The 2023-24 Emporia Main Street Emporia High and Area High School Athletes and Coaches of the Year were announced during Saturday Morning Sports Talk on KVOE.
The Emporia High Athletes of the Year are Sheldon Stewart and Addie Kirmer. The Emporia High Coach of the Year is former girls basketball coach Carolyn Dorsey.
The Area Athletes of the Year are Tanner Heckel of Lyndon and Kaylin Noonan of Burlingame. The Area Coach of the Year is Lebo volleyball coach Gina Peek.
Stewart participated in four sports at Emporia High, football and basketball all four years, track for three years, and tennis for one year. He received second-team All-Centennial League in both football and basketball this past year. Stewart will be attending Emporia State University while continuing his basketball career.
Kirmer participated in three sports at Emporia High all four years, volleyball, basketball, and softball. Kirmer was the Centennial League Player of the Year along with a first-team All-Centennial League selection in basketball. She was a first-team All-State selection from KSHSAA Covered, Sports in Kansas, and the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Kirmer will play in the KBCA All-Star Game next month. Kirmer will continue her basketball and academic career at Emporia State.
Heckel has impacted Lyndon athletics this year after transferring from Inman. Heckel played football and basketball while competing in track and field. Heckel guided the Tigers to their first 8-man Division I State Football Championship and a runner-up finish in Class 2A in basketball. Heckel received first-team All-State honors in both football and basketball. Heckel will head to state in track and field in four events, long jump, triple jump, javelin and 100m next week. Heckel will continue his football and academic career at The University of Illinois.
Noonan was a four-sport athlete at Burlingame, volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field. Noonan is Burlingame’s all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and steals. Noonan was a first-team All-State selection from KSHSAA Covered, Sports in Kansas, and the KBCA. Noonan will attend Emporia State to continue her basketball and academic career.
Dorsey guided the Lady Spartans to their first Centennial League Championship since 1997 and the first state placing for the program since 2009. The Lady Spartans finished the season with a 22-3 record.
Peek guided the Wolves to their second consecutive state championship in volleyball. Peek was also named the Class 1A-Division II Coach of the Year for the second straight year by the Kansas Volleyball Association.
Stewart, Kirmer, Heckel, and Noonan received a $300 scholarship. Emporia High winners were voted on by KVOE’s Sportscaster Club Boosters. Area winners were voted on by principals from area schools.
The full episode of Saturday Morning Sports Talk is in the KVOE Audio Vault. featuring Kirmer, Dorsey, Heckel, Noonan and Peak. Stewart will appear on Saturday Morning Sports Talk in the upcoming weeks.
Photos by Dylan Sherwood/KVOE Sports
