WINTER SPORTS AWARDS: Leadership sets Hobbs apart
Mariah Hobbs’ athleticism, field vision and distribution are “everything you could ask for in a midfielder,” Bishop Gorman girls soccer coach Lora Feely said.
But it wasn’t only Hobbs’ skill set that enabled her to shine as a four-year starter for the Gaels.
“She’s always been a leader,” Feely said. “When you have someone of that caliber in that captain’s role, it starts to bring the whole team to that level.”
Hobbs has been named the Review-Journal’s Class 4A Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
The San Diego signee led Southern Nevada in goals (33) and was second in assists (18) this season, leading the Gaels to an 18-2 record and their second straight Sunset Region final.
Gorman was 37-0-1 in Southwest League play during Hobbs’ final three seasons.
“Each year, we’ve had a stronger team,” Hobbs said. “It’s been really nice to be on a team where everyone gets along; it’s a family.”
Hobbs said she improved after switching from the perimeter to center midfielder before her junior season.
“I definitely think that I improved during my junior year, probably scoring and offensively,” she said.
Hobbs, Gorman’s co-valedictorian, plans to prepare for San Diego by working on her attacking this summer. The Toreros have been to the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “They’re a top-25 school. I want to go to the NCAA Tournament.”
Though Feely said Hobbs will be tough to replace, she hopes her leadership will pay dividends with a young roster that featured only four seniors last season.
“Hopefully she’s gotten the younger players ready to step into her shoes, even though they’re pretty big shoes to fill,” Feely said.
Here are the Review-Journal’s other winter Athletes of the Year:
BOYS BASKETBALL
4A — Mitrell Clark, Eldorado. A senior guard, Clark scored 119 points in four postseason games in leading the Sundevils to the state semifinals.
3A/2A/1A — Landon Littlefield, Lake Mead. A junior guard, Littlefield led the Eagles to their second straight Class 1A state title. He scored 24 points in the state final and 22 in the Southern League tournament final.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
4A — Johnna Brown, Centennial. Brown, a versatile senior, averaged 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists in leading the Bulldogs to the state championship.
3A/2A/1A — Caiti Forrester, Boulder City. The senior forward averaged 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 blocks, leading the Eagles to their second Class 3A state tournament berth this decade.
BOYS BOWLING
4A — Ted Cipriaso, Green Valley. Cipriaso achieved one of the sport’s most coveted feats, rolling a perfect game.
GIRLS BOWLING
4A — Hannah Chipman, Bonanza. Chipman had the highest girls series for the season and also rolled the high series in the championship match in leading the Bengals to the state title.
WRESTLING
4A — Britain Longmire, Cimarron-Memorial. A senior 119-pounder, Longmire won his third consecutive individual state championship and helped the Spartans to the team title.
3A/2A — Allen Haines, Boulder City. A junior 130-pounder, Haines won the Class 3A state title, winning his three state tournament matches by pin in one minute, 1:24 and 1:19.
