IHSA girls basketball: What Rockford-area star made the Illinois AP all-state team

The Illinois AP all-state girls basketball team was released on Wednesday, with just one Rockford-area player on the first- or second-team list: Byron star senior forward Ava Kultgen.

Kultgen and the Byron Tigers advanced to the IHSA Class 2A girls state basketball tournament in Normal.

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One of the big reasons the Tigers are still alive is because of Kultgen, a four-year starter for Byron (33-2). The 5-foot-10 senior forward is averaging 16.2 points per game, along with 5.5 rebounds and almost two assists and two steals per outing. Her senior leadership has been key as well.

"Our seniors have been so key to what we do," Byron head coach Eric Yerly said. "And Ava has just been great the whole way."

Kultgen hasn't been worried about individual accolades all season long, though.

"This is all about one big team, not just one player," she said after Monday's super sectional victory in Elgin. "We're all so important on this team.:

Winnebago's 5-9 senior foward Campbell Schrank and Stillman Valley's 6-1 junior forward Mya Janssen earned spots on the honorable mention list for Class 2A. In 1A, Orangeville's 6-3 junior forward Whitney Sullivan and 5-7 sophomore guard Laney Cahoon both made honorable mention, in 3A Boylan's 6-2 junior center Lily Esparza made the list, and in 4A, Guilford's 6-foot senior forward Lindsey Knuth also made honorable mention.

Here is the complete AP All State lists:

CLASS 1A

First team

Name, school, (height, year, position)

• Amiah Hargrove, Christopher (6-2, Jr., F/C)

• Alayna Kraus, Okawville (5-7, Jr., SG/PG)

• Gracie Furlong, Galena (5-10, Soph., G)

• Shelby Bowman, Biggsville West Central (5-6, Jr., PG)

• Sydney Richards, Neoga (6-0, Sr., G/F)

Second team

• Sheridan Harris, Chicago Morgan Park Academy (5-8, Sr., SF)

• Addie Hefel, Galena (5-9, Jr., G)

• Lucy Fearday, Effingham St. Anthony (6-0, Sr., F/C)

• Grace Nelson, Altamont (5-9, Jr., G)

• Carly Foster, Gallatin County (5-9, Sr., G)

Honorable mention

(in order of points)

Katey Flynn, Mt. Sterling Brown County (5-10, Sr., PG) 31; Grace Bishop, Albion Edwards County (5-8, Fr., F) 20; Gracie Heckert, CowdenHerrick/Beecher City (5-10, Sr., G) 20; Sophia Hoffmann, Carlyle (5-6, Soph., G) 18; Whitney Sullivan, Orangeville (6-3, Jr., G/F) 18; Delaney Panozzo, Grant Park (6-3, Sr., PG) 14; Brook Pieper, Abingdon Avon (6-1, Sr., C) 12; Shelby Veltrop, Morrison (6-3, Sr., F/C) 12; Abby Compton, Goreville (6-0, Jr., F) 11; Alexa Jamison, Catlin Salt Fork (5-6, Soph., G) 11; Ella Boyer, Tuscola (5-5, Sr., G) 9; Ava Heinz, Brimfield (6-1, Soph., F/C) 9; Taryn Wickman, Havana (5-9, Sr., G/F) 9; Addi Fair, Gardner-South Wilmington (5-6, Jr., G) 8; Audrey Sabol, Nokomis (6-0, Sr., F) 8; Alexis Wade, Mt. Pulaski (5-8, Sr., PG) 8; Josie Armstrong, Tri-County (5-8, Jr., G) 6; Ashlynn Arnsman, Mendon Unity (6-0, Sr., F/C) 6; Jase Burkett, Woodlawn (5-6, Jr., PG) 6; Laney Cahoon, Orangeville (5-7, Soph., G) 6; Olivia Meyers, Elmwood (5-11, Sr., F/C) 6; Alondra Reyes, Chicago Hope Academy (5-8, Sr., F/G) 6; Briley Rhodes, Okawville (5-6, Sr., SG/PG) 6; Maddy Swisher, Champaign St. Thomas More (6-0, Sr., G/F) 6; Clara Bella VanOpdorp, Annawan (5-3, Soph., PG/SG) 6.

CLASS 2A

First team

• Abbey Schreacke, Quincy Notre Dame (6-0, Sr., G)

• Xamiya Walton, Chicago Butler (5-7, Jr., G)

• Ellie Cahill, Eureka (5-10, Sr., G)

• Amayah Doyle, Carterville (5-11, Jr., F)

• Ava Kultgen, Byron (6-1, Sr., C)

Second team

• Ashlyn May, Minonk Fieldcrest (5-9, Sr., PG)

• Megan Sanaj, Chicago Latin (5-7, Sr., G)

• Anna Beyers, Pana (5-8, Sr., G)

• Kaylee Niebrugge, Teutopolis (5-9, Sr., F)

• Xyanna Walton, Chicago Butler (5-11, Fr., G)

Honorable mention

Ensley Tedeschi, Benton (6-1, Sr., PG/SG) 30; Natalie Peterson, Freeburg (6-0, Sr., G/F) 18; Kaitlyn Coombes, Paris (5-4, Sr., PG) 15; Dalia Dejesus, Deer Creek-Mackinaw (5-11, Fr., F) 15; Addison Swadinsky, Deer CreekMackinaw (5-7, Sr. PG) 13; Lauren Miller, Central-Southeastern (5-10, Soph., G/F) 11; Campbell Schrank, Winnebago (5-9, Sr., G/F) 11; Sophie Bormann, Metropolis Massac County (5-9, Sr., SG) 9; Clair Hulke, Rock Island Alleman (6-0, Jr., F) 9; Mady Kibelkis, Peotone (5-8, Sr., SG) 9; Madi Schroeder, Peotone (5-11, Jr., PG/PF) 9; Blair Eftink, Quincy Notre Dame(5-8, Sr., G) 8; Grace Roland, Elmhurst Timothy Christian (6-2, Sr., C) 8; Kyla Elsbury, Sherrard (Sr., F) 6; London Walker George, Chicago DePaul Prep (5-9, Soph., F) 6; Jenna Hunter, Peotone (5-11, Sr., F) 6; Mya Janssen, Stillman Valley (6-1, Jr., F) 6; Whitney Rumbold, Tremont (5-10, Sr., F) 6; Layne Rupert, Hillsboro (5-7, Sr., G) 6.

