Three local high school girls basketball players were selected as recipients of the 2023-2024 E. Wayne Cooley “YOU CAN” Awards, after being nominated by their coaches.

Pella senior Aaliyah Riddick was nominated by head coach Blaine Forsythe, who cited her resiliency in everything that she does and her hard work on a daily basis. In the nomination, Forsythe said that Riddick leads by example, brings out the best in her teammates, and is committed to doing what is best for the team. Forsythe added that she took a huge step forward in her final season for the Dutch and left a mark on the basketball program.

Pella Christian senior Amelia Boender was nominated by first-year head coach Brendan Foughty, who stated that she had been a great teammate for the past four years. Foughty cited Boender’s positive impact on the Eagles, despite not seeing much playing time this season, and her dedication in practice to prepare the team for the tough defensive pressure they faced in the Little Hawkeye Conference. Despite a knee injury cutting her final season short, Foughty commented that Boender’s character was on full display as she did whatever the team needed on a day-to-day basis. Foughty concluded his nomination by stating that Boender’s contributions can largely be attributed to the positive team culture built throughout the season.

The final area athlete selected for a “YOU CAN” award was Norwalk senior Anna Larson, who was nominated by first-year head coach Joe Sigrist. In his nomination, Sigrist credited his lone senior’s leadership as a big reason the squad improved on last season’s 6-16 record to 18-5 this year. Sigrist said that after coming back from a torn ACL in the later third of her junior season, Larson showed tremendous work ethic and passion to return to the court. Sigrist also stated that Larson sets a great example of how a leader and captain acts for a successful team and that he appreciated everything that she brought to the Warriors program over the course of her high school career.