, later on winning the OHSAA D1 State Championships.
During post-season competitions, Clute took 7th at CHAMPS Sports Midwest Region Cross Country Championships, earning herself a spot to compete at CHAMPS National Cross-Country Championships in San Diego, California, where she took 22nd place against the very best in the country. To top it off, between the region and national competition, she also placed 10th at Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships.
See below for the full press release from Gatorade.
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Connor Ackley
Hilliard Davidson and Syracuse University signee Connor Ackley had quite an unbelievable final high school cross-country season, just like Katie Clute, he went undefeated as well during the Ohio season, also winning the OHSAA D1 State Championships.
Later on, Ackley set a massive personal best of 14:29.50 at Team Midwest Regional Championships, and ultimately qualifying Team Cross Country Nationals, where he placed 18th. Along with that, he also qualified for CHAMPS National Cross-Country Championships, by placing 6th at the Midwest Region Championships, ultimately ending his high school cross-country career with a 5th place finish on the national stage for a podium finish.