Photos: 2015 High School Spring Athletes of the Year
Here's a look at the Star's selections for spring athletes of the year. These athletes already showed what they can do on the field, so Star photographer Mike Christy chose their own bedrooms for a backdrop, allowing some insight to the athletes away from competition.
Max Smith
2015 baseball player of the year: Max Smith, Canyon del Oro. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
2015 baseball player of the year: Max Smith, Canyon del Oro. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Copper baserunner Canyon del Oro's Max Smith slips and slides his way under the tag of Teal catcher Douglas' Francisco Romo, the first score of a six-run inning to make the score 6-3 Teal in the eighth inning during the Southern Arizona High School DII Senior All-Stars baseball game at Kino Stadium, Wednesday, May 27, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Canyon del Oro's Max Smith (9) looks back for the verdict from the ump after he was thrown out trying to stretch his third-inning double in their Division II state playoff game at Hi Corbett Field, Thursday, May 14, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Canyon del Oro's Max Smith (9) gets tagged on the helmet by Tucson third baseman Joe Marquez (6) trying to stretch a double in the third inning of their Division II state playoff game at Hi Corbett Field, Thursday, May 14, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Canyon del Oro's Max Smith (9) comes home after his lead-off homer in the top of the first against Salpointe in the Division II state quarterfinals at Amphitheater High School, Friday, May 8, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Canyon del Oro starter Max Smith (9) throws against Ironwood Ridge in the sixth inning of their state playoff game against Ironwood Ridge at Canyon del Oro High School, Tuesday, May 5, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
Canyon del Oro's Max Smith (9) sends the dirt flying as he beats a pick-off throw back to first in the sixth inning against Ironwood Ridge in their state playoff game at Canyon del Oro High School, Tuesday, May 5, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith
CDO seniors, including Max Smith at center, don their caps and gowns for a graduation they missed back home in Tucson after the state Division II baseball championship game.
Shelby Kennedy
2015 softball player of the year: Shelby Kennedy, Cienega. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
2015 softball player of the year: Shelby Kennedy, Cienega. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Softball player of the year: Shelby Kennedy, Cienega. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Cienega's Shelby Kennedy (1) darts around the tag attempt by Salpointe catcher Erika Marquez (10) to score after an overthrow to third base during the first inning of the state Division II softball championship game between Salpointe and Cienega on Monday, May 18, 2015, at Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Cienega won the state championship 9-2 over Salpointe. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Cienega's Shelby Kennedy (1) steals second ahead of the tag by Salpointe's Megan Flores (15) during the third inning of the Salpointe vs. Cienega high school state semifinal softball game on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Cherry Field in Tucson, Ariz. Cienega advanced to the state title game with a 3-1 win over the Lancers. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Cienega's Shelby Kennedy (1) slaps hands with Kayla Green (12) after Kennedy scored during the first inning of the Salpointe vs. Cienega high school state semifinal softball game on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Cherry Field in Tucson, Ariz. Cienega advanced to the state title game with a 3-1 win over the Lancers. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Cienega's Shelby Kennedy (1) slides in safe to score on a wild pitch after the throw tips off Salpointe pitcher Delfina Morales' glove during the first inning of the Salpointe vs. Cienega high school state semifinal softball game on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Cherry Field in Tucson, Ariz. Cienega advanced to the state title game with a 3-1 win over the Lancers. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Shelby Kennedy
Cienega's Shelby Kennedy (1) comes home in a cloud of dust on her three-RBI inside-the-park homer against Tucson in the fourth inning of their game at Cienega High School, Tuesday, March 31, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Nate Rasmussen
Boys tennis player of the year: Nate Rasmussen, Catalina Foothills. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nate Rasmussen
2015 boys tennis player of the year: Nate Rasmussen, Catalina Foothills. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nate Rasmussen
Boys tennis player of the year: Nate Rasmussen, Catalina Foothills. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nate Rasmussen
Boys tennis player of the year: Nate Rasmussen, Catalina Foothills. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nate Rasmussen
Catalina Foothills senior Nate Rasmussen returns a serve in the boys Division II doubles state championship on May 2, 2015. Rasmussen and fellow senior Dalton Reisig won the match 6-3, 6-2, at Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale, giving Rasmussen his second straight doubles title. Photo by Daniel Gaona / Arizona Daily Star
Caroline Amos
2015 girls tennis player of the year: Caroline Amos, Salpointe Catholic. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Caroline Amos
2015 girls tennis player of the year: Caroline Amos, Salpointe Catholic. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Caroline Amos
Salpointe's Caroline Amos smashes a backhand against Ironwood Ridge's Kelsey Brown in the singles No. 1 match of the DII state quarterfinals at Ironwood Ridge High School, Wednesday, May 6, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Amos won, 6-0, 6-1, for the Lancers' only win of the afternoon. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
2015 boys track athlete of the year: Carlos Villarreal, Rio Rio. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
Boys track athlete of the year: Carlos Villarreal, Rio Rio. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
Rio Rico's Carlos Villarreal sprints to the finish to win the Boys Division III 1600-meter run during the state track and field championships at Mesa Community College on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Photo by Ralph Freso / for the Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
Carlos Villarreal of Rio Rico High School crosses the finish line to win the boys Division III cross country sectional meet at Marana High School on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Ryan Revock / for the Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
Carlos Villarreal of Rio Rico crosses the finish line ahead of everyone else at the Rattler Invitational in the varsity boys seeded race Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014 at Marana High School where 935 runners from across the state competed in the 5K cross country races. Villarreal's time was 14.50:55 for the 5K race. Photo by Jim Davis / for the Arizona Daily Star
Carlos Villarreal
Carlos Villarreal of Rio Rico crosses the finish line ahead of everyone else at the Rattler Invitational in the varsity boys seeded race Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014 at Marana High School where 935 runners from across the state competed in the 5K cross country races. Villarreal's time was 14.50:55 for the 5K race. Photo by Jim Davis / for the Arizona Daily Star
Taylor McClelland
Girls track athlete of the year: Taylor McClelland, Sahuarita. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Taylor McClelland
2015 girls track athlete of the year: Taylor McClelland, Sahuarita. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Taylor McClelland
Girls track athlete of the year: Taylor McClelland, Sahuarita. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nick Ogden
2015 boys volleyball player of the year: Nick Ogden, Rincon/University. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nick Ogden
2015 boys volleyball player of the year: Nick Ogden, Rincon/University. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nick Ogden
Nick Ogden goes up for the ball during volleyball practice at Rincon/University High School in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Nick Ogden
Ben Anhoury, left, and Nick Ogden, right, defend a shot by Stefano DiCenso during volleyball practice at Rincon/University High School in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Max Smith, Canyon del Oro
Shelby Kennedy, Cienega
Nate Rasmussen, Catalina Foothills
Caroline Amos, Salpointe Catholic
Carlos Villarreal, Rio Rico
Taylor McClelland, Sahuarita
Nick Ogden, Rincon/University