Ohio Boys Gatorade Player of The Year: Derrick Taylor

With the 2024/2025 Outdoor Track and Field season now officially concluded, Gatorade has announced the winners for the Ohio Boys Gatorade Player of The Year for Track and Field following a stellar winter and spring season out at the throws pit.

The award itself is dubbed one 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 factors are taken into consideration for one to be in the running for this award: Athletics, Academics, and Sportsmanship.

For Taylor, who is slated to represent the University of Tennessee - Knoxville Volunteers this upcoming fall, established himself as one of the top throwers not just in Ohio, but in the country as well, having been at OH #1 and US #2 in the Shot Put during the indoor season (66-9.5) and during the outdoor season, OH #3 and US #47 in the Discus (191-2) and OH #1 and US #9 in the Shot Put (67-6). He was undefeated in the Shot Put this spring enroute to notching both state titles in that event and Discus as well at the OHSAA Division 2 State Championships.

See below for the press release from Gatorade.