Meet the 2022 T&G Hometeam high school girls' indoor track Super Team

The Worcester Telegram is proud to announce the nominees for the Hometeam girls' indoor track Athlete of the Year for the Central Mass High School Sports Awards, presented by DCU — Digital Federal Credit Union, will be held live on Wednesday, June 22, at Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, and the athlete of the year will be selected. Learn more on the program and see which athletes have already been named nominees on the show’s website. Athletes must register for the event here. Each nominated athlete receives one free ticket. Additional tickets may be purchased here.

The Central Mass High School Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

Here are the Hometeam girls' indoor track Athlete of the Year nominees:

Caroline Collins

Nashoba, Sophomore, 2 Mile

What a sensational season it was for this sophomore, already a three-time T&G Super Team selection. Collins finished fourth at the MSTCA Northeast Invitational, second at the All-State championships and eighth at the New Englands. She was one of two non-seniors to medal at the New Englands, where she posted a school-record time of 11 minutes, 14.63 seconds. Collins then set the school record in the mile with a 5:02.58 — good for third in the rising stars division — at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. Collins’ most memorable moment of the season was competing with her teammates at the famed Armory in New York City. She is the daughter of Kristen and Fred Collins of Stow.

Priscilla de Carvalho

Algonquin, Senior, High Jump

De Carvalho came on strong as the season progressed, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches in each of her final three competitions to match her personal record. That combination of consistency and excellence boosted her to second place at the MSTCA Last Chance meet, first at the Division 2 state meet — after taking third as a sophomore — and seventh at the All-State championships. Winning a state title understandably was her most memorable moment of the season. De Carvalho also made her mark for the Titans in the 55-meter hurdles and 800 relay. A singer, songwriter and pianist, de Carvalho will study music at the University of Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Didley and Weliton de Carvalho of Wellesley.

Katherine DeFosse

Auburn, Junior, 55 Hurdles

DeFosse had a fantastic finish after getting off to a slow start while recovering from surgery. The two-time T&G Super Team selection hurdled her way to first-place finishes at the Southern Worcester County League championships and the Gerry Frew Invitational. DeFosse then placed third at the Division 4 state meet, seventh at the All-State championships and fourth at the New Englands. DeFosse’s first trip to the New Balance Nationals Indoor was a successful one as she lowered her school record in the 55 hurdles to 8.41 seconds — a time that ranked third in the state this season — and, in her most memorable moment of the season, took fourth in the 60 hurdles in the rising stars division. She is the daughter of Kristin and Kevin DeFosse of Auburn.

Ijeoma Ezechukwu

Ayer-Shirley, Senior, 55/300

Ezechukwu was a double-medal dynamo. She finished first in the 55-meter dash and second in the 300 at the Division 5 state meet and fifth in the 55 and fourth in the