CHEYENNE EAST HS

CHEYENNE, WYOMING

SENIOR

Height: 5-FOOT-8

In its 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Rylee Stephenson of Cheyenne East High School is the 2024-25 Gatorade Wyoming Softball Player of the Year. Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

The award distinguishes Stephenson as Wyoming's best high school softball player, and she joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Springs High School, Texas), Rachel Garcia (2014-15 & 2012-13, Highland High School, Calif.), Ava Brown (2022-23, Lake Creek High School, Texas) and Addisen Fisher (2023-24, Bend High School, Oregon).The 5-foot-8 senior right-handed pitcher and third baseman led the Thunderbirds (26-5) to a third-place finish at the 4A state tournament this past season. Stephenson posted a record of 13-5 in the circle and recorded one save, finishing with 158 strikeouts in 99.1 innings pitched. She also hit .539 with 66 RBI and a state-record 18 home runs, compiling a 1.750 OPS and a .618 isolated power percentage to earn South Conference Player of the Year honors.

Stephenson has volunteered locally as a youth softball instructor and as math/science tutor. She has also donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through her church youth group. “She led the state in home runs and was the best pitcher,” said Carrie Barker, head coach at Cheyenne Central High School. “She was also a really good third baseman. On top of all that, she always displayed really good sportsmanship.” Stephenson has maintained a 3.79 GPA in the classroom. She will attend the University of Wyoming beginning this fall.