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Grand Oaks Volleyball's Jaela Auguste
STAR POWER: Auguste, Carlton, Minor carry banner for VYPE's Top 50 Females of 2023-24
So, how do we rank these elite athletes?
It's a tough criterium but VYPE combines performance on a local and state level, success in multiple sports, recruiting and college commitments, level of competition and what they meant to their respective programs.
Jaela Auguste of Grand Oaks was sensational over her career. The volleyball star led Grand Oaks to a State Championship last fall in dominant fashion. She's a generational talent headed to the University of Florida. But don't forget, she is the first Grizzly to medal in State Track and Field. As a sophomore, she earned silver in the high jump at State.
Seven Lakes' Justice CarltonBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Seven Lakes' Justice Carlton has an amazing story. She burst onto the scene as a freshman and was the next big thing on the hardwood. Carlton, however, suffered an ACL injury last summer, came back and was the MVP of the district. The University of Texas-signee was also named as a McDonald's All-American and played in front of the home crowd at the Toyota Center.
FBCA's Bayleigh Minor is a beast and she's only getting better. The junior is the biggest name in TAPPS track and field, having led the Eagles to three straight State Titles. Did you know she might even be a better volleyball player? Minor is crazy-athletic on the court and was a TAPPS all-state selection. She helped FBCA win a TAPPS State Volleyball title two years ago.
This list was so tough to rank because of the tremendous talent across all sports, but here are you Top 50 Females Stars of 2023-24.
Bayleigh Minor -- FBCA Track & Volleyball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
VYPE’S TOP 50 FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
No. 1 Jaela Auguste, Grand Oaks (Volleyball)
No. 2 Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Basketball)
No. 3 Bayleigh Minor, FBCA (Track, Volleyball)
No. 4 Ella McDowell, Foster (Softball)
No. 5 Mercy Freeman, Rosehill Christian School (Basketball, Volleyball, Track)
No. 6 Maddie Peters, Pearland (Cross Country, Track)
No. 7 Halle Thompson, Grand Oaks (Volleyball)
No. 8 Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Basketball)
No. 9 Lillian Harden, Bridgeland (Track)
No. 10 Zachara Perkins, Summer Creek (Basketball)
No. 11 Kassie O’Brien, Cinco Ranch (Volleyball)
No. 12 Cameryn Harrison, Katy (Softball)
No. 13 Rylee Ferranti, Klein Oak (Wrestling)
No. 14 Hailey Nutter, Barbers Hill (Softball)
No. 15 Bella Flores, Kingwood (Golf)
No. 16 Wagoner Towsen, Seven Lakes (Soccer)
No. 17 Ashtyn Lewis, Iowa Colony (Track and Field)
No. 18 Bailey Warren, Fulshear (Volleyball)
No. 19 KK LeBlanc, Friendswood (Swimming)
No. 20 Ayla McDowell, Cypress Springs (Basketball)
No. 21 Mackenzie Collins, Shadow Creek (Volleyball, Track)
No. 22 Madeline Buckley, Magnolia West (Golf)
No. 23 Peyton Fadal, Barbers Hill (Volleyball)
No. 24 Peyton Tanner, Brazoswood (Softball)
No. 25 Avery Beckman, Friendswood (Wrestling)
No. 26 Sarah Fedoruk, Frassatti Catholic (Swimming)
No. 27 Madison Lambert, Katy Jordan (Soccer)
No. 28 Morgan Madison, Episcopal (Cross Country, Track)
No. 29 Celeste Robinson, Cypress Ranch (Track and Field)
No. 30 Shun’teria Anumele, FB Austin (Basketball)
No. 31 Ahona Chowdhury, The Woodlands (Tennis)
No. 32 Jaycee Jenkins, Rosehill Christian (Golf)
No. 33 Nadi’ya Shelby, Friendswood (Volleyball)
No. 34 Livy Sauvageau, Second Baptist School (Basketball)
No. 35 Sohana Spencer, Summer Creek (Soccer)
No. 36 Alyssa Jones, Fulshear (Track and Field)
No. 37 Okeke Ogechi, Hightower (Basketball)
No. 38 Kirra Musgrove, Lutheran South (Volleyball)
No. 39 Sydney Jackson, Bridgeland (Softball)
No. 40 Riley Rayome, The Woodlands (Wrestling)
No. 41 Samara Coleman, Grand Oaks (Volleyball)
No. 42 Zoe Nordmann, The Woodlands (Swimming)
No. 43 Michelle Li, Memorial (Tennis)
No. 44 Alice Volpe, Bridgeland (Volleyball)
No. 45 Allie Williams, Episcopal (Softball)
No. 46 Brianna Carrigan, Tomball Memorial (Soccer)
No. 47 Staucie Lees, Grand Oaks (Cross Country)
No. 48 Emrie Holt, Episcopal (Basketball)
No. 49 Brianna Rivers, Summer Creek (Track and Field)
No. 50 Sarah Chappelle, TWCA (Track and Field)
...
HONORABLE MENTION:
Anna Blaine, Concordia Lutheran (Volleyball)
Jamison Louie, FBCA (Golf)
Blake Olivier, Episcopal (Soccer)
Kaleigh Frazier, Rosehill Christian (Track and Field)
Lauren Fincher, Friendswood (Soccer)
Lauryn Soeken, Katy (Softball)
Janiya Murphy, Summer Creek (Basketball)
Anahi Alvarado, Tomball Memorial (Volleyball)
Felicity Hamilton, Klein Cain (Cross Country, Track)
Kennedy Hill, Heights (Softball)
Adele Neuhaus, Concordia Lutheran (Volleyball, Basketball, Track)
Kailey Kennedy, Friendswood (Swimming)
Alisa Sneed, Conroe (Softball)
Chloe Morgan, Barbers Hill (Volleyball)
Ella Lee, Concordia Lutheran (Swimming)
Addy Sheppard, Kingwood (Softball)
Janey Leiker, Legacy Prep (Swimming)
Ella Morgan, Clear Lake (Soccer)
Audrey Terry, Grand Oaks (Volleyball)
Nicole Santos, Cypress Christian (Track and Field)
Gabriella Martinez, Cinco Ranch (Volleyball)
Kira Whitman, FBCA (Soccer)
Katy's London Jackson-Bray accepts her gold medal at the Region III-6A Meet
FAT BOY’S PIZZA Player of the Month: All smiles for Katy’s Jackson-Bray as she makes her State Meet debut
After narrowly missing out on the UIL State Meet a year ago, Jackson-Bray made a statement in last week’s Region III-6A Meet.
Not only did she take gold in the Girls 100m Dash (11.44 s), but she took that a step further by placing second in the 200m Dash (23.72 s), which ultimately punched her ticket to Austin.
“It feels incredible,” she said. “Sometimes I can’t believe how far I’ve come in the last year. I’ve been so blessed in my time with the team and coaches.
I think what might set me apart from others is that I find fun in the competition. It’s not like a job for me since I just want to go out there and enjoy myself. It’s a sport, and sports are meant to be fun, so I don’t take it too seriously. At the end of the day, I want to leave with a smile on my face.”
Photo provided by London Jackson-Bray
There have been plenty of smiles to be had for the Katy program in recent weeks, and not just for Jackson-Bray.
She will be joined by fellow qualifiers, Elizabeth Brooks (800m), Adam Carter (Shot Put), and Tyler Willis (Shot Put), when the team travels to Mike A. Myers Stadium in May.
It’s not just her teammates that inspire the Katy speedster, either. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Both of my parents ran track at the University of Houston,” said Jackson-Bray. “Plus, my sister ran all four years of high school, so it’s always been in my family. I originally played volleyball and didn’t start competing in track until seventh grade.
While that might be a little overwhelming to live up to for some people, I see it as more of an inspiration. My parents never pushed me into the sport. It was something I found by myself, and they’ve obviously been very supportive of me and my journey.”
Jackson-Bray continues to play volleyball to this day, for both Katy High and her club team, Katy United.
While being a multi-sport athlete can be time consuming, it’s certainly benefited this Katy junior.
Photo provided by London Jackson-Bray
“I feel like the training I’m not able to get out of track, I’m able to get in volleyball,” she said. “I’m able to increase my experience in the sense of jumping, being explosive, and improving my reaction time with everything.
I love volleyball, but I think track is what I’m leaning to more in college. I do have a few offers as of right now, so I feel like that’s the route I’m meant to take when I graduate.”
When she’s not going on a shopping spree at Lululemon with her friends or watching her go-to show Grey’s Anatomy in the coming years, Jackson-Bray intends to pursue a career in dermatology once she reaches the collegiate level.
Although, she’s now preparing to contend for a state title.
With another year left in her high school career, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Jackson-Bray is on the path towards an exceptional future.
It all begins at the starting line.