
12 Rising Stars: Gatorade's 2025–26 National Players of the Year
The piece profiles 12 high school athletes named Gatorade 2025–26 National Players of the Year across football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and track. It highlights their on‑field dominance, leadership and community impact, with standout stories such as Jackson Cantwell’s transition to college football as a 6'8", 330‑pound offensive lineman; Sophee Peterson’s record-setting volleyball career; Maddie DiMaria’s sensational sophomore‑to‑senior rise in girls soccer; and Melanie Doggett and Zacchaeus Brocks breaking fresh ground in track, illustrating why these players are poised for elite college programs and potential pro careers.
