The 2025-26 school year saw plenty of elite play from girls in the greater Niagara region. There were multiple female athletes finding their ways into the headlines and having success this year.
The group accounted for multiple podium finishes and accolades throughout this school year. The ten best of that group are a group that won a state title and multiple sectional titles. Some are even heading to the NCAA Division I level next year.
1. Anabelle Day, Sr., Basketball, North Tonawanda
This season, Annabelle Day helped North Tonawanda win the state title by averaging 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 4.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. The University at Buffalo commit scored double-digit points in 25 of her team’s 26 games including 29 points against West Seneca West on Feb. 5. All her achievements led to her being named the Greater Niagara Newspaper’s Player of the Year.
2. Shannon Zugelder, Sr., Cross country/track and field, Starpoint
During her final season as a runner at Starpoint, Shannon Zugelder made a big impact both on the track and the trail. The Ole Miss commit started her year off with a trip to the state championships thanks to winning the Section VI championships with a time of 19:15.43. At the state meet, she finished in 12th and then continued her season at the NY Federation Championships.
She followed that up with a second place finish at the state qualifier in the 1,500-meter run during indoor season and a 25th place finish at the state meet. She continued to perform well during the outdoor season winning four Section VI Class A championships in the 800, 1,500, the 3,000 and the 2,000 steeplechase.
At the state championships, the Niagara Gazette Girls Track and Field athlete of the year finished in 12th during the 1,500 run with a time of 4:52.24 before finishing in third in the 3,000 run with a time of 9:49.65. She followed that up with a fourth-place finish in the 2,000 steeplechase with a time of 7:01.81.
3. Grace Crissman, Jr., Soccer, Starpoint
It takes a lot to commit to an NCAA Division I school as only a junior. But Grace Crissman did just that, committing to Duquesne University in a season in which she scored 43 goals and 25 assists for 111 points. The junior set new career-highs in all three categories and had 13 multi-goal games. As a result, the Starpoint standout was named the 2025 Greater Niagara Newspapers Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
4. Natalie Prezioso, Sr., Field hockey/basketball/softball, Starpoint
Starpoint’s Natalie Prezioso made her biggest impact of the school year on the hardwood where she averaged 20 points, 2.6 steals and rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. It saw her help her team reach the Section VI Class A1 title game.
It came after she finished second on her team in goals on the Spartans field hockey team putting up six goals and eight assists for 14 points. Prezioso concluded her season by hitting .387 with one home run, 10 RBIs and 16 stolen bases for the softball team. She also had a .978 fielding percentage, 43 putouts and one assist for the squad.
5. JaKayla Brown, Sr., Volleyball/basketball, North Tonawanda
As a senior, JaKayla Brown played well enough for the North Tonawanda volleyball team to be named to the Niagara Frontier League All-League First Team as a middle blocker. She will also be heading to Niagara University in the fall to play volleyball.
She followed that up with an impressive basketball season serving as the big woman down low grabbing 157 total rebounds, 7.1 per game while adding 9.7 points and 1.9 blocks per game.
6. Abbie Faery, Sr., Soccer/basketball/softball, Wilson
During Abbie Faery’s senior year as a Lakewoman she made a big impact in all three sports she played. Her biggest impact however, came on the hardwood where she led her team in scoring (9.1), while being in the top five in assists (1.3), rebounds (6.6), and steals (3.9) per game.
Her performance on the basketball court came after a soccer season in which she had one goal and four assists for six points on the pitch. She finished the year by hitting .487 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, 26 runs and 11 stolen bases. She also had a .952 fielding percentage with 48 putouts and 11 assists as a member of the softball team.
7. Addison D’Andrea, Sr., Basketball/softball, North Tonawanda
Addison D’Andrea played for the state champion Lumberjack girls basketball team this year but her biggest impact came on the diamond. The senior was named the 2026 Niagara Gazette Player of the Year after hitting .464 with seven home runs, 27 RBIs and 26 runs. She added eight stolen bases to find herself as one of the best players in the section this season.
On the court, D’Andrea averaged 3.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game to help her team go 23-3 this season.
8. Lilly Day, So., Basketball, North Tonawanda
On Feb. 16, Lilly Day scored 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds against Cathedral Prep. That was only one game in a season full of double-doubles with the younger Day sister collecting 13 such games. Lilly Day finished her sophomore campaign averaging 15.3 points, 10 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.6 steals per game.
The Greater Niagara Newspaper’s All-Area selection played a big role in helping her team win its first ever state title.
9. Mattie Adamo, Sr., Softball, Starpoint
While she did not participate in sports in either the fall or winter, Mattie Adamo did enough in the spring to warrant a spot on the list. During her senior softball season, the All-Western New York first team selection hit .521 with six triples, two home runs and 15 RBIs while stealing six bases. The shortstop also had 41 putouts this season.
10. Eden Hillman, 8th, Cross country/track and field, Newfane
As an eighth-grader, Hillman made it to the state championship meet in both cross country and outdoor track and field. She started her season off by winning the Niagara-Orleans League cross country championship and then finishing in second in the Section VI Championships. While she finished in 14th in the Class C state race she set a new personal-best time at 19:09.50.
She did not run track in the winter and then returned to put up impressive numbers in the spring. During the outdoor season, Hillman competed in the 400 hurdles, the 2,000 steeplechase and the pole vault.
Her most successful event was the steeplechase, where she went on a string of three wins in a row coming in the Niagara-Orleans League championships, the Section VI Class C championships and then the state qualifiers. During the state qualifiers, she reached the top spot with a time of 7:35.70 before she came in eighth with a time of 7:26.33 at the state meet.