NEW ORLEANS (June 2, 2025) – The Allstate Sugar Bowl has announced the finalists for the 2024-25 New Orleans Sports Awards. Finalists in six different categories have been selected by the New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, which has been honoring local athletes since 1957. The winners as selected by the committee will be announced in late June.
 
In addition, fans had the opportunity to visit the Allstate Sugar Bowl website to make their own selections for the best of the best in New Orleans amateur athletics. Voting closed on Friday, June 6. The fan choices will be announced at the same time as the official committee selections.
 
Following the completion of the collegiate seasons, the Sugar Bowl will announce the finalists for the Corbett Awards – the top male and female amateur athletes in the state of Louisiana – as well as the Outstanding College Coach for Louisiana. Fans will also have the opportunity to make their own selections for those honors.

New Orleans Annual Awards Finalists, 2024-25

Outstanding Girls Prep Team, New Orleans
Finalists:
Haynes Volleyball – Virginia and Marilyn Voitier played their final high school volleyball match together on the state's biggest stage and ended with a championship celebration. The sisters from Haynes Academy combined for 45 kills and were on the court together when the Yellow Jackets overcame a 12-9 deficit and scored the final six points in the fifth set to win the LHSAA Division III state final against top-seeded Hannan at the Cajundome. Haynes was far from a two-player operation as it won a state title in its first volleyball finals appearance. Skye Lewis (eight blocks), sophomore Cameron Vaughn (24 assists, 18 digs), junior libero Ella Feehan (32 digs) and senior Isabella Granados (23 assists) also came up big in the victory.

Mount Carmel Soccer – Mount Carmel captured its first soccer state title since 2021, and its eighth overall, when it recovered from a rough finish to the regular season to win multiple post-season thrillers. The Cubs went 3-4-3 overall their final 10 games leading into the playoffs and slipped to the No. 4 seed in Division I. However, they rolled to an 8-0 first-round victory over No. 29 H.L. Bourgeois and a 3-0 regional win over No. 13 Thibodaux. Mount Carmel's quarterfinal showdown with No. 12 Northshore went to overtime before Stella Junius nailed the game-winner for a 1-0 victory. The semifinals brought another overtime thriller, this time against top-seeded St. Joseph's, with Junius again connecting on the game-winner in a 2-1 triumph. In a 2-0 Division I state championship win over No. 2 C.E. Byrd, the Cubs controlled throughout, holding a 12-3 edge in shots. Junius and Lilah Grandbouche provided the points.

St. Scholastica Swimming – St. Scholastica's swimming dominance continued as the Doves won their 14th straight Division II team title at the LHSAA state swim meet. The Doves won with a balanced effort as SSA took first with 365 points, 91 points ahead of second-place Ruston. Senior Gabby Hall and junior Emma Mae Smith were both double event winners. Hall, a Colorado State signee, won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke in her final high school meet. Smith placed first in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Hall and Smith were also key parts of the first-place 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relays. Hall swam the opening leg, and Smith was the anchor of both events. Sophomore Amelia Smith finished third in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle. Senior Sofia Kobrock was fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

Slidell Volleyball – Slidell lived up to its top-seeded billing and won the LHSAA Division I volleyball state championship. Against four-time reigning state champion Dominican, Slidell won the first two sets and overcame a third-set defeat to secure its first LHSAA volleyball state championship since 1997. It also snapped a 10-year run of Catholic League state championship dominance that included six titles by Mount Carmel. Senior Demoni Lewis (nine blocks) and junior Addyson Dowell combined for 27 kills with Dowell earning the outstanding player award. Other contributors included junior setter Ava Labat with 45 assists and senior Regan Robinson and junior Isabella Spelling with strong defensive performances on the back row.
 

