Advocate Female Athlete of the Year Honorees Since 2006

This year’s Advocate Female Athlete of the Year winners span two decades of outstanding performance across Licking County’s high schools. From basketball dynamos to track legends, each athlete has left a lasting imprint on their sport and community. Below is a quick look at the past winners and what their achievements mean for the future of local girls’ athletics.

… (and continue for each year’s sections) …

2006 Sarah Clapper, Newark Catholic

Sarah Clapper’s tenure as a standout athlete began with a volleyball team that amassed a 56‑3 record during her final two seasons, clinching a state title in 2004 and finishing as runner‑up the following year. On the hardwood, she poured in 1,640 points and grabbed 794 rebounds, guiding the Green Wave to three straight Mid-State League‑Cardinal Division crowns.

2007 Heather Sole, Licking Valley

Heather Sole made her mark in multiple disciplines, winning back‑to‑back Division II state high‑jump championships in 2006 and 2007. She also led the golf squad to its first Mid‑State League title and posted an average of 14.6 points per game for the basketball team, propelling the Panthers to a District II runner‑up finish.

2008 Lindsay Barrett, Lakewood

Lindsay Barrett shone at catcher, hitting .409 with five home runs and 47 RBIs to capture Lakewood’s first Division III state softball championship. She also set a state record of 183 aces in volleyball and notched a 14.6‑point per‑game average for the basketball squad, earning a District III title.

2009 Alissa Birkhimer, Lakewood

Alissa Birkhimer anchored both the circle and the plate, steering Lakewood to consecutive Division III softball titles in 2008 and 2009. She finished her career with 93 wins, struck out 220 batters, posted a 0.19 ERA over 155 innings, and batted .423 with eight homers and 42 RBIs as a senior. Her volleyball play also remained a key contributor.

2010 Megan White, Heath

Megan White’s setter skills lifted the Bulldogs to three straight Division III district championships. On the court she averaged 21 points per game, including a career‑high 42 points, and helped Heath capture its first league title in a decade.

2011 Courtney Kidwell, Lakewood

Courtney Kidwell batted .529 with nine home runs as a senior, steering Lakewood to a Mid‑State League‑Ohio Division championship and a regional runner‑up spot. She also led the basketball team in both scoring and rebounding, showcasing her all‑around talent.

2012 Caroline Wollenburg, Newark Catholic

Caroline Wollenburg recorded 11 points and seven rebounds per game while helping Newark Catholic reach the Division IV regional final in basketball. On the diamond she hit .433 with five home runs, leading the softball team to the District IV championship game.

2013 Abby Barker, Granville

As a sophomore, Abby Barker lit up the softball lineup with a .498 average, seven homers, and a staggering 192 strikeouts while guiding Granville to its first Division II state tournament appearance. She later anchored the pitching staff to a state title in 2015 and contributed 12 points and three assists per game for the basketball team, capturing the MSL‑Ohio championship.

2014 Kori Caughenbaugh, Licking Valley

Kori Caughenbaugh starred as a catcher, posting a .598 average with 38 RBIs as a junior and helping Licking Valley win consecutive Division II regional crowns. She also scored 10 goals and recorded three assists in soccer, powered a program‑record seven wins, and averaged 10.5 points per game for the basketball team, which finished as District II runner‑up.

2015 Jill Blacksten, Newark Catholic

Jill Blacksten closed her career with 221 kills and 71 solo blocks in volleyball, propelling the Green Wave into the Division IV state tournament. She also amassed over 1,700 points and 1,000 rebounds in basketball, leading Newark Catholic to four straight District IV titles and two regional runner‑up finishes.

2016‑2017 Courtney Vierstra, Lakewood

Courtney Vierstra’s pitching crafted back‑to‑back Division II state championships for Lakewood, concluding a 27‑0 season with a dominant 0.25 ERA. She added a .385 batting average and two homers, while her 14‑point per‑game scoring paced the basketball team to a second consecutive Mid‑State League‑Ohio Division title.

2018‑2020 Emily Londot, Utica

Emily Londot became one of Licking County’s all‑time volleyball producers, racking up more than 2,000 kills and leading Utica to a Division III district crown as a freshman and a Licking County League‑Cardinal title as a senior. In basketball she eclipsed 1,500 points and 1,100 rebounds, topping Utica’s career lists in both categories and helping the team capture the LCL‑Cardinal championship.

2019 Samantha Basham, Newark Catholic

Samantha Basham closed her volleyball career with 1,115 kills and anchored Newark Catholic to an LCL‑Cardinal championship and a District III runner‑up finish. On the court she averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game, contributing to both the LCL‑Cardinal title and a Division IV district championship for the Green Wave.

2021 Jenna Lucas, Watkins Memorial

Jenna Lucas shone in four sports as a junior, finishing third in the Division I state high‑jump with a leap of 5‑6” and recording a single‑season 149 blocks in volleyball, which powered Watkins Memorial to a third straight LCL‑Buckeye crown and a district runner‑up spot. She also averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds for the basketball team, helping the Warriors reach the District I final and partnering with Lillia Walter in tennis.

2022 Gwen Stare, Newark

Gwen Stare made history as the first Newark female athlete to compete in three sports at the state level. She propelled the cross‑country team to the Ohio Capital Conference‑Buckeye championship and set a school record of 18:44.0. In basketball she led Newark to a Division I district runner‑up finish and a state title as a junior, delivering the game‑winning shot in the regional final. On the track she posted a third‑place 800m time of 2:13.71 at the state meet, after a junior fifth‑place finish.

2023 Allie Dunlap, Heath

Allie Dunlap broke program scoring records with 40 points in a single season and 100 career points for the girls soccer team, guiding Heath to two double‑digit win campaigns and a District II semifinal appearance. She also vaulted 11 feet 10 inches in the pole vault, taking seventh at the Division II state meet, and helped the basketball squad win its first LCL‑Cardinal championship.

2024 Kylie Gibson, Newark Catholic

Kylie Gibson compiled 1,224 career points in basketball, setting a single‑season mark of 93 three‑pointers as a senior and steering the Green Wave to an unbeaten regular season and a Division IV district title. She also hit .478 with seven home runs, ending an 18‑year league drought for the softball team, and recorded 415 assists for a volleyball squad that captured a Division III district championship.

2025 Ava Travis, Northridge

Ava Travis capped a standout junior year with fourth‑place finishes in the 200m (25.25) and 400m (57.05) at the Division III state track meet. She contributed six goals and strong defensive play as soccer earned a then‑program‑record 11 wins. In basketball she posted 18 points and four steals per game, leading Northridge to its first winning season since 2005.

The selection process, which will be announced later this week by The Advocate sports staff, highlights how these athletes have defined excellence across Licking County. Their achievements not only bring pride to their schools but also set new benchmarks for the next generation of female competitors.