AURORA | As if it was possible, the end of the volleyball season just got even better for Cherokee Trail senior Shannon Webb.
In the span of just a few weeks, the Cougars’ standout outside hitter signed a National Athletic Letter of Intent with American University, won a Class 5A state championship with her Cherokee Trail teammates, turned 18 and played in the 5A Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State Match.
The latest in the tremendous series of events came Tuesday when Webb was chosen as Gatorade’s Colorado Player of the Year for the 2015 season, becoming the first athlete since Cherokee Trail opened its doors in 2003 to win a Gatorade player of the year award in any sport.
“I’ve yet to meet a more driven and dedicated athlete,” Cherokee Trail head coach Terry Miller said in a statement. “She has grown into one of the most formidable outside hitters in the state of Colorado, and opposing coaches have to keep this in mind when preparing to play us.
“Shannon was our starting outside hitter from the moment she came to Cherokee Trail, and she’s truly become almost scary with her power and accuracy.”
On the volleyball court, Webb finished on top of Colorado players in all classifications in kills with 516 total (4.8 per set) and finished 10th in 5A in hitting (.310 percentage). She was selected to the All-Centennial League first team.
After starting on Cherokee Trail teams that went 0-6 in 5A state tournament appearances in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Webb helped the Cougars go 4-0 at this season’s state tournament and sweep Fairview to win the state championship.
Off the court, Webb had a 3.62 GPA and found time to serve as a youth volleyball instructor and as part of Cherokee Trail’s athletic leadership initiative, created and donated fleece blankets for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Webb is the first Cherokee Trail athlete to win a Gatorade player of the year award in any of the 12 sports it is given out in and she is the 27th different Aurora individual to win at least one, joining others in football, volleyball, baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls track & field and boys and girls soccer.
She is the first Aurora volleyball player to win the Gatorade volleyball award since Lauren VanOrden of Grandview in 2008. Since the award began in 1996, Smoky Hill’s Ashley Nu’u won in 2003 and the Buffaloes’ Rachel Holloway took home the honor in 2005.
Webb now becomes eligible to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel