Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West Branch and Regina each had a player named to the River Valley Conference Elite Team on Monday when the league announced its postseason awards.

Regina junior shortstop Annie Gahan and West Branch junior centerfielder were both named to the 17-member Elite Team that honors the top players from the North and South Divisions.

Henson earned Elite Team honors for the third consecutive season after leading West Branch in hits and batting average for the fourth straight season.

The junior hit .500 with a team-high 15 runs scored and also led the Bears with 13 stolen bases.

Gahan earned Elite Team honors for the first time after a breakthrough junior season in which she led Regina in 101 different offensive categories.

Gahan hit .378 with four home runs and 15 RBI and also scored a team-high 21 runs and led the Regals with 24 stolen bases.

West Branch had three players named to the South Division team and Regina had two members on the South squad.

Senior pitcher Kaiya Luneckas, senior infielder and sophomore utility selection Lexi Klinkkammer were all named to the South Team for West Branch.

Senior Elly Gahan was a South Division selection as an infielder for Regina and sophomore Emma Nibaur was a utility pick.

Regina junior Emma Sueppel and West Branch junior Maddy Hatfield both earned honorable mention honors.

River Valley Conference Softball

Elite Team – P: Janey Gingerich, Jr., West Liberty; Kalli Minger, Sr., Anamosa; Madison Kluever, 8th, Northeast. INF: Haylee Lehman, Sr., West Liberty; Ellie Tallman, Sr., Anamosa; Alexis Ehlers, Jr., Northeast; Annie Gahan, Jr., Regina. OF: Grace Lubben, Jr., Anamosa; Chloe Wells, Jr., Wilton; Neveah Hildebrandt, Jr., Northeast; Nicki Henson, Jr., West Branch. C: Austyn Crees, Sr., West Liberty; Bree Mangelsen, Sr., Northeast. UTIL: Finley Hall, Fr., West Liberty; Emily Watters, Fr., Anamosa; Claire Abbott, Sr., Northeast; Tarah Wehde, Sr., Camanche.

South Team – P: Mila Johnson, Jr., Wilton; Kaiya Luneckas, Sr., West Branch. INF: Mallory Lange, Soph., Wilton; Mackenzie Heise, Sr., West Branch; Isabel Morrison, Jr., West Liberty; Elly Gahan, Sr., Regina. OF: Payton Ganzer, Soph., Wilton; Kira Schult, Sr., Durant; Macy Daufeldt, Soph., West Liberty; Peyton Souhrada, Soph., Wilton. C: Emily Coss, Jr., Wilton; Allie Poston, Sr., Durant. UTIL: Kylie Schult, Soph., Durant; Emma Nibaur, Soph., Regina; Sailor Hall, Soph., West Liberty; Hayley Madlock, Fr., Wilton; Lexi Klinkkammer, Soph., West Branch.  

Coach of the year – Chad Libby, West Liberty

North Team – P: Devin Simon, Fr., Cascade; Kendall Smith, Soph., North Cedar. INF: Lexi Bright, Jr., Anamosa; Audrey Morris, Sr., Northeast; Valerie Spooner, Jr., Northeast; Lauren Snyder, Soph., Camanche. OF: Autumn Kirby, Sr., Anamosa; Claudia Noonan, 8th, Cascade; Julianna Penniston, Jr., Bellevue; Jaelyn Aitchison, Fr., Monticello. C: Aubrey Carstensen, Soph., Camanche; Shannon Morris, Jr., Cascade. UTIL: Joslin Banowetz, Fr., Anamosa; MaKenna McDonald, Sr., Northeast; Jamie Robertson, Soph., Camanche; Reese Cox, Jr., Monticello; Kassidie Galloway, Sr., North Cedar

Coach of the year – Travis Eversmeyer, Northeast

Honorable Mention – Grace Madlock, Fr., Wilton; Savannah Meinert, 8th, Durant; Emma Sueppel, Jr., Regina; Maddy Hatfield, Jr., West Branch; Rylee Vercande, Soph., Mid-Prairie; Morgan Wendel, Sr., Tipton; Brooklyn Buysse, Fr., West Liberty; Mallory Steiner, Soph., Monticello; Kaylee Hansen, Soph., Northeast; Kennady Bigwood, 8th, Camanche; Julia Ludwig, Jr., Cascade; Kylie Chapman, Jr., Anamosa; Brianna Laughlin, Sr., Bellevue; Alyssa Hefflefinger, Fr., North Cedar

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.