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Outstanding Boys Prep Team, New Orleans
Finalists:
Archbishop Hannan Basketball – Hannan won its second state title in four years as the second-seeded Hawks won a defensive slugfest over top-seeded Shaw, 59-55, to earn the LHSAA Division II select championship. Senior Drew Timmons was the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship after scoring 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Hannan (23-6) led by 15 points in the third quarter but Shaw rallied to knot the score entering the fourth quarter. The lead changed four times in the fourth quarter until junior Bryce Daniels scored the basket that put Hannan ahead for good at 49-48. Daniels scored five points – all in the fourth – and had nine rebounds and three assists. The 6-6 Timmons, a Navy signee, scored the final two baskets for Hannan, including a three-point play with 54.4 seconds remaining that made the score 56-50. The Hawks defeated No. 3 Peabody, 31-29, in the semifinals after stopping No. 10 Vandebilt Catholic, 59-52 in the quarterfinals. But that road to the championship was challenging as the Hawks knocked off Kennedy, eventual Division I nonselect champion Zachary and Walker before rolling to the District 7-4A title.

Archbishop Shaw Football – Shaw earned its first state championship since 1987 (and just its second overall) as the top-seeded Eagles scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to defeat E.D. White, 28-25, for the LHSAA Division II Select championship. Shaw didn't hold a lead in the game until a long touchdown run by Jasper Parker and a touchdown reception by Jacob Washington put it on top 28-17. The Eagles had a pair of tough battles earlier in the state playoffs as well, topping No. 8 John F. Kennedy, 21-14, in the quarterfinals, and edging No. 5 Madison Prep, 35-28, in the semifinals.

Edna Karr Football – The Cougars wrapped up an undefeated season with a dominating performance in the LHSAA Division I Select Playoffs as they won their four games by a combined score of 172-47. The state championship victory over second-seeded Alexandria, who also came in undefeated, was the most impressive of all as Karr jumped to a lightning fast 14-0 advantage and continued to roll – the final 10:42 of the game was played with running time as mandated by LHSAA rules when one team gains a 42-point advantage. Quarterback John Johnson was exceptional in the victory as he accounted for 358 of his team's 512 yards and five of the offense's six touchdowns with his running and passing. Alexandria managed only 194 yards of offense and 13 first downs compared to Karr's totals of 24 firsts and 512 yards.

St. Augustine Basketball – The fourth-seeded Purple Knights kept No. 3 St. Thomas More from scoring in the third quarter and widened the lead in the fourth on the way to a 45-35 victory in the LHSAA Division I select state final at Burton Coliseum. Outstanding player selection Jakobe Shepeard had 10 points and seven rebounds. He forced a key turnover late in the fourth quarter and blocked a shot with just less than a minute remaining. In the semifinals, the Purple Knights trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but rallied to upend top seed and reigning state champion Liberty, 43-41. St. Aug shut down No. 5 Alexandria in a 57-43 quarterfinal win.
 

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Outstanding Girls Prep Coach, New Orleans
Finalists:
Doug Freese (Isidore Newman Soccer) – The Newman girls' soccer program has won 15 state championships, more than any school in any division, boys or girls. In this year's Division IV state championship, the second-seeded Greenies took their dominance a step further, posting a 7-0 victory over top-seeded Loyola Prep, for their third straight Division IV title. The margin of victory was the largest in a state championship dating back to at least the 1980s. Sarah Gibbs Smallpage scored the only goal of the first-half, then the flood gates opened as six other Greenies added second-half goals in the rout.
 
Ashley Miller (Haynes Volleyball) – Virginia and Marilyn Voitier played their final high school volleyball match together on the state's biggest stage and ended with a championship celebration. The sisters from Haynes Academy combined for 45 kills and were on the court together when the Yellow Jackets overcame a 12-9 deficit and scored the final six points in the fifth set to win the LHSAA Division III state final against top-seeded Hannan at the Cajundome. Haynes was far from a two-player operation as it won a state title in its first volleyball finals appearance. Skye Lewis (eight blocks), sophomore Cameron Vaughn (24 assists, 18 digs), junior libero Ella Feehan (32 digs) and senior Isabella Granados (23 assists) also came up big in the victory.
 
Danny Tullis (Slidell Volleyball) – Slidell lived up to its top-seeded billing and won the LHSAA Division I volleyball state championship. Against four-time reigning state champion Dominican, Slidell won the first two sets and overcame a third-set defeat to secure its first LHSAA volleyball state championship since 1997. It also snapped a 10-year run of Catholic League state championship dominance that included six titles by Mount Carmel. Senior Demoni Lewis (nine blocks) and junior Addyson Dowell combined for 27 kills with Dowell earning the outstanding player award. Other contributors included junior setter Ava Labat with 45 assists and senior Regan Robinson and junior Isabella Spelling with strong defensive performances on the back row.
 
