The 2022-23 Peoria Journal Star high school sports season officially ended in late June with the crowning of the final spring all-area teams and players of the year.

From all-conference picks to all-staters to state champs — here are each of the Peoria-area players of the year, along with links to our stories and all-area team lists for each of the 19 Illinois High School Association sports for which we choose teams.

FALL

Malachi Washington, Peoria High

FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Washington was inserted into the Peoria High starting lineup and thrived in guiding the Lions to the Class 5A state title game. He rushed for 3,348 yards and 53 touchdowns on 407 carries, averaging 8.2 yards a carry. The 5-foot-10, 206-pound senior running back had a 383-yard, 5-TD game in a 76-56 semifinal win over Morris. Washington was named 5A Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state, a unanimous all-Big 12 Conference first-team offense and the Big 12 offensive player of the year.

• Meet the offense: Player of the year and the all-area offense

• Meet the defense: Meet the defensive picks for the all-area team

Kenna Wollard, Illinois Valley Central

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Not much is left to be said about the Purdue-bound Wollard, who wrapped up her prep campaign with 1,814 career kills good enough for second all-time in Illinois High School Association history. She also finished 1,044 career digs. Wollard joins Lauren Anderson of Deer Creek-Mackinaw as the award's lone three-time winners. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter helped take the IVC program to heights, capturing a Class 2A third-place finish in the state finals. Wollard ended her season with 677 kills, which puts her third all-time in a single season. She added 289 digs, 60 blocks and 49 aces in being named Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association state finals all-tournament team. Wollard was named unanimous all-Illini Prairie Conference first team along with first-team IVCA and illprepvb.com all-state.

• Meet the team: Volleyball player of the year and the all-area team

Josh Weeks, Morton

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR: The Class 2A all-stater earned a 10th-place finish at the state finals improving by 29 places over last season. He ran the Detweiller Course in 15:52.0 following wins at the Metamora Sectional (14:54.1) and the Peoria Notre Dame Regional (16:30.9). Both of those victories helped the Potters win the regional and sectional team titles. The junior was also the Mid-Illini Conference individual champion in 15:18.9, while taking second at the Silver Streak Invitational (15:51.9) and fourth at the Runnin' Red Invite (14:48.6).

• Meet the team: Boys cross country runner of the year and the all-area team

Sophia Ramirez, Washington

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR: The freshman left a big-time impression on the area cross country scene in her first season. Ramirez took 11th at the Class 2A state meet, covering the rain-soaked Detweiller Park course in 18:16.85. This led to the Panthers claiming a third-place finish, the highest ever in program history. The freshman peaked at the perfect time, winning the Mid-Illini Conference meet (18:04.2), the Peoria Notre Dame Regional (19:46.4) and taking second at the Metamora Sectional (17:22.4).

• Meet the team: Girls cross country runner of the year and the all-area team

Carter Stevenson, Pekin

BOYS GOLFER OF THE YEAR: The senior took third at the Illinois High School Association Class 3A boys golf state finals on Oct. 8. He shot a final round 1-over-73 at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington thanks in part to a 1-under-par 35 on the front nine. His path to the state finals included an individual regional championship at 2-under-70, while helping the Dragons win the team title by 10 strokes. The senior was fourth at the sectional with four birdies for a 1-over-73 at Stonewolf in O'Fallon. Stevenson won the Mid-Illini Conference tournament by carding a 3-over-75 at Lick Creek. That finish helped Pekin win the league title fourth year in a row. The Bradley recruit wrapped up his four-year career as all-Mid-Illini first team four times.

• Meet the team: Boys golfer of the year and the all-area team

Ella Coulter, Notre Dame

GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Coulter was the catalyst in leading the Irish to a fourth-place finish at the Class 1A Illinois High School Association state finals. Coulter was a top-25 finisher, shooting a final-round 8-over-80 to tie for 21st at the Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur. The junior recorded two birdies on the Baker Park Golf Course for a 4-over-76 and a third-place finish at the 1A Kewanee sectional. Her sixth-place finish — a 9-over-80 — at the 1A Metamora Regional was instrumental in helping PND win the team title. She was an all-Big 12 Conference performer with a third-place finish as the Irish won the league tournament.

