These girls left it all out on their respective fields this year with incredible seasons. Here are the nominees for Female Athlete of the Year. This award is sponsored by Fair Oaks Lincoln.
Emma Briggs- Benet Academy
Benet Senior Emma Briggs came up big in a trio of sports. Playing quarterback, Briggs helped the first-year flag football program to a 10-4 record on the gridiron. On the hardwood, she earned First Team All-State honors for the regional champions. And in track and field, she capped off her year with a sectional title in the shot put and second place in discus. Briggs was the go-to player for Redwing basketball all season long, scoring the go-ahead bucket in the final minute in a sectional semifinal win over Bolingbrook.
Trinity Jones- Naperville Central
The next name on the list needs no introduction: Trinity Jones from Naperville Central. The Redhawk senior broke Candace Parker’s single-game scoring record with 44 points. She averaged over 27 points and eight rebounds on the season. And her confidence on the court earned her a spot on the First Team All-State. Her efforts leading Central to the DVC Championship and a regional title helped Jones join Candace Parker as the second Redhawk to be named Ms. Illinois Basketball.
Danyella Mporokoso- Waubonsie Valley
The outstanding senior class continues with Waubonsie Valley basketball star Danyella Mporokoso. She set a new Waubonsie career scoring record with 2,979 points, putting her just outside the top 10 in IHSA history. Mporokoso was named the DVC Player of the Year and a First Team All-State selection. To cap things off, she was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. Despite all the individual accolades, her favorite achievement came when she and her talented Warrior teammates like Arie Garcia, Maya Perada, Syncere Williams, and Elliana Morris took home a third straight sectional championship plaque with wins over Naperville Central and Benet.
Emerson Burke- Naperville Central
Up next is Naperville Central soccer star Emerson Burke. After a dazzling junior campaign, she was named the IHSCCA Player of the Year. She helped her team to a program-best 21 wins and was also selected All-State. That led to the first state appearance for Naperville Central girls’ soccer since 1995. Burke’s name is now on top of the Central record books, after shattering the previous single-season record of 25, by pouring in 40 goals for the Redhawks this spring. She is also the program’s single-season points leader with 97. With 53 goals and 42 assists over three varsity seasons, Burke will graduate early in the winter and play collegiately at the University of Michigan.
Erin Hackett- Naperville Central
Three-sport athlete Erin Hackett is our final Female Athlete nominee. After helping the Redhawk girls golf team in the fall, Hackett was named to the All-State Second Team for basketball in the winter, averaging over 20 points per game. In her final season, the Redhawk basketball team won the DVC and a regional championship. In the spring, Hackett racked up 17 shutouts for the girls’ soccer season, earning All-State honors once again. With Hackett in net, Central made it to the state title game for the first time in over 30 years, finishing as the IHSA 3A runner-up. Hackett joined elite company in late February, when she moved into second place on the Naperville Central all-time points list with 2,048, only behind Hall of Famer Candace Parker. She will be playing basketball collegiately at Carthage next year.
Trinity Jones wraps up a historic career with another accolade
The Female Athlete of the Year is…Trinity Jones from Naperville Central girls basketball! Ever since she took home the Newcomer of the Year award as a freshman, it was clear that the Redhawk was destined for big things.
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