Courtney Ward (Sacred Heart Basketball) – Ward, the third-year coach of the Sacred Heart girls basketball team, did something that many people in New Orleans thought impossible: leading the Cardinals to the state championship game. Ward set her plan in motion by entering her team in summer league competition for the first time, adding a rigid strength and conditioning program, and beefing up the schedule. While Sacred Heart didn't win many games against larger-enrollment schools, they battled hard in those contests. The result was a No. 2 playoff seed and a win over Holy Savior Menard in the LHSAA Division III quarterfinals for the Cardinals' first-ever semifinal appearance. Their magical run continued as they knocked off No. 3 Rosepine in the state semifinals, 43-40, to reach the championship game. Despite losing in the state championship game, it was a memorable season for the Cardinals.
 

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Outstanding Boys Prep Coach, New Orleans
Finalists:
Brice Brown (Edna Karr Football) – Edna Karr wrapped up an undefeated season with a dominating performance in the LHSAA Division I Select Playoffs as they won their four games by a combined score of 172-47. The state championship victory over second-seeded Alexandria, who also came in undefeated, was the most impressive of all as Karr jumped to a lightning fast 14-0 advantage and continued to roll – the final 10:42 of the game was played with running time as mandated by LHSAA rules when one team gains a 42-point advantage. Quarterback John Johnson was exceptional in the victory as he accounted for 358 of his team's 512 yards and five of the offense's six touchdowns with his running and passing. Alexandria, the undefeated District 2-5A champions, coming from a league that featured reigning Division I non-select state champion Ruston and highly-regarded Neville, managed only 194 yards of offense and 13 first downs compared to Karr's totals of 24 firsts and 512 yards.
 
Errol Gauff (Archbishop Hannan Basketball) – Hannan won its second state title in four years as the second-seeded Hawks won a defensive slugfest over top-seeded Shaw, 59-55, to earn the LHSAA Division II select championship. Senior Drew Timmons was the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship after scoring 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Hannan (23-6) led by 15 points in the third quarter but Shaw rallied to knot the score entering the fourth quarter. The lead changed four times in the fourth quarter until junior Bryce Daniels scored the basket that put Hannan ahead for good at 49-48. Daniels scored five points – all in the fourth – and had nine rebounds and three assists. The 6-6 Timmons, a Navy signee, scored the final two baskets for Hannan, including a three-point play with 54.4 seconds remaining that made the score 56-50. The Hawks defeated No. 3 Peabody, 31-29, in the semifinals after stopping No. 10 Vandebilt Catholic, 59-52 in the quarterfinals.
 
Wade Mason (St. Augustine Basketball) – The fourth-seeded Purple Knights kept No. 3 St. Thomas More from scoring in the third quarter and widened the lead in the fourth on the way to a 45-35 victory in the LHSAA Division I select state final at Burton Coliseum. Outstanding player selection Jakobe Shepeard had 10 points and seven rebounds. He forced a key turnover late in the fourth quarter and blocked a shot with just less than a minute remaining. In the semifinals, the Purple Knights trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but rallied to upend top seed and reigning state champion Liberty, 43-41. St. Aug shut down No. 5 Alexandria in a 57-43 quarterfinal win. Mason was in his first year coaching the Purple Knights.
 
Hank Tierney (Archbishop Shaw Football) – Tierney directed to a 49-14 regional blowout over No. 16 Loranger on Nov. 22, then won a hard-fought battle with No. 8 John F. Kennedy in the quarterfinals. In the state semifinals, senior quarterback Mason Wilson led four scoring drives and the Eagles held off a late rally by Madison Prep to improve to 11-2 and punch a ticket to the state championship game for the first time since 2008. In the LHSAA Division II Select championship against third-seeded E.D. White, the top-seeded Eagles scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to post a 28-25 victory for their first state championship since 1987 (when Tierney was the 36-year-old head coach). Shaw didn't hold a lead in the game until a long touchdown run by Parker and a touchdown reception by Jacob Washington put it on top 28-17.
 

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Outstanding Female Athlete, New Orleans
Finalists:
My-Anh Holmes (Willow Tennis) – Holmes dominated her competition in the LHSAA Division II state tennis championship bracket. The senior dropped just three games in five matches as she blazed her way to her fourth straight state championship. Holmes posted 6-0, 6-0 wins in the first three rounds of the state tournament before dropping a game to Ben Franklin's Mallory Kymes in the semifinals. Her championship match came against a familiar opponent – her younger sister My-Linh, also of Willow. In a rematch of last year's state final, the elder Holmes prevailed, 6-2, 6-0 (last year's result was 6-1, 6-0).
 
Stella Junius (Mount Carmel Soccer/Cross Country/Track & Field) – The team captain scored 18 goals and dished out 10 assists during the Cubs championship run to a Division I state championship. The junior netted her goals in pivotal moments – she had the go-ahead goals in the district championship match against Dominican and in the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches. Junius' goal in the 22nd minute against No. 2 C.E. Byrd in the Division I title match earned her the Most Outstanding Player Award in the Cubs 2-0 win. In cross country, Junius posted a time of 18:48.3 to place fifth overall in the LHSAA Division I state championship, leading the Cubs to a second-place finish. At the LHSAA Class 5A outdoor track and field championships, Junius notched a pair of third-place finishes (1,600- and 3,200-meter runs) to spark Mount Carmel to a fifth-place finish as a team.
 
Sierra Sacco (Mississippi State Softball) – Sacco, a graduate of John Curtis Christian School, became the sixth individual in program history to earn First-Team All-America honors as she was honored by both the NFCA and Softball America (she was also Second Team by D1 Softball to earn consensus recognition). A First Team All-SEC selection, the Bulldogs' leadoff hitter was one of the 12 players drafted to play professionally this summer. In her final collegiate season, she posted a .450 average that ranked fourth in program history and 14th nationally. Her 1.286 OPS ranks sixth in MSU single-season history and she finished the year second all-time for runs (64) and third for doubles (19) in a season. Sacco finished her season among the top 20 nationally in doubles (10th), hits (12th), runs (16th) and batting average.
 
Luci Schroeder (Xavier Soccer) – Schroeder was selected as the top women's soccer player in Louisiana for the second straight year, just the third person in the 29 years of the award to win it twice. A senior midfielder from Samtens, Germany, Schroeder had 14 goals and 17 assists in 21 games. She led the Red River Athletic Conference in assists and points (45), and she tied for fifth in goals. Her slew of 2024 honors included CSC NAIA Academic All-America first team as well as NAIA All-America Third Team recognition (the first two-time All-American in the RRAC's 27-year soccer history). She keyed the Gold Nuggets' run to the NAIA National Tournament – the only Louisiana school to win a national postseason soccer match. The team finished the year 14-6-2. Including 10-2-1 in the RRAC.
 
Leah Varisco (Sacred Heart Cross Country/Track/Basketball/Soccer) – Varisco keyed four different Sacred Heart teams to at least sixth-place finishes in the state this year as a junior. In basketball, she led the Cardinals to the state championship game for the first time in school history – Scared Heart had never even reached the state quarterfinals. Varisco was the leading scorer in the quarterfinal and semifinal wins as well as in the title game loss. She was named to the Clarion Herald Elite Basketball Team. In soccer, Varisco was a key player in a run to the state semifinals in Division III (keep in mind soccer and basketball are both winter sports). In the fall, the junior recorded a time of 19:28.4 to earn fourth place at the LHSAA Division II Cross Country Championships to help her team to fourth place as well. She also helped Sacred Heart to sixth place at the Class 3A Outdoor Track Championships with a third-place effort in the 3,200-meter run and a fourth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, as well as anchoring the school's fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay.
 

