Honoring athletic accomplishments from 2023

As 2023 comes to a close, it is time to hand out the annual San Marcos Daily Record Sports Awards.

This year will be different than in previous years, as the awards will be split between high school and college.

The categories for this year include Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Game of the Year.

Without further ado, here are the winners of 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Malik Presley

The former senior Rattler helped lead the San Marcos boys basketball team to their best ever season in the modern era winning a record 38 games for the year.

Presley captured the District 27 Most Valuable Player award while averaging 20.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game.

Presley signed with Vanderbilt during the off-season.

Honorable Mention: Kaden Gumbs, Kutter Gage Webb, Ory Williams, Gaven Gomez, Exavion Harris.

HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Brinkley Reeves

Reeves helped lead the Lady Rattlers to their fourth consecutive playoff appearance in volleyball including defeating East Central in a fourth place tiebreaker game.

Brinkley was named Co-Offensive MVP in District 27 for her efforts.

Reeves also reached 1,000 Kills in her career and will look to lead the Lady Rattlers back into the playoffs once more.

Honorable Mention: Anisa Moreno, Saylor Upshaw, Maya Moore,Alexandria Juraez, Eleanor Smith, Jeskya Banda, Kaylee Martin.

HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR:

Bryan Webb

Webb and the Rattlers Baseball team entered the season with high expectations and surpassed them capturing the program’s first district title and Bi-District title for the first time in many years.

Webb also captured his 300th win of the season.

Honorable Mention: Dan Miller Boys Basketball, Megann Ollet Volleyball

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR San Marcos Boys Basketball

Another team with high expectations, Rattler Basketball qualified for the Region IV tournament for the first time in 40 years.

The Rattlers captured their first district championship since the early 2000s before going on a monster run in the playoffs.

Though San Marcos fell one game short of the State Tournament, the 2022-2023 season was without a doubt one of the most memorable seasons in quite some time Honorable Mention: Rattler Baseball, Rattler Volleyball

HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE YEAR Rattler Basketball vs Austin Westlake

During the Rattlers playoff run, San Marcos had to slay the giant in the form of Austin Westlake in order to advance to the Regional Quarterfinals.

Though Westlake finished second in district, the Chaparrals stood in the Rattlers way in San Marcos path to immortality.

In a packed house at Austin Bowie Gym, San Marcos defeated Westlake 54-48 to capture the Area Championship.

Honorable Mention: Rattler Baseball vs San Antonio Churchill, Lady Rattler Basketball vs Judson.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Jayven Cofer

In his first season with the Rattler basketball team, Cofer was a key cog in the machine that as the Rattler Basketball team in the record setting season.

Cofer finished the season averaging 10.2 points per game along with 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Honorable Mention: Eleanor Smith

COLLEGE MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR TJ Finley

Transferring from Auburn, Finley made the most of his situation by not only winning the starting position but breaking a school record for most passing yards in a season.

Passing for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns, Finley helped lead the Bobcats to an 8-5 record and a First Responder Bowl championship win.

Honorable Mention: Ishmail Mahdi, Mason Harrell, Chase Mora.

COLLEGE FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Kennedy Taylor

Winning the program’s first regular season conference championship in 15 years, Taylor helped lead the Bobcats to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship and a berth in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Taylor finished the season averaging 10.4 points.

Honorable Mention: Jessica Mullins, Da’Nasia Hood, Ryann Torres, K.J. Johnson

COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR G.J. Kinne

Kinne promised it was a new era at Texas State.

Boy did he deliver. Leading the team to a 8-5 record, Kinne pushed the Bobcats to new heights qualifying for their first bowl game and winning the First Responder Bowl over Rice.

Honorable Mention: Steven Trout, Ricci Woodard, Sean Huiet, Zenarae Antoine

COLLEGE TEAM OF THE YEAR Texas State Volleyball

Another history-making team during the fall season, Bobcat volleyball surprised everyone not in San Marcos by not only capturing the Sun Belt West Division Title, but making the NCAA Tournament as an At-Large Bid for the first time in program history.

Many on the outside expected the Bobcats to be in a rebuilding year following the loss of program cornerstones in Janell Fitzgerald and Emily DeWalt.

But rather than rebuilding, the Bobcats reloaded for a monster season.

Honorable Mention: Texas State Softball, Texas State WBB, Texas State Football

COLLEGE GAME OF THE YEAR Texas State Football vs Georgia Southern

It was a program-defining win for the Bobcats as Texas State defeated Georgia Southern to become bowl eligible and cross the six-win threshold for the first time since 2014.

As the fans stormed the field to celebrate the win, the party was moved to Sewell Park as President Kelly Damphousse made true to his promise by jumping into the river.

Honorable Mention: Texas State Baseball vs Texas, Texas State Softball vs Texas, Texas State Basketball vs Marshall

COLLEGE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Chase Mora

Nothing more can be said about the season of Chase Mora.

The freshman started off his career with three home runs in his first three atbats including a grand slam.

Mora finished the season with a team high 17 home runs, setting the freshman record. Mora also set the record for most home runs in a game with four against North Dakota State.

It was simply one of the best freshman seasons ever at Texas State.

Honorable Mention: T.J. Finley, Ishmail Mahdi

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc