17 outstanding Vermont high school girls athletes who left their mark in 2023-24
Alex Abrami
With our annual features on the Vermont high school athletes of the year posted, now it's time to give proper credit to other outstanding performances and accomplishments from the 2023-24 year.
After a full year of watching games and combing through our Burlington Free Press All-State teams and coaches' all-league and all-state teams, here are a batch of girls standouts — 17 in all — who also caught our attention in the fall, winter and spring months.
'Built different':North Country star repeats as Free Press girls athlete of the year
'Always in the game':Burr and Burton captain named Free Press boys athlete of the year
Our endeavor with this feature is to recognize athletes who shine in multiple sports throughout the school year.
Enjoy!
STANDOUT GIRLS OF 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Madison Barwood, Hartford High School
The junior made the BFP All-State second team at forward in field hockey, helping the Hurricanes roll to the Division II state title. She was also an BFP All-State honorable-mention selection at forward during the winter when Hartford claimed the program's first hockey state championship. In the spring, Barwood surpassed 100 career goals in lacrosse and made the D-II coaches' first team as a midfielder for a Hurricanes squad that went undefeated during the regular season.
Natalie Beauregard, U-32 High School
In the fall, the senior made second team for BFP All-State field hockey at forward. In the winter, Beauregard was a leading scorer for the Raiders' basketball team. In the spring, she made D-II coaches' first team on attack, keying U-32's run to a second straight state title.
Elise Berger, Champlain Valley Union High School
The steady senior was instrumental in leading CVU girls basketball to the second of back-to-back D-I state titles. For her efforts, the 5-foot-11 point guard was named the Free Press' Miss Basketball for the 2023-24 season. In the spring, Berger wrapped a two-year career playing varsity baseball at the Hinesburg powerhouse, earning All-Metro second-team honors as a pitcher. Berger will continue her baseball career at Bard College.
Sabrina Brunet, South Burlington High School
In field hockey, the senior switched from forward to midfield this past fall and guided the Wolves to their second D-I title in three seasons, to earn Free Press player of the year honors. In the winter, Brunet racked up 28 goals and 15 assists in hockey, to join the 100-point club, and help South Burlington advance to the D-I semifinals. She was named to the BFP All-State second team. In the spring, Brunet was a US Lacrosse Academic All-American and a D-I coaches' first-team selection at midfield.
Brooke-Lynne Choiniere, St. Johnsbury Academy
The senior was an All-Metro first-team pick in soccer, mainly playing at center back before moving to central midfield later in the year. In the winter, Choiniere was a high-scoring forward for the Kingdom Blades who landed on the honorable-mention list for BFP All-State hockey. In the spring, Choiniere earned an outfield spot for All-Metro honorable mention.
Brooks DeShaw, Burlington High School
A determined forward with great skill, DeShaw scored 20 goals this fall to break Burlington soccer's program record for career tallies with 58. The Middlebury College-bound DeShaw landed on first team for BFP All-State. In the winter, DeShaw was academic all-star who was a key forward on the Sealakers' first championship in program history. And for lacrosse in the spring, DeShaw earned a spot on the D-I coaches' second team as a midfielder.
Stella Dooley, Champlain Valley Union High School
The senior was one of the state's best center backs in soccer for two years, making the BFP All-State first team for a Redhawks squad that went undefeated during the regular season. In the spring, Dooley was a US Lacrosse Academic All-American and D-I coaches' first team pick at midfielder.
Tanner Drury, White River Valley School
At 5-foot-2, the senior Drury shined in three sports at White River Valley. In the fall, Drury was a D-III coaches' first team defender. In the winter, Drury surpassed 1,000 career points and made the Southern Vermont League 'C' Division first team. And in the spring, Drury was a first-team pick for the SVL 'C' Division first team.
Isabel Greb, Proctor High School
The senior pulled off a rare feat this school year, reaching two impressive milestone figures with 100 career goals in soccer and 1,000 career points in basketball. In soccer, Greb made the BFP All-State second team as a forward. In basketball, Greb was an honorable-mention selection for BFP All-State. Then this spring for softball, Greb earned a spot on the SVL 'D' Division honorable-mention list.
Hannah Gubbins, Woodstock High School
The senior was a first-team selection for BFP All-State in field hockey and hockey. In the fall, she supplied 25 goals and 11 assists to make first team at forward. In the winter as a defenseman, Gubbins was Woodstock's leading scorer (23 goals, six assists). And in the spring, Gubbins was a midfielder who made the D-II coaches' first team.
Holley MacLellan, Milton High School
The box-to-box midfielder who tallied 21 goals and 16 assists, MacLellan made the BFP All-State first team in soccer, guiding the Yellowjackets to the D-II state title. In the winter, MacLellan made another first team for BFP All-State after collecting a team-high 37 goals in the Sealakers' run to an historic state crown. Then in the spring, MacLellan was a first-team outfielder for the All-Lake squad.
Sidney Herrington, Arlington Memorial High School
Herrington was a coaches' all-state midfielder who helped Arlington claim the D-IV soccer championship in the fall. For basketball, Herrington made first team for the SVL 'D' Division. And for track and field, Herrington claimed shot put and javelin at the D-IV state meet while running a leg on the victorious 4x400 relay squad for the Eagles.
Breya Montague, Essex High School
The senior was a BFP All-State second-team honoree for defense in the fall, helping Essex reach the program's first D-I title game in 10 years. In the winter, Montague landed a spot on the honorable-mention list for BFP All-State basketball. And in the spring, Montague spearheaded the Hornets' run to their first lacrosse title in program history. Montague, who surpassed 100 career goals in April, was also a US Lacrosse All-American and first-team pick for D-I coaches.
Nicole Norton, Colchester High School
The senior landed on the honorable-mention squad for BFP All-State in field hockey, helping the Lakers reach the D-I semifinals. In the winter, the shooting threat made honorable mention for BFP All-State in basketball. And in the spring, Norton was a first-team selection at third base for All-Metro softball.
Aurora Rella-Neill, Mount Anthony Union High School
The junior was an honorable-mention pick for BFP All-State in soccer. In the winter for Nordic skiing, Rella-Neill was a Southern Vermont League all-star selection. And in the spring for lacrosse, Rella-Neill was a first-team midfielder for D-I coaches.
Audrey Rupp, Windsor High School
The junior powered Windsor to an appearance in the D-III soccer title game with a 50-goal season, earning a spot as a second-team forward for BFP All-State. In the winter, Rupp made BFP All-State honorable mention for basketball as the Yellow Jackets played in their third straight final. And in the spring for Hartford, Rupp was a US Lacrosse Academic All-American who also landed on the D-II coaches' first team as a midfielder.
Kate Tilgner, Stowe High School
An honorable-mention selection on defense for BFP All-State, Tilgner helped Stowe to a D-III soccer four-peat. In the winter for hockey, Tilgner was a Lake Division first-team forward and an academic all-star. And in the spring for tennis, Tilgner paired with teammate Gabby Doehla to win an unprecedented fourth straight doubles state championship. Tilgner also won at No. 4 singles in the team final for the Raiders' fourth straight title.
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Contact Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.