As summer vacations begin across Indian River County and the wider Treasure Coast, local sports enthusiasts are taking a final look back at a phenomenal 2025-2026 high school athletic season. Following the release of the Spring All-Area teams by Treasure Coast Newspapers, the search is officially on to crown the top overall girls athlete in the region.
With star-studded performances from the fall to the spring, the community is being asked to vote on who was the pound-for-pound best girls athlete during the 2025-26 sports calendar.
The local community is currently voting to determine who stands out among an elite group of eight regional competitors, with the final public poll concluding at noon this Saturday. Two incredible student-athletes from Vero Beach High School have notably made the prestigious nominee list:
- Ella Gravlee (Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Vero Beach): As a junior and University of Florida commit, Gravlee dominated the courts as the most dynamic volleyball player on the Treasure Coast. She racked up 453 kills—ranking second in the area and producing nearly quadruple the amount of her closest teammate—while maintaining a stellar .323 hitting percentage. Gravlee also recorded a team-best 41 aces, 229 digs, and 340 serve receptions. In beach volleyball, she earned All-Area honors after dropping only a single match all season alongside her partner Kaylee Maikranz.
- Taylor-Nicole Overton (Track and Field, Vero Beach): A repeat Athlete of the Year, this junior secured back-to-back Class 4A state championships in the 400-meter run. Overton set a personal record of 52.82 seconds, finishing more than a full second ahead of her closest competition. She swept the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events at both districts and regionals before claiming fourth and second place at the state level in the 100 and 200, respectively. Overton has officially committed to run collegiately at the University of Tennessee.
Beyond Indian River County, the broader Treasure Coast produced remarkable state-level contenders across multiple disciplines who are also up for the top honor. The remaining elite nominees include:
- Caitlin Bohrer (Wrestling, Fort Pierce Central): The junior grappler finished with a 36-6 record and earned runner-up honors in the 120-pound weight class at the FHSAA girls state championships in Kissimmee. Her performance ensured the Cobras secured their fourth consecutive top-two state finish.
- Emerson Brinn (Cross Country/Track and Field, South Fork): Before heading to Division I Delaware, this senior captured her second cross country Runner of the Year title. She placed an area-best 17th at the Class 3A state championships, seventh in the 1,600-meter track event, and helped her 3,200 relay team secure an eighth-place finish.
- Kate Ensor (Tennis, South Fork): Earning her second Player of the Year nod in three years, the junior marched to the Class 3A state singles semifinals. She boasted a pristine 12-0 regular-season singles record and finished the year at 21-3 overall.
- Calien Jones (Soccer, South Fork): This dynamic junior forward shattered a decade-old program record by amassing 57 goals and 20 assists. Averaging nearly