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Outstanding Male Athlete, New Orleans
Finalists:
Kade Anderson (LSU Baseball) – Anderson, a St. Paul's School graduate, was named a semifinalist (one of 25) for the Golden Spikes Award, which is presented to the top amateur baseball player in the nation, as well as being selected First-Team All-SEC. He has been critical in keying LSU's run to the No. 6 national seed entering the NCAA Regionals. For the year, the southpaw has a 9-1 record with a 3.28 ERA and 156 strikeouts (No. 1 in the nation, as of 6/1) in 96 innings (tops in the SEC). Opponents are hitting just .216 against him and he has walked just 26 batters. Anderson was voted SEC Pitcher of the Week after fired a complete-game shutout on April 3 in LSU's 2-0 win over No. 9 Oklahoma. He limited the Sooners to five hits in 9.0 innings while recording two walks and a career-best 14 strikeouts. In his NCAA Regional appearance against Dallas Baptist (5/31), he tossed seven innings of four-hit, shutout ball while striking out 11 to key the Tigers' victory.
 
Harlem Berry (St. Martin's Episcopal Football) – St. Martin's senior running back Harlem Berry showed even more of his all-around football skills during his prolific senior season. Already a standout ball carrier, the Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year capped his high school career by showing off his pass catching ability and his ability to make big plays on defense. Berry ran for 2,000 yards in all four of his high school seasons, including 2,178 yards and 41 touchdowns rushing as a senior. Additionally, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound Berry caught 20 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns. On special teams, he returned one kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. And on defense as an outside linebacker, Berry had 26 total tackles, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups. All enough for the Times-Picayune to select Berry as the small schools' all-metro offensive player of the year for the 2024 season.
 
Bryce Calloway (UNO Baseball) – Calloway earned First-Team All-Southland honors as a utility player this season. He led the Privateers in nearly all offensive categories, including batting average (.390, leads the SLC as of 5/27, 10th best all-time at UNO), slugging percentage (.722, leads the SLC, third best at UNO), on-base percentage (.484, No. 2 in SLC), hits (80, third in SLC), homers (18, leads the SLC, fifth most ever at UNO), RBI (63, first in SLC), and runs scored (63, second in SLC). He has also made 20 appearances on the mound out of the bullpen, posting a 2-2 record with 11 saves (No. 1 in the SLC, fourth most ever at UNO) and 23 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. In the first three games of the Southland Conference Tournament, he hit .583 (7-for-12) with four home runs, six runs scored, and seven RBI. He also earned saves in all three of the Privateers victories to lift them to the championship series from the No. 8 seed.
 
John Johnson (Edna Karr Football) – Edna Karr senior John Johnson threw for more than 3,300 yards and 34 touchdowns as he helped the Cougars win the Division I select state championship. But what he did with his legs put him over the top. Already a prolific passer for much of the regular season, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Johnson made several big plays by running with the football during the postseason, including the state final. Beginning with a state quarterfinal win against St. Thomas More, Johnson rushed for seven touchdowns in the final three postseason games. In the state final, he ran 19 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson completed the season with 4,301 total yards and was responsible for 50 touchdowns, including 903 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing.
 
Drew Timmons (Archbishop Hannan Basketball) – The 6-foot-6 Timmons led Hannan to its second LHSAA state championship in four years and was the LSWA Mr. Basketball for Louisiana as well as the Times-Picayune All-Metro boys basketball player of the year for the 2024-25 season. He finished his prep basketball career with 2,910 points and 1,491 rebounds as a five-year starter. As a senior, he averaged 21.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game and capped his season with 22 points and four rebounds in a 59-55 win over Shaw in the Division II select championship game where he also claimed Most Outstanding Player honors. The Hawks finished with a 26-7 record, including an 11-game winning streak on route to the title. Timmons took over in the playoffs, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in a quarterfinal win over Vandebilt Catholic before recording eight points with 11 rebounds in an intense defensive battle during a 31-29 semifinals win over traditional power and defending champion Peabody.
 

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The New Orleans Sports Awards Committee came together when James Collins spearheaded a group of sports journalists to form a sports awards committee to immortalize local sports history. For 13 years, the committee honored local athletes each month and a variety of annual award winners. In 1970, the Sugar Bowl stepped in to sponsor and revitalize the committee, leading to the creation of the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, honoring 10 legends from the Crescent City in its first induction class. While adding the responsibility of selecting Hall of Famers, the committee has continued to recognize the top athlete in the Greater New Orleans area each month as well as a range of annual awards – the honors enter their 69th year in 2025.
 
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 110 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. The 92nd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2026. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade.