Gazette Athlete of the Year 2023: Meet the 5 Female finalists

The five finalists for The Gazette’s 2023 Female Athlete of the Year:

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Cassidy Hartman, Iowa City Liberty

Elite all-state volleyball player and The Gazette’s 2022 area player of the year after finishing her career with more than 1,500 kills and 1,300-plus digs. Earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors three times. Led the Lightning to four state tournaments, including the 5A championship in 2022. State qualifier in the high jump.

Will play volleyball at the University of Northern Iowa.

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Nia Howard, Springville

Compiled 3,134 assists in a volleyball career that featured four state tournaments and two first-team all-state honors. Captured the Class 1A state championship in the 400-meter hurdles as a senior. She was the 400-meter runner-up as a sophomore and qualified eight times. Will be a five-time letterwinner in softball (she was a first-team all-conference player last year), and played basketball two years.

Will play volleyball at Cornell College.

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Peyton Robinson, Lisbon

On track to become a five-time all-stater and play in five state tournaments in softball. She was a second-team selection as an eighth-grader, a first-teamer every year since. A .465 career hitter before her senior year. Second-team all-state (1A) in volleyball as a junior, third-team (2A) as a senior. Finished her career with 1,822 digs and 1,076 kills. A seven-time state placewinner in track, capped by a 400-meter relay title in May. Scored 713 career points in basketball.

Will play volleyball at Wartburg College.

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Alivia Schulte, West Delaware

A member of the Hawks’ 2021 Class 3A state championship volleyball team and a first-team all-stater in 2022. Finished her career with 1,102 kills and 1,139 digs. Three-time state placewinner in the 400-meter hurdles, highlighted by a Class 3A third-place finish as a senior. Qualified in four events in her final season. Two-time first-team all-conference in softball and honorable-mention all-Wamac East in basketball.

Will attend the University of Northern Iowa, but does not plan to participate in a varsity sport.

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Devin Simon, Cascade

A 12-time state qualifier in track and field, highlighted by a Class 2A championship in the shuttle hurdle relay as a junior. Third in the shuttle and the 400-meter hurdles as a senior. Earned all-state honors in softball twice, including first-team accolades as a junior. Averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in basketball last winter. A member of Cascade’s state-semifinalist team in 2020.

Will play softball at the University of Iowa.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com