2025 Girls' Cross Country All-GPC team

Ava Cook was selected as the second Graphic Printing Company Player of the Year for girls cross country. She follows former teammate AnnMarie Gibson, who won in the inaugural award in 2024.

“That’s something that I should be really proud of,” said Cook. “It took a lot to get there. It takes a lot of mental stuff for me. I have to really hype myself up. 

“To me, that’s an incredible achievement and it’s really exciting.”

Cook hit her stride in the second half of the season.

She was the only girl in The Graphic Printing Company’s coverage area to break the 20-minute mark this season, finishing the regional race in 19 minutes, 52.7 seconds. She finished 44th.

She said she was especially focused for that race throughout the week, paying attention not only to her training but to diet, sleep and attitude.

“I have progressed a lot ... since my freshman year, definitely a whole lot,” Cook said. “I thought I was gonna be some average, mediocre kind of runner. 

“It really has become my main sport. I really enjoy it. And I think that’s become a big part of the leap is that I’m starting to enjoy it more because I’m getting better and seeing improvements. A lot of hard work goes into that.”

Cook had a breakthrough run at the Randolph Southern Invitational on Sept. 13, beating rival Avery Thomas of Monroe Central for the first time and finishing third overall. She went on to win the Mid-Eastern Conference championship in 20:01.04 and led all area runners with a fourth-place finish in the sectional meet at Taylor University.

“The thing that makes me so proud of her is a lot of times on the girls side especially it’s the same names that are the top runners from middle school throughout high school,” said Wapahani coach Bo Stevenson. “And she’s one that was a good runner in middle school but she wasn’t necessarily elite. Same thing her freshman year. ...

“To see where she was and to see her improvement to where she is now and what she’s able to accomplish, it just says everything about her work ethic to excel at whatever she does.”

All-Graphic Printing Company first team

Forwards

Avery Thomas (Monroe Central senior) — Thomas was the Randolph County champion and Mid-Eastern Conference runner-up, finishing only behind Cook. She closed her career with 54th-place regional finish.

Makenna Huelskamp (Fort Recovery junior) — Leading the Indians, Huelskamp narrowly missed earning a state berth. She set a new career-best time of 20:03.9 at the Tour De Sewer hosted by Versailles.

Ella Taylor (Wapahani sophomore) — As the No. 2 runner for the Raiders, she finished fourth in the MEC behind Cook, Thomas and Watson. She ranked fourth in the region for both average time and best time.

Andi Watson (Monroe Central junior) — Watson started with a third-place finish in Monroe Central’s season-opening Meister Family Memorial Run. Her best time was a 20:30.10 for third in the Mid-Eastern Conference.

Ava May (Jay County sophomore) — The sophomore came through in the tournament again, pacing the Patriots with a 14th-place sectional finish. She also led Jay County to a conference title repeat.

Everly Carter (Delta sophomore) — After she was unable to run in the tournament as a freshman because of an illness, Carter placed 10th in the sectional and 70th with a career-best 20:38.6 in the regional.

Honorable mention

Abby Fifer, Sophomore, Jay County

Brooklynn Byrum, Sophomore, Jay County

Christiana Teegarden, Freshman, Union City

Haileigh Allen, Senior, Randolph Southern

Jessie Homan, Sophomore, Jay County

Kinsley Bowman, Freshman, Randolph Southern

Riley Heitkamp, Sophomore, Fort Recovery