By Sports Editor Andrew Simonson
It’s difficult to realize that another year of high school athletics is over, and it was one of the most memorable in the history of the county.
Pelham volleyball, Chelsea girls basketball, Oak Mountain boys soccer, and Indian Springs boys soccer all made heroic runs to the finals, while Thompson football and softball, Vincent baseball, Westminster OM boys soccer, and Briarwood Christian girls soccer all had county teams that advanced to the finals of the six major team sports.
In addition to the innumerable individual titles won by county athletes in wrestling and track and field, we witnessed numerous state championships, such as Chelsea’s girls indoor and outdoor track and field, Thompson girls bowling, a sweep of boys and girls wrestling, and Briarwood boys tennis.
Our annual effort to compile one of Alabama’s most talented counties into a top 25 ranking is known as the All-Sports Team. This year’s roster once again includes state winners, school records, and future college stars, but it is by no means a simple task to achieve recognition and, consequently, an easy option to put together.
Following our Athletes of the Year, the 2025 All-Sports Team is shown here, arranged alphabetically.
First Group
Spain Park, Bradley Williams, wrestling. Williams won his second consecutive state championship during an unbeaten season, earning him the honor of Male Athlete of the Year. But this time, he achieved it while battling Type 1 diabetes issues and in a different weight class. The Davidson recruit finished eighth at the NHSCA High School Nationals, earning him an All-American selection, and went 54-0 on the season to increase his high school winning streak to 108 games.
Chelsea, basketball, and Haley Trotter. With an average of 17.7 points and nine rebounds per game, the Female Athlete of the Year led the Hornets to their first-ever state final appearance. She won her second consecutive Shelby County Player of the Year award, made the Alabama All-Star and Super All-State teams, and was named a finalist for Class 6A Player of the Year before moving to Shelton State.
Lauren Buchanan, Chelsea, volleyball. During the Hornets Final Four season, the Texas Tech signee ended with 764 kills, 346 digs, 95 aces, and 35 blocks. In addition to receiving All-American and All-State recognition, she was voted Shelby County Player of the Year and leaves as the school’s all-time leader in kills and digs.
Several Warriors All-Sports Team picks, including Elizabeth Rosenstiel, Aubree Hooks, Wyatt Williams, and Akasha Dudley, were highlighted by Thompson and Anquon Fegans. (For Kelsea Schafer, the reporter)
Thompson, football, and Anquon Fegans. Fegans led Alabaster to another state title with a county-high six interceptions before graduating and moving to Auburn to further his career. A MaxPreps All-American, Under Armour All-American, and Alabama All-Star, he was named the Class 7A Back of the Year and Shelby County Player of the Year.
Thompson, softball, Aubree Hooks. Hooks secured the Class 7A state championship for Thompson and won Shelby County Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Indiana signee had a 20-0 record, 1.41 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 158 strikeouts against 38 walks and 19 earned runs, finishing first in the county in almost every significant pitching statistic.
Chelsea, softball, Katie Hopson. Hopson recorded an incredible 1.466 OPS with a.461 average,.512 on-base percentage, and.954 slugging percentage, earning him Shelby County Hitter of the Year and a spot on the All-State First Team. 49 RBI, 53 runs, 70 hits, 23 doubles, and 16 home runs put her at the top of the county in five separate hitting categories.
Chelsea, baseball, Aiden Hughes. Hughes earned a spot on the Super All-State team, shared Shelby County Pitcher of the Year, and led a loaded Chelsea rotation to the Class 6A state championship series. The signee from Coastal Alabama South had a 1.08 WHIP, 11.6 strikeouts per seven innings, and the best ERA in Shelby County, 0.94. He finished with a.529 on-base percentage and a.447 average at the plate.
Luke Jovanovich, Oak Mountain, soccer. Jovanovich won Shelby County Player of the Year, advanced to the Class 7A state playoffs, and helped the Eagles post a state-record unbeaten run of 60 games. The West Alabama signee and Super All-State selection ended as a wingback with 58 tackles, 37 interceptions, and 13 goals and 25 assists.
Chase Kyes, Spain Park, golf. With his third consecutive individual state championship, Kyes concluded one of the greatest amateur golf careers in state history. The Tennessee signee earned his 17th individual medal of his career with two 66s at the state tournament, making him one of just five guys to win state at least three times. The victory followed his second consecutive year of qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur brackets in July 2024.
Briarwood Christian, soccer, Taylor Leib. Leib concluded her career with the Lions by winning a long-awaited state championship. Before joining the Clemson Tigers, she won Shelby County Player of the Year, Birmingham Metro Player of the Year, and Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year with 40 goals and 12 assists.
Chelsea, basketball, and Aiden Owens. Owens made the All-State Second Team and won Shelby County Player of the Year after dominating the hardwood. He won a spot at Wallace-Selma by finishing with averages of 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during Chelsea’s journey to a second consecutive area title and Sweet 16.
Vincent, two-sport star Aiden Poe. As part of the Jackets’ first state baseball championship since 1985, Poe was named Shelby County Pitcher of the Year, Class 2A Pitcher of the Year, and a member of the Super All-State team. With a 12-1 record, 1.19 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 128 strikeouts, and a.450 batting average, the Air Force signee was a formidable opponent. He played both defense and offense during the Jackets’ run to the Class 2A football second round, so that wasn’t the only two-way success he had.
Thompson, wrestling, Elizabeth Rosenstiel. Rosenstiel made history by assisting Thompson in winning the Class 6A-7A state championship, the first officially recognized title in state history, before launching the Warriors onto the national scene as the junior national champion at NHSCA High School Nationals. After going 43-1 in the Southeast’s best tournaments, the North Central College signee won the 145-pound state title.
Oak Mountain runner John Shoemaker. Prior to the season, Shoemaker was already regarded as a program icon at Oak Mountain, but he made history by finishing second in the Class 7A cross-country state championship and then going on to win four state track and field titles. Before bringing his skills to Ole Miss, he won the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter blue maps both indoors and outdoors.
Thompson, baseball, Wyatt Williams. With a 1.50 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 86 strikeouts while pitching, Williams was an outstanding two-way threat for the Warriors.450 at the plate with 68 RBI off 63 hits and 1.258 OPS. For the latter stat line, the Alabama recruit was named to the All-State First Team and won Shelby County Hitter of the Year.
The Second Group
Spain Park, football, Brock Bradley. Bradley’s 2,667 throwing yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions helped lead Spain Park to a perfect regular season and the Class 6A quarterfinals. The All-State Honorable Mention and Clemson recruit ran for six additional touchdowns for a total of 38 and completed 66 percent of his throws.
Chelsea’s runner, Ty Cason. Cason’s four individual victories were a major factor in the Hornets’ 2025 indoor and outdoor Class 6A girls track and field state championships, which established history. She added indoor and outdoor 400-meter and 800-meter medals to her two 2024 titles. She won her second consecutive Shelby County Championship and the regional crown in cross-country before an injury kept her from competing at the state level.
Thompson, Akasha Dudley, track and field. With a throw of 40 feet, 5.75 inches at state, Dudley completed a five-win season and continued to dominate the shot-put, winning her third consecutive Class 7A indoor state title. To cap off a six-win outdoor season, she also won her coveted first outdoor title with a throw of 44 feet, 8 inches. In the state championship for outdoor discus, Dudley finished second as well.
Vincent, two-sport star Grayson Gulde. Before helping the Jackets win a state baseball title with a.442 average, 1.296 OPS, and 34 RBI off 42 hits, Gulde was the only player in the county to make two separate All-State First Teams. He was a Class 2A Lineman of the Year finalist with 202 tackles, three sacks, and five turnovers as a linebacker.
Pelham, basketball, and Tee King. With 19.3 points, a county-high 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, King made an impression in her junior season with the Panthers and assumed a new role as the team’s main scorer, earning a spot on the All-State First Team.
Tee King and Camryn McMinn of Pelham were named to the Shelby County All-Sports Team in recognition of their exceptional seasons. (Photo by Alec Etheredge/Reporter)
Pelham, volleyball, Camryn McMinn. With a county-high 797 kills, 397 digs, 70 blocks, and 53 aces, McMinn helped the Panthers advance to the Class 6A state championship game and earn a spot on the All-State First Team.
Anthony Palmieri, Shelby County, football. Palmieri helped Shelby County improve its record and place second in the region, earning him an All-State Honorable Mention. Despite carrying a hefty load of 230 carries, he finished with a county-high 1,846 yards and 22 touchdowns, along with three receiving scores.
Helena, softball, and Marlee Parsons. Parsons led the county with 185 strikeouts over a 17-8 record, allowing just 49 earned runs and 34 walks in 154 innings, and he produced great start after excellent start to lead the Huskies to the Class 6A state championship. She was selected to the All-County First Team and the All-State team.
Cooper Jeffcoat, Oak Mountain runner. Jeffcoat was awarded Alabama Gatorade Boys Track and Field Player of the Year after placing seventh at the New Balance Indoor Nationals and earning the 800-meter national title at the RunningLane Track Championships, representing the Eagles on the national front. Additionally, he finished 25th in the cross-country state championship, gained two podium positions at state for the 1,600-meter race, and won two 800-meter state crowns with Oak Mountain.
Nick Sykes, Shelby County, wrestling. Joining colleague Xander Shook in winning a Class 5A state championship, Sykes concluded his career with his third consecutive state victory. The University of Montevallo recruit won his second consecutive title in the 132-pound class with a 60-1 record at the end of his senior year.
Honorable Mention: Briarwood Christian, Caroline Foster. Andrew Groves, Christian of Briarwood. Briarwood Christian Emma Kerley. Briarwood Christian, Drew Mears. Christian Alec Perez of Briarwood. Mary Grace Parker, Christian at Briarwood. Chelsea’s Niles Cummings. Pendley, Gabe, Chelsea. Chelsea Porter Schott. Indian Springs resident Alex Hage. Indian Springs’ Dylan Heald. In Indian Springs, Cara Huff. In Indian Springs, Ashna Mehra. Cutts, Dee, Montevallo. Adams, Drew, Montevallo. Oak Mountain’s Sam Collins. From Oak Mountain, Trey Denny. Pelham, Kylee Hester. Wynn Londyn, Pelham. Shelby County, Kenna D. Buie. Cooper, Shelby County, Pennington. Xander Shook, County of Shelby. Spain Park, Corey Barber. Hunter Chenelle, Spain Park. Spain Park, Cailyn Kyes. Oldfield, Reese, Spain Park. Burden, Kelsey, Thompson. Thompson, Emma Roberson. Thompson, Trent Seaborn. Seigler, Kelsey, Thompson. Thompson, Lynleigh Weltzin. Vincent Landon Archer. Caldwell, Weaver, Westminster OM. OM, Westminster, Aiden Gamble. Robbins, Reese, OM, Westminster.
