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Gazette Athlete of the Year 2024: Meet the 5 Female finalists
Bliss Beck of Clear Creek Amana, Skylar Benesh of North Linn, Michaela Goad of Marion, Carly Goodwin of Sigourney and Callie Levin of Solon
Jeff Linder
Jul. 7, 2024 6:45 am, Updated: Jul. 8, 2024 4:55 pm
The five finalists for The Gazette’s 2024 Female Athlete of the Year:
Bliss Beck,Clear Creek Amana
A two-time first-team all-stater in volleyball, finishing her career with 1,227 kills, 383 blocks and a.390 kill efficiency. Led the Clippers to a Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2022, a 46-1 record and a semifinals berth in 2023. Started forCCA’s 4A state-title basketball team(26-0), earning third-team all-state honors as a senior and scoring 658 career points. An effective softball pitcher earlier in her career, she compiled a 22-6 record. A four-time state track qualifier in the high jump.
Will play volleyball at Drake University.
Skylar Benesh, North Linn
A member of three state-championship teams — two in softball, one in basketball. Led the state in runs last season (84)as the Lynx won the 1A state softball title.Entered her senior season with 236 runs and 38 home runs. Scored 202 career points in basketball and was a valuable reserve on the 2024 1A title team. In track, she was a state placewinner in the long jump in 2021, the sprint medley relay in 2022. Honorable mention all-conference in volleyball.
Will play softball at the University of Northern Iowa.
Michaela Goad,Marion
First-team all-state volleyball selection as a junior and senior, finishing with 1,028 career kills, 508 digs and 245 blocks. Second-team all-state in softball as a sophomore and junior, entered her senior season with a.491 career batting average and 21 home runs. The Wamac Conference tennis player of the year, she was part of a third-place Class 1A state doubles tandem in 2023, sixth in 2A in 2024.
Will play volleyball and softball at Truman State University.
Carly Goodwin, Sigourney
The 2023 Gatorade softball player of the year,she entered her senior season with a 67-14 pitching record, and went over the 1,000-strikeout plateau earlier this season. Two-time first-team all-state and played on two state-tournament teams. Scored 1,035 career points in basketball and named first-team all-conference twice. An 11-time South Iowa Cedar League placewinner in track and field.
Will play softball at the University of Northern Iowa.
Callie Levin,Solon
Selected asMiss Iowa Basketball 2024after a brilliant careercapped by a Class 3A championship in her senior season.A four-year first-team all-state selection by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, scoring 1,984 career points. Was a three-time state placewinner in track and field as a freshman and a second-team all-conference soccer player as a junior.
Will play basketball at the University of Iowa.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette