Carl Albert’s Reese wins Jim Thorpe Award

Carl Albert High School’s Rylee Reese has been named the Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year for Girls Tennis

The recent graduate was a four-time state qualifier for the Lady Titans and placed sixth this year at No. 1 singles. She played doubles the last two years, placing fourth last year and third as a sophomore. Reese was also named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Team.

It is the second consecutive year that a Carl Albert girls tennis player has won the award. Emily Boyer was the Jim Thorpe winner for 2022-23.

Reese was recognized during the All-Sports and Scholar Athlete Awards on June 26 at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame receives annual feedback from local organizations like the Oklahoma Chapter of Former NFL Players Association, Oklahoma Chapter of the National Football Foundation, Oklahoma Coaches Association and Oklahoma Soccer Coaches Association, to distinguish talented and scholastic student athletes and exceptional coaches to honor.

Over two dozen high school students are honored and recognized annually for their athletic accomplishments and academic achievements, as well as one high school football coach and one college football coach for their respective awards.

Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year Awards: Basketball – Dayton Forsythe (Dale), Parker Simonsen (Mustang), Cross Country – Daryen Jefferson (Douglass), Jailyn Ramirez (Southeast), Football – Kordell Gouldsby (Bixby), Golf – Will Hennessee (Bishop Kelley), Natalie Blonien (Altus), Soccer – Carter Counts (Heritage Hall), Rylee McLanahan (Edmond North), Swimming – Jackson Evans (Edmond North), Ella Newhouse (Cascia Hall), Tennis – Tate Danielson (Ada), Rylee Reese (Carl Albert), Track and Field – James Allen (John Marshall), Chloe Threatt (John Marshall), Volleyball – Luisa Talavera Gonzalez (Southeast), Wrestling – Kali Hayden (Tulsa Union).
Other Award Include: Michele Smith Outstanding Softball Student Athlete Award

Haley Gallo (Guthrie); Ferguson Jenkins Outstanding Baseball Student Athlete Award Dax Noles (Norman); Professional Athletes Foundation Scholarship Award
Jake Reagan (Kingfisher), Ava Dorris (Bethany); Virgil Milliron Wrestling Scholarship Award

Cameron Pearson (U.S. Grant); National Football Foundation High School Football Coach of the Year Travis Hill (Muskogee); Merv Johnson Integrity in College Coaching Award Chris Thurmond.