Nearly 100 high school athletes and coaches from across the region were recognized Sunday during the third annual Owensboro Times Sports Awards ceremony, as The OTs celebrated standout performances, academic excellence, and perseverance from the 2025-26 school year.
PHOTOS: Official finalist/winner photos and other photos from the ceremony will be available Monday afternoon on the Owensboro Times and OT Sports Facebook pages.
Held inside the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital auditorium, the event drew nearly 250 attendees as athletes, coaches, family members, and supporters gathered to honor some of the area’s top student-athletes. More than three dozen awards were presented throughout the evening, including Player of the Year honors across multiple sports.
Among the event’s highlights was Whitesville’s Easton Pedley receiving the Tom Watson Resiliency Award, while Owensboro Community & Technical College President Dr. Scott Williams presented Academic Athlete honors recognizing excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
OT Assistant Editor John Kirkpatrick served as emcee for the ceremony, and Owensboro Health’s Dr. Alex Brown delivered the keynote address.
For the third consecutive year, Owensboro Community & Technical College served as the presenting sponsor of The OTs, while Owensboro Health returned as the Champion Sponsor. Additional support was provided by Laser Beam Studio, Balloons by Syd, and Beef ‘O’Brady’s.
The ceremony was held in the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital auditorium, with nearly 250 attendees as family and friends joined in the celebration.
Finalists/winners
Below are the finalists for each category, with winners in bold.
Editor’s note: Finalists and winners were based on nominations and voting by coaches. Only teams participating in a KHSAA-governed sport were considered for the OTs, meaning club and travel teams are not eligible.
Tom Watson Resiliency Award
- Easton Pedley, Trinity
Academic Athletes of the Year
(Each academic athlete was a winner for their respective schools.)
- Morgan Shook, Apollo
- William Xander Berry, Apollo
- Molly Hancock, Daviess County
- Jonathan Moss, Daviess County
- Isabella “Izzy” Ross, Hancock County
- Noah Henson, Hancock County
- Ansley Cecil, McLean County
- Jackson Reynolds, McLean County
- Abigail Ladwig, Owensboro
- Andrew Johnson, Owensboro
- Taylor Clark, Owensboro Catholic
- Andrew Garvin, Owensboro Catholic
- Emerson Edge, Trinity
- Grant Howard, Trinity
Coach of the Year
- DaMarcus Ganaway Sr., Owensboro Football
- MaryAnne Howard, Apollo Volleyball
- Ryan Haley, Owensboro Boys’ Soccer
- Debbie Connor and Kendal Howard, Daviess County Dance
- John Biggs, Daviess County Softball
Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year
- Peyton Reid, Owensboro Catholic
- Makenzie Ross, Daviess County
- Haley Wolfe, Daviess County
Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year
- Asher Alvey, Apollo
- Noah Gray, Apollo
- Judson Redfern, Daviess County
Girls’ Golfer of the Year
- Bailey Billingsley, Daviess County
- Briley Billingsley, Daviess County
- Claire Reynolds, Daviess County
Boys’ Golfer of the Year
- Vince Hayden, Owensboro Catholic
- Collin Reynolds, Daviess County
- Jacob Shultz, Hancock County
Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year
- Allie Marston, Owensboro Catholic
- Lily Nieman, Owensboro
- Mary Evelyn Wiman, Daviess County
Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year
- Peter Mbayo, Owensboro
- Saw Mu, Daviess County
- Kennedy Payne, Owensboro
Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year
- Ayrish Barksdale, Owensboro
- Avery Gray, Apollo
- Lexi Jones, Daviess County
Boys’ Volleyball
- Cole Roby, Trinity
Football Offensive Player of the Year
- Miles Edge, Owensboro Catholic
- Evan Hampton, Owensboro
- Xavier Maddox, Owensboro Catholic
Football Defensive Player of the Year
- Ty Ashley, Owensboro
- Miles Edge, Owensboro Catholic
- Eli Hampton, Owensboro
Football Special Teams Player of the Year
- Kingston Dillard, Owensboro
- Kalil “Tre” Shemwell, Owensboro
- Caiden Tutt, Apollo
Girls’ Bowler of the Year
- Zoey Douglas, Owensboro
- Sophie O’Bryan, Apollo
- Addison Wells, Apollo
Boys’ Bowler of the Year
- Xavier Coomes, Owensboro
- Dathan Hinton, Owensboro
- Jaxson Unsel, Daviess County
Girls’ Swimmer of the Year
- Ryleigh Bevil, Daviess County
- Mary Ava Evans, Owensboro Catholic
- Ellie Girten, Daviess County
Boys’ Swimmer of the Year
- Max Baur, Owensboro
- Miller Bowman, Owensboro Catholic
- Ethan Lippert, Owensboro
Diver of the Year
- Cole Taylor, Daviess County
- Olivia Esposito, Apollo
- Reed Burton, Daviess County
Girls’ Wrestler of the Year
- Kaylee Klee, Daviess County
- Mariya Meh, Daviess County
- Kali Nichols, Daviess County
Boys’ Wrestler of the Year
- Jaxton Howard, Apollo
- Kevin Lopez, Apollo
- Jackson Stoner, Daviess County
Cheer Team of the Year
- Daviess County
- Owensboro
- Owensboro Catholic
Dance Team of the Year
- Owensboro Catholic
- Apollo
- Daviess County
- Owensboro
Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year
- Katie Hagan, Owensboro Catholic
- Karlee Floyd, McLean County
- Kennedy Lane, Daviess County
Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year
- Landon Henning, Apollo
- Jonathan Moss, Daviess County
- DeAaron Watkins, Daviess County
Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year
- Jenna Faulkner, Daviess County
- Anna Travis, Owensboro
- Emmie Kate Williams, Daviess County
Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year
- Jack Haines, Owensboro Catholic
- Miles McDaniel, Owensboro
- Landon McDuffee, Daviess County
Girls’ Track Athlete of the Year
- Jazlyn Douglas, Owensboro
- Carolina Jones, Hancock County
- Peyton Reid, Owensboro Catholic
Boys’ Track Athlete of the Year
- Noah Gray, Apollo
- Gabriel Jones, Apollo
- Ryder Williams, Daviess County
Bass Fishing Boat of the Year
- Lucas Lindsey and Dawson Donahue, Apollo
Softball Player of the Year
- Molly Hancock, Daviess County
- Mollie Julian, Apollo
- Annie Newman, Daviess County
Baseball Player of the Year
- Ty Ashley, Owensboro
- Ryleigh Logan, Apollo
- Jaxson White, Owensboro Catholic
