Vote for 2025-26 Stark County High School Boys, Girls Athlete of the Year
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With the OHSAA sports season over for the 2025-26 school year, we're looking back at the best of the school year. Readers will vote to determine who they think were Stark County's best teams, coaches and athletes of the past 11 months.
This week, we ask who you think were the best boys and girls high school athletes of 2025-26? Each athlete’s credentials are listed above the poll — which will be live until 5 p.m. Friday, July 17. The winners will be announced July 18 on CantonRep.com.
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Now, let's meet the candidates selected by the Repository sports staff.
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Nominees for Stark County Girls Athlete of the Year, in alphabetical order:
Ellie Buckler, Canton Central Catholic
Selected All-Ohio in Division V in soccer, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer, and helped the girls basketball team finish as the Division VI runner-up.
Irelyn Johnson, Marlington
Won the Division III cross country state championship before finishing third in the 1,600 and eighth in the 3,200 at the Division III state track meet after winning league, district and regional titles in both events.
Abby LaPole, Jackson
Became a four-time All-Ohio pick in wheelchair basketball, just the second athlete in the state to achieve that feat, and won her third straight seated shot put state title, graduating as the all-time county record holder with a throw of 23-11.
Kylah Meyer, Louisville
Won the Division II state title in the 3,200 after winning district and regional titles in the 1,600 and 3,200, and finished third at the Division II cross country state meet.
Nominees for Stark County Boys Athlete of the Year, in alphabetical order:
Jack Andes, North Canton Hoover
Selected the Stark County player of the year in football and baseball by the Repository, helping lead the Vikings to the state playoffs in football and the state final four in baseball.
Brice Fuller, Fairless
Won the state cross country title in Division III before winning Division IV state titles in two track events, the 1,600 and 3,200 relay.
Braylon Gamble, Massillon
Selected first-team All-Stark County in football and basketball, helping the Tigers reach the regional finals in football and win the school's first state championship in basketball.
JR Jackson, Alliance
Selected the Stark County player of the year in basketball by the Repository and first-team all-county in football, earning All-Ohio honors in both sports.
The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Vote for 2025-26 Stark County High School Boys, Girls Athlete of the Year