• Meet the team: Girls golfer of the year and the all-area team

Kayden Hudson, Notre Dame

BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The sophomore midfielder scored 23 goals for a Notre Dame team that went 23-3-1 and won the IHSA Class 2A state championship. The Richwoods transfer made a huge impact in the pivotal games. Notre Dame beat fellow elite powers Washington and Morton (twice), and shut out Washington star Coughlon. Hudson scored both goals in that Washington game. He scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 supersectional win over Marmion. Then he scored two goals in the state semifinal, including the game-winner in overtime for a 4-2 win over Chicago Solario. In the state title game against Glenwood, he delivered a 1-0 lead on a goal at 11:22 of the first half. He capped his season with all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association, one of just five underclassmen to win a place on the list.

• Meet the team: Boys soccer player of the year and the all-area team

Ava Salverson, Dunlap

GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Salverson peaked at the right time, clocking her season-best times at the Illinois High School Association state meet. The junior swam her 100-yard freestyle in 52.76 seconds for 23rd place, while placing 25th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:07.36 at the state prelims. She won both of those events at the Pekin Sectional to help Dunlap win the team title. Salverson was also a part of two state-qualifying relay teams — the 200-yard medley relay with Shannon McCall, Grace DiGiallonardo and Mazie Streitmatter which finished 21st in 1:51.22 along with Ally Unruh, McCall and DiGiallonardo in the 17th-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:38.68).

• Meet the team: Girls swimmer of the year and the all-area team

Julia Wojtowicz and Olivia Reynolds, Richwoods

GIRLS TENNIS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: The two ace singles players teamed for a state playoff doubles run, and they responded with a third-place medal to help the Knights finish 10th in the team race — the first girls tennis players from the Peoria area to reach that level in three and a half decades. Wojtowicz, a junior, was the reigning Journal Star Player of the Year and compiled a 28-11 record in what might have been the toughest schedule strength for a singles player in the area. Reynolds' sophomore season saw a 32-8 record, primarily as a singles player. As a doubles team, they won the Class 1A third-place match to earn first-team all-state honors and became just the third duo from the Tri-County area to make the final four of an IHSA girls tennis state finals — joining two other duos from Richwoods.

• Meet the team: Girls tennis players of the year and the all-area team

WINTER

Tyler Mason, Metamora

BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mason led the Class 3A state champion Metamora (34-2) in points, rebounds, assists and steals. The 6-foot-1 junior guard averaged 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals as the top-ranked Redbirds ended their season on a 32-game win streak. Mason scored 16 points with six rebounds in the 46-42 overtime title game win over Chicago Simeon. He was named all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association third-team all-state and honorable mention all-state by The Associated Press.

• Meet the team: Boys basketball player of the year and all-area team

Aaliyah Guyton, Peoria High

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The daughter of former NBA player A.J. Guyton helped propel the third-ranked Lions (29-4) to their first state trophy in program history. Guyton averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals, scoring 33 points with 12 rebounds and six assists to capture a Class 3A third-place finish. The 5-foot-8 junior guard was named first-team all-state by The Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. The heavily recruited Division-I prospect was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year for a second successive season. She'll likely make her college decision this fall before her senior year starts.

• Meet the team: Girls basketball player of the year and all-area team

Kannon Webster, Washington

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Webster picked up his third wrestler of the year honor with the 2023 award. He completed his senior season with a 50-0 record, winning his Class 2A 145-pound title by major decision. The Illinois signee, who is one of three Panthers wrestlers to win three career state titles, ends his time with the program at a 162-2 record and a 2023 dual-team state championship.

