ESPN RISE

BOYS' TEAM OF THE YEAR

EAST ST. LOUIS
Football
The Flyers stormed to the Illinois Class 7A state championship and made it look easy. East St. Louis lost its season-opening game to Huber Heights (Huber Heights, Ohio), then won the next 13 behind an unstoppable offense powered by senior receivers Terry Hawthorne and Kraig Appleton. They combined for 1,666 yards and 29 touchdown catches, while junior quarterback Detchauz Wray threw 35 touchdowns and junior running back Courtney Molton rushed for 1,562 yards and 20 TDs.

OTHER FINALISTS

CHAMINADE
Basketball
Chaminade went 27-4 and won its first state title, taking home the Class 5 crown. The backcourt of senior Brandon Lockhart (conference player of the year) and sophomore Bradley Beal (23.5 ppg) was lethal.

DESMET
Soccer
A tough overtime loss in the state semis ended an otherwise brilliant season for the Spartans (18-8-1). Senior midfielder Justin Klenke and senior defender Dan Pogue were St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro first-teamers.

WHITFIELD
Wrestling
The Warriors won their second straight Class 1 team title on the strength of senior Ryan Mango, junior Conor Hovis and senior Jason Ott. Mango won state at 130 pounds, while Hovis and Ott were runners-up in their divisions.

GIRLS' TEAM OF THE YEAR

ST. JOSEPH'S
Tennis
When your team can trot out junior Katie Thome as its No. 2 singles player, you know you've got a deep lineup. Thome went 18-0 in singles matches, then switched over to doubles for the state tournament and finished runner-up with partner Angie Tracy, a senior. The Angels had junior Misia Kedzierski at No. 1, and she went 30-1 this year and won the Class 2 state singles title for the second time. Junior Madeline Jolly was also instrumental in helping St. Joseph's win its fifth straight team championship.

OTHER FINALISTS

HAZELWOOD CENTRAL
Basketball
The three-headed monster of BreAnna McLaughlin, Chantiera Johnson and Charlonda Bozeman powered the Hawks all the way to the state semifinals. The seniors combined to average 29.4 points per game.

LAFAYETTE
Swimming
It was a total team effort for the Lancers this season. Lafayette won the state title in the 400 free relay, led by juniors Jessi Holz, Samantha Wright, Shannon McCoy and Ashleigh Grammar.

PARKWAY SOUTH
Softball
The Patriots' championship quest ended with a loss in the state finals, but it was still a great season. Led by junior Amanda Geile and seniors Lori Amos and Dawn Grass, the team went 25-5.