Kroner’s Picks: Oakwood’s All-Decade Teams (Spring), Davis and Young named Athlete of the Decade
By FRED KRONER
The final installment (fall, winter) in our series on area all-decade athletic teams concludes today with the release of the elite spring-sport athletes.
Before we get to the particular sports, we will recognize two athletes. The designation is for Male and Female Athlete of the Decade.
In a sense, the winners picked themselves for their high level of involvement in sports during their school years. Among the boys, three persons were selected to all-decade teams for each of the three seasons: Cameron Lee, Hunter Phelps and Chase Vinson.
Although the athlete who participates in three sports per school year generally warrants the most consideration for the top all-decade athlete award, it was impossible to overlook the achievements of Jon Davis in his two sports. Davis won a combined nine state championships between cross-country and track and field.
In all, he earned 10 state medals for top two placements and was the choice as Male Athlete of the Decade.
The Female Athlete of the Decade was a choice between three athletes who were recognized on three all-decade teams: Makenzie Baker, Kylie Neuman and Katelyn Young.
Young’s credentials separated her from the field. She is a two-time state-placer in track and field, a three-time All-Area first-team selection in basketball and a three-time All-Area second-team selection in volleyball.
Ten Oakwood girls were two-sport all-decade choices: Grace Davis, Brenna Durst, Sadie Edwards, Angela Elliott, Paiton Frerichs, Makayla Gayler, Amy Martin, Shelby Mascari, Ciara Pierce and Shaelyn Turner.
Thirteen Oakwood boys were feated on two all-decade teams: Mason Ajster, Gevin Ashikyan, Cody Ayers, Skylar Bolton, Cole Burrus, Caide Borden, Jon Davis, Casey Fletcher, Cameron Helka, Parker Lee, Skyler Slade, Hunter Tharp and Cameron Wise.
Before turning our attention to the spring-sport all-decade teams, two points should be remembered. The selections are based entirely on what the athlete did during high school. Subsequent college accolades were not taken into account.
Also, a great number of athletes from the school received All-Area first- or second-team honors during their time in high school and that recognition was the foundation for compiling the all-decade lists.
OAKWOOD BASEBALL
NAME POS. GRAD YR.
Skylar Bolton C 2018
Jake England P 2013
Casey Fletcher INF 2011
Kyle Girton INF 2015
Zach Girton UTL 2012
Tyler Knight P 2012
Cameron Lee INF 2012
Hunter Phelps INF 2017
Isaiah Ruch P 2021
Taylor Turner INF 2016
Chase Vinson P 2018
Player of the Decade – Casey Fletcher, who earned first-team All-Area honors twice and batted .467 as a senior and .516 as a junior. He also had nine wins and 93 strikeouts as a junior.
OAKWOOD SOFTBALL
NAME POS. GRAD YR.
Madison Carleton C 2016
Tessa England NA 2012
Paiton Frerichs 1B 2019
Hannah Grubb 3B 2016
Shelby Mascari OF 2016
Karissa Nelson NA 2012
Kylie Neuman SS 2019
Kerrigan Shafer P 2019
Shaelyn Turner C 2018
Somer Wells 2B 2016
Ashley Wahlfeldt C 2012
Player of the Decade – Kylie Neuman, who burst onto the scene as a freshman pitcher and won 11 games, and then later became a two-time All-Area second-team selection as an infielder.
OAKWOOD BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD
NAME EVENT GRAD YR.
Cole Burrus Mid-Distance 2014
Jon Davis Distance 2016
Bryce Dillman Weights 2017
Brandon Divan Distance 2012
Shane Foley Sprints 2012
Tyler Grey Mid-Distance 2011
Cody Hansbraugh Weights 2019
Cameron Helka Distance 2019
Cameryn Taylor Sprints 2020
Erik Tharp Jumps 2012
Cody Watson Weights 2012
Jeremy Watson Weights 2014
Cameron Wise Jumps 2018
Athlete of the Decade – Jon Davis, who won both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter state championship races in Class 1A as a sophomore, junior and senior. He broke the state-meet record as a junior in the 3,200 and has overall times in the 1,600 (4:05.81) and 3,200 (8:55.17) that are among the top 11 all-time in state history. As a freshman, Davis was the state runner-up in the 1,600.
OAKWOOD GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD
NAME EVENTS GRAD YR.
Makenzie Baker Hurdles 2012
Lynzie Corzine Weights 2011
Hailey Bennett Hurdles 2014
Grace Davis Distance 2020
Aalijah Denius Sprints 2021
Angela Elliott Sprints 2012
Makayla Gayler Hurdles 2016
Haven Harrison Distance 2019
Summer Kitchens Sprints 2015
Amy Martin Jumps 2010
Shelby Mascari Jumps 2018
Ciara Pierce Distance 2012
Cheyenne Sadlek Sprints 2015
Katelyn Young Weights 2020
Athlete of the Decade – Katelyn Young, who won back-to-back state medals in Class 1A in the shot put as a sophomore and a junior, breaking her own school record along the way.