• Meet the team: Wrestler of the year and the all-area team

Jack Morris, Dunlap

BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: The senior ended his high school career by swimming in four events at the IHSA state finals. His 100-freestyle in the state prelims clocked in at 47.28 seconds for a 27th-place finish, dropping .31 seconds from his sectional time. The senior also took 28th in the 200-freestyle prelims with a time of 1:48.68. He was also a member of two state qualifying relays — the 200-yard freestyle (1:26.83) and 400-yard freestyle (3:11.46) — that both lowered their times from the sectional.

• Meet the team: Boys swimmer of the year and all-area team

SPRING

Tate Roley, Morton

BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The Bradley signee posted a 7-1 record with 107 strikeouts and 12 walks with a 0.49 ERA in 57.2 innings. The senior pitcher batted .406 on 39 hits with 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 31 RBIs and scored 20 runs. He was named Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A all-state in stealing three bases and drawing 17 walks as an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-teamer.

• Meet the team: Baseball player of the year and all-area team

Kaidance Till, Metamora

SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The super sophomore batted .496 on 58 hits, with 19 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 30 RBIs and 44 runs for the Class 3A Elite Eight participant. The infielder also stole 11 bases and drew 17 walks, earning Illinois Coaches Association 3A first-team all-state and all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors.

• Meet the team: Softball player of the year and all-area team

Drew Tucker, Metamora

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Tucker put on quite the impressive jumping display and saved his best for last at the Class 2A state meet. His leap of 6 feet, 7.5 inches was a personal best and won the 2A state championship. The Southern Illinois-Edwardsville recruit had not previously done high school track and field due to playing baseball, but became a dual-sport athlete this spring. A starter for Metamora's state champion basketball team, he came into the spring and jumped 6-6 in his first prep meet. He then preceded to win every meet he entered. Tucker cleared 6-2 in the state prelims before his state-title-clinching leap.

• Meet the team: Boys track and field athlete of the year and all-area team

Chelsea Wetzel, Dunlap

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: The record-setting pole vaulter won the Class 2A state championship in a season during which she set the area's all-time mark in the event. Her state title-winning vault of 12 feet, 2.5 inches capped a season where she placed first in all 10 meets. Wetzel originally broke the all-time record on May 3 with a 12-3.75 vault, then eight days later went for the new mark of 13-1.5 at the Galesburg Sectional. The junior was also a 2A triple jump state qualifier, jumping a personal best of 34-3.5 in the state prelims.

• Meet the team: Girls track athlete of the year and the all-area team

Mya Wardle, Notre Dame

GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The elite two-sport athlete followed her winter campaign as Notre Dame's point guard with a return to soccer after a one-year hiatus. An extremely speedy, high-motor intense competitor, the daughter of Bradley men's basketball coach Brian Wardle was a force at forward for an Irish soccer team that was stopped one match from the state finals. The junior forward scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 21 games. She was a unanimous all-Big 12 Conference selection and a first-team all-state pick by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.

• Meet the team: Girls soccer player of the year and all-area team

Bryton Short, Metamora

BOYS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The senior went 37-4 in singles and 17-1 in doubles, won the Mid-Illini Conference championship, earned Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors and went on to win the Class 1A Ottawa Sectional title. At state, Short won his first three matches to reach the Elite 8, then lost to the tournament's No. 2 seed in the fourth round. He drew the state's 5-8 seed in the consolation quarterfinals and lost. Short beat the area's highest state finisher, Scott Anderson, with a single/doubles sweep on May 8. He also beat another elite player, Morton's Carter Kendall, in singles 6-0, 6-2 on April 29 and 6-2, 6-0 on March 30. Short earned IHSA second-team all-state honors, and he'll play tennis for Coe College next.

• Meet the team: Boys tennis player of the year and the all-area team

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2022-23 Journal Star high school players of the year for Peoria area