Video: Paige Bueckers highlights
See the UConn commit dominate the Minnesota hardwood.
From high-profile athletes used to performing in front of thousands to girls whose sports don't often shine under the glare of a bright media spotlight, the Class of 2020 was chock full of amazing competitors.
Flat out, these girls have game.
And for every Paige Bueckers of Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), Paige Flickinger of Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) and Jayda Coleman of The Colony (Texas), there were dozens more setting the bar, breaking records, winning titles and setting the standard for future generations of female athletes.
Some were able to fulfill their championship dreams while others had seasons cut short, or in the case of spring athletes, never started.
From the swimming pool to the wrestling mats and from the cross country course to the ice hockey arena, MaxPreps takes a look at 25 Must-Know female high school athletes from the Class of 2020.
The UConn signee was named MaxPreps National Basketball Player of the Year, and leaves Hopkins with a 62-game winning streak. Combining her prep and college career with the Huskies, she has a chance to be one of the greats on the basketball court for a long time.
The Oklahoma signee leaves the Cougars as one of the best to ever play in Texas ... and nationally. Coleman had a career .722 batting average with 30 home runs. She also excelled on the volleyball court.
3. Paige Flickinger, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), volleyballThe MaxPreps National Volleyball Player of the Year and LSU commit went 160-29 over her four-year Bobcats career. She capped it with a 50-2 overall mark, a No. 2 MaxPreps Top 50 ranking and, perhaps most importantly, a Texas 6A title in 2019.
All Tuohy does is win. The 2019-2020 Gatorade Player of the Year won her third consecutive Nike Cross Nationals championship this past season. Tuohy also won the Class A individual state championship and was unbeaten against high school competition at 5K for the third straight season.
5. Nicole May, Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.) softballThe MaxPreps Junior Player of the Year was undefeated last year (24-0) and Foothill was off to a 4-0 start to start in 2020. May is headed to Oklahoma.
Currently holds world
records in the 100-meter backstroke, 200 backstroke and 400 Individual Medley relay. Smith broke Missy Franklin's world record in the 200 backstroke of 2:04.06 set in 2012 with a time of 2:03.35.
7. Kristina Kelly, Camden Hills (Rockport, Maine), soccerThe
United Soccer Association National Player of the Year finished her
career with 159 career goals and four straight state championships. Kelly will play Division I college soccer at Central Connecticut State University.
The 2020 Stanford commit was a member of the 2018 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. She sank the putt that clinched the title for the U.S. She also is a four-time state champion in high school.
Nuessgen
defines what an athlete is. She won the state title at 131 pounds at
the first-ever Ohio High School
Wrestling Coaches Association (OHSWCA) girls state wrestling tournament. She also was a member of the Beavers' girls soccer state championship team
in 2018 and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse for
Detroit Mercy.
Mobley was named Minnesota Ms. Hockey and the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year. The Quinnipiac University commit played six varsity seasons and won two state championships.
11. Jess Mruzik, Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), volleyballThe Michigan commit and Gatorade National Player of the Year had 415 kills and led her team to a 58-1 record while making the MaxPreps All-American team. Mruzik was also a gold medalist and MVP of the U18 team in Egypt this year.
The 5-star Northwestern commit was on the verge of winning
her first state basketball title when COVID hit. Morris, a two-time Gatorade state volleyball Player of the Year recipient, also won four straight Non-Public volleyball titles and three straight Tournament of Champions crowns.
Set a state record in clean and jerk with 275 pounds. She also finished second at the state weightlifting finals in the bench press.
14. Elisa Robinson, Junction City (Kan.), girls wrestlingA four-time state champion, Robinson went undefeated this year and was ranked No. 1 in the nation by FloWrestling at 190 pounds.
The Stanford commit was a Foot Locker Cross Country champion,
won a gold Mmedal for home country of Poland during the summer at the
European U20 National Championships, was the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, the Division 1 individual state championship and lead the Pioneers to the state title as a teamw.
16. Kelli McGroarty, Eastern (Voorhees, N.J.), girls soccerMcGroarty is a three-sport standout who also plays basketball and lacrosse. She is committed to play soccer at LaSalle. She won the The Gatorade State Player of the Year as a junior.
The Oregon commit averaged 22.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the No. 1 team in the country. Her season was cut short because of COVID-19.
18. Alex Walsh, Harpeth Hall (Nashville, Tenn.), swimmingWalsh is a member of the USA Swimming National Team. She earned two individual golds in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM while also helping Team USA to victory in the 4x200 free relay in 2019. She set national high school record in the 100 backstroke.
The viral sensation
and Louisville signee has been a part of four USA gold medal teams. She
averaged 33.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game during her
senior season.
The Long Beach State commit was named the Gatorade California Player of the Year after she compiled 721 assists, 256 digs, 205 kills, 54 blocks, and 41 service aces in 2019.
Gomes did it all on the field. She threw for 3,728 yards passing and 73 touchdown passes. She also rushed for 2,519 yards.
22. Caitlin Clark, Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa), basketballThe Iowa commit averaged 33.4 points per game and was a MaxPreps first team All-American. Iowa rules prevented Clark from getting out on the national scene during the high school season but watch out at the next level.
The Florida commit had a career .545 batting average, hit 29 home runs, and played for the No. 1 team in the nation before the season was canceled.
24. Madeline Westbeld, Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio), basketballThe Notre Dame commit won every award she
could in Ohio. She had career-high 36 points and added
12 rebounds, eight steals and four assists in a 53-46 win
over nationally No. 2 ranked Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.
The Ole Miss signee went 45-11 during her four years in the circle. She struck out 351 batters. As a hitter she batted .341 with .341 with 28 home runs.
