Meet the 2022 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year finalists

Today, The Gazette reveals its 2022 finalists for Athlete of the Year.

The awards were inspired by the longtime sportswriting career of the late Jack Ogden. This year’s group represents the 40th class in the award’s history, which began in 1983.

Meet the male finalists below. Here are the female finalists.

Last year’s winners were Aurora Roghair and Marcus Morgan, both of Iowa City West.

The winners will be announced in next Sunday’s Gazette.

Kole Becker, Lisbon

Won four state championships as a junior (long jump, 110- and 400-meter hurdles and shuttle hurdle relay). Repeated in the long jump and the 110 highs as a senior. Qualified for the Drake Relays in four events, winning the 400 hurdles. Scored 1,003 career points in basketball, earning all-Tri-Rivers Conference East Division first-team honors twice. Will compete in track and field at Iowa State University.

Jahsiah Galvan, West Liberty

Owns school career records in football for all-purpose yards and rushing yards. Ran for 1,305 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, 1,673 yards and 14 TDs as a junior. Second-team all-state as a junior and senior. Earned first-team all-state honors in soccer twice. Scored 30 goals and registered 13 assists as West Liberty advanced to the 1A state soccer semifinals this year. Scored 37 goals as a junior. Seventh-place 2A wrestler at 190 pounds, compiling a 37-9 record, after playing basketball as a junior. A member of state-qualifying shuttle hurdle relay as a senior. Will play football at the University of Northern Iowa.

Gable Mitchell, Iowa City High

A baseball starter since his freshman year, he is ranked in the top 400 nationwide by Prep Report. A third-team all-stater as a junior, he holds school records in career triples (10) and steals (32) prior to his senior season. Earned first-team all-state honors in football as a defensive back as the Little Hawks reached the Class 5A state semifinals. He caught 29 passes for 453 yards and compiled 66.5 tackles and five interceptions. Had a 31-20 career wrestling record with 10 pins. Will play baseball at the University of Iowa.

Austin Hilmer, North Linn

First-team all-state selection in three sports (basketball, football and baseball). A member of two state-championship basketball teams (2A in 2019, 1A in 2022), he finished his career with 1,758 points, 703 assists and 377 steals. Holds school records in football for receptions in a season (60) and receiving yards in a season (842). In baseball, he holds the state single-season record for stolen bases (75) and was a state qualifier in track and field. Will play basketball at Upper Iowa University.

Wyatt Voelker, West Delaware

Won a pair of Class 2A state wrestling championships at 195 pounds as a junior and senior. He was third as a sophomore, fourth as a freshman. His career record was 168-13, unbeaten in his final two seasons. Earned first-team all-state football honors three times. As a senior, he ran for 1,294 yards and 18 touchdowns and led Class 3A in tackles (91, including 75 solos) despite missing three games due to injury. Will wrestle at the University of Northern Iowa.