CLASS 3A

First team

• Kloe Froebe, Lincoln (5-9, Jr., PG)

• Janae Kent, Oak Forest (6-1, Sr., G/F)

• Jordan Wood, Mundelein Carmel Catholic (6-4, Sr., F/G)

• Grace Carstensen, LaGrange Nazareth (5-10, Sr., G)

• Aaliyah Guyton, Peoria High (5-8, Jr., PG/SG) 77

Second team

• Denali Craig Edwards, Peoria High (6-0, Sr., SG/F)

• Amalia Dray, LaGrange Nazareth (5-8, Jr., F)

• Claire McDougall, Washington (6-0, Sr., G)

• Aubrey Galvan, Deerfield (5-6, Soph., PG)

• Lexi Kerstein, Deerfield (5-6, Sr., G)

• Sophia Loden, Mascoutah (5-11, Sr., F) 29

Honorable mention

Denver Anderson, Mt. Zion (6-0, Jr., G/F) 24; Evyn Carrier, Sycamore (6-4, Sr., C) 24; Mya Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame (5-7, Jr., PG) 24; Shannon Blacher, Lombard Montini (5-11, Sr., G) 23; Norah Gum, Waterloo (6-0, Sr., F) 15; Kiarra Kilgore, Galesburg (5-9, Jr., G) 14; Jerzy Bittle, Marion (5-9, Sr., G) 12; Kaylen Reed, Rochester (5-6, Sr., PG) 9; Olivia Austin, LaGrange Nazareth (6-1, Jr., F) 8; LaKeeyah Barnes, Chicago Morgan Park (5-4, Jr., G) 8; Lexi Carlsen, Sycamore (5-8, Jr., G) 8; Lily Esparza, Rockford Boylan (6-2, Jr., C) 8; Justice Malone, Mount Vernon (5-8, Sr., G/F) 8; Grace Wilke, Highland (5-8, Sr., G) 8; Danielle Beach, Geneseo (5-10, Sr., PG/SG) 6; Jazmyne Bynum, Chicago Hyde Park (5-5, Jr., G) 6; Page Erickson, Burlington Central (5-9, Sr., G) 6; Rachel Kaus, Lake Forest (6-0, Sr., F) 6; Nikki Kerstein, Deerfield (5-7, Soph., PG/SG) 6; Victoria Matulevicius, Lombard Montini (5-8, Jr., G) 6; Kayla Rice, RockIsland (5-6, Sr., G) 6; Savannah Orgeron, Mahomet-Seymour (5-10, Sr., G/F) 6; Annie Wirth, Geneseo (6-0, Sr., F) 6.

CLASS 4A

First team

• Skylar Jones, Chicago Whitney Young (6-0, Sr., SG/SF)

• Katy Eidle, Arlington Heights Hersey (6-0, Sr., G)

• Lenee Beaumont, Lisle Benet (6-0, Sr., PG)

• Sophie Swanson, Barrington (5-10, Sr., G)

• Shannon Dowell, O'Fallon (5-10, Sr., SG)

• Alyssa Latham, Homewood-Flossmoor (6-2, Sr., F)

Second team

• Emily Fisher, Libertyville (6-0, Sr., G)

• Ella Todd, Palatine Fremd (6-1, Soph., G)

• Angelina Smith, Bolingbrook (5-9, Jr., G)

• Brooke Carlson, Batavia (5-6, Jr., PG)

• Emory Klatt, Lincolnshire Stevenson (6-0, Jr., F)

Honorable mention

Lauren Slagle, Geneva (6-1, Sr., F) 17; Ava Gugliuzza, Lincoln-Way West (5-7, Sr., G) 15; Cassidy Arni, Geneva (6-0, Sr., G/F) 9; Natasha Barnes, Chicago Kenwood (5-9, Sr., G) 6; Mariann Blass, Elmhurst York (5-9, Sr., SG) 6; Danielle Brooks, Chicago Kenwood (5-7, Fr., G) 6; Ally Cesarini, LaGrange Lyons (5-7, Sr., G) 6; Olivia Corson, Normal (5-10, Jr., G/F) 6; Meegan Fahy, Maine South (5-5, Jr., G) 6; Maddy Fay, Palatine Fremd (6-2, Sr., F) 6; Alyssa Hughes, St. Charles North (5-7, Sr., PG) 6; Destiny Jackson, Chicago Whitney Young (5-6, Soph., G) 6; Lindsey Knuth, Rockford Guilford (6-0, Sr., F) 6; Jessie Ozzauto, Huntley (5-9, Sr., G) 6; Baylie Parks, Lake Zurich (6-0, Sr., G) 6; Sidney Rogers, Glenbrook South (5-4, Sr., SG) 6; Lexi Sepulveda, Plainfield East (5-9, Jr., G) 6; Hayven Smith, Lincoln-Way East (6-6, Jr., C) 6; Elise Ward, Chicago Marist (5-11, Sr., F) 6.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a wide variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears to youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star, and for over 30 years all together.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Byron's senior forward Ava Kultgen makes first-team AP All State list