By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
There were many standouts in 2024. Here are the top 25 athletes from the Austin-area in 2024 in alphabetical order:
Avery Allmer, Cedar Park (basketball, track and field): Allmer was a two-sport star at Cedar Park and was a part of the women’s basketball team’s playoff run to the Class 5A state semifinals. She really excelled on the track and field team as part of the Timberwolves’ 4×400 relay team that qualified for the Texas Relays and the 5A-IV regional meet.
Henley Anderson, Dripping Springs (volleyball): A two-time All-Metro Volleyball selection, Anderson helped the Tigers win the district 26-6A championship and reach the postseason. She was also one of 12 players named to the under-19 national team that played in the NORCECA indoor continental championship in Honduras.
Isabel Conde de Frankenberg, Cedar Park (track and field): Now a member of the Oregon track and field team, Conde de Frankenberg capped her high school career with gold and silver medals at the UIL state track and field meet in May. The Austin Sports Journal’s Miss Track and Field award winner finished her high school career with three gold medals and two silver medals.
Griffin Crawley, Bowie (soccer): The Austin Sports Journal’s Mr. Austin Soccer award winner, Crawley led the Bulldogs with 58 points, scoring a team-high 25 goals and assisting in eight others. He helped Bowie reach the third round of the playoffs, an undefeated regular season and a second straight district championship.
Lily Davis, Westlake (volleyball): Before she led Westlake to the Class 6A Division I state semifinals, Davis won the FIVB U19 women’s beach volleyball world championship in China. She will continue her beach volleyball career at the University of Texas in 2025.
Xavier Drumgoole, Round Rock (track and field: Round Rock’s track and field standout finished his career as a two-time state gold medalist in the triple jump. He was also a regional qualifier in the 100 and 200 in 2024.
Ethan Dufresne, Lake Travis (golf): Dufresne was the low scorer for the Cavaliers’ men’s golf team that won the Class 6A state championships. He placed sixth overall on the individual leaderboard with a two-round total of 141.
Gunner Ferguson, Thorndale (baseball, football, basketball): A three-sport star at Class 2A Thorndale, Ferguson has been a big part of the Bulldogs’ successes in each sport. He helped Thorndale’s basketball team reach the regional quarterfinals in February, the baseball team reach the regional semifinals in May and the football team reach the second round of the playoffs in November. He signed to play baseball at Eastern New Mexico University in 2026.
Top athletes photos
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Jorian Guinn Jr., Weiss (football, baseball): An all-district and All-Austin Metro selectin in both football and baseball. Guinn was the 2024 Rising Star award winner (top newcomer) on the All-Austin Metro baseball team, which came after he was the 2023 Rising Star award winner for the All-Austin Metro football team.
Laney Hennessee, Wimberley (volleyball, basketball, track and field): A candidate for athlete of the year, Hennessee helped lead the Texans to a Class 4A Division I volleyball state championship. She was the Austin Sports Journal’s Miss Austin Volleyball award winner. In February, she helped the women’s basketball team reach the second round of the playoffs and is part of a team that’s 16-3 this season. In the spring, she ran track and field as part of all the Texans’ relay teams and competed in the long jump, in which she reached the regional meet in that event.
Ashlyn Jarosek, Thrall (basketball, softball): A two-sport star at Thrall, the now graduated Jarosek helped both the women’s basketball and softball teams make deep playoff runs. She was the basketball team’s leading scorer (14.4 PPG) and led the Tigers to a undefeated district championship and a trip to the regional quarterfinals. In softball, she led the team in nearly every offensive category as Thrall reached the third round.
Dawson Meiske, Thrall (basketball, baseball): Nicknamed “Big Country” Mieske helped the Tiger’s men’s basketball team reach the Class 2A state tournament in March, where he earned all-tournament team honors. He was also the Austin Sports Journal’s Defensive Player of the Year. In baseball, he helped Thrall reach the second round of the playoffs.
Rylee Michna, Taylor (Tennis): Rylee Michna continued her dominance in tennis, winning her second consecutive Class 4A state singles title in May.
Olivia Moreno, Bowie (wrestling): Moreno won the Class 6A state championship in the 126-pound weight class at the UIL state wrestling championships in February. She defeated Little Elm’s Emily Pedro by a 1-0 decision.
Daeshon Morgan, Vandegrift (football): Morgan capped off his high school football career helping the Vipers win the Class 6A Division II state championship. He was a force on the defensive front for Vandegrift’s dominant defense.
Josiah Moseley, Stony Point (basketball): Arguably the best basketball player to come out of Stony Point, the 2024 Austin Sports Journal Mr. Austin Basketball award winner and Gatorade’s Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year helped lead the Tigers to the Class 6A state championship game. He’s now a standout at Villanova.
Lilly Muzzy, Georgetown (track and field): The Eagles’ jumps specialist, Muzzy consistently placed in the top in the triple jump events at various meets, including the Texas Relays and winning a gold medal in the event at the state track meet. Muzzy is committed to SMU for the 2025-26 season.
Soma Okola, Glenn (basketball): The future Miami Hurricane was the Austin Sports Journal’s 2024 Miss Austin Basketball award winner and helped the Grizzlies women’s basketball team to the Class 5A regional finals.
Sofia Peters, Cedar Park (volleyball, soccer): A two-sports standout for the Timberwolves and an All-Austin Metro selection in both soccer and volleyball. Peters was selected as Blocker of the Year in volleyball after helping the Timberwolves reach the Class 5A Division I state championship game.
Oscar Salazar, Rouse (Baseball): Salazar helped lead the Raiders to the Class 5A state semifinals in a remarkable season where he led Rouse in both pitching and hitting. Salazar was selected to state all-tournament team and was the Austin Sports Journal’s Mr. Austin Baseball award winner.
Swetha Sathish, Vandegrift (golf): Sathish led Vandegrift’s women’s golf team to their second consecutive Class 6A state championship, finishing as the individual state champion with a score of 6-under par.
Elliot Schaper, Westlake (football): The Chaparrals’ leader on defense, the future Duke Blue Devil helped Westlake reach the Class 6A Division I state championship game. Scheper led the Chaps in tackles and was a crucial part in the team’s district and regional championship.
Rylee Slimp, Liberty Hill (softball): Now at UCLA, the Austin Sports Journal’s Miss Austin Softball award winner helped Liberty Hill reach the Class 5A regional finals. Her impressive .577 batting average, 65 runs scored, 42 RBIs and 6 home runs earned her a spot on the MaxPreps All-America Team
Kylie Snell, Rouse (soccer): The Austin Sports Journal’s Miss Austin Soccer award winner, Snell lead the Raiders in points with 51, scoring 15 goals and had 21 assists. Snell was District 25-5A’s most valuable midfielder and helped Rouse reach the Class 5A semifinals.
Danny Zhang, Westwood (Tennis): Zhang has had a remarkable year on the tennis court. Along with Leon Chen, the duo won the Class 6A men’s doubles championship in the spring. In the fall, Zhang helped the Warriors win their third straight Class 6A team tennis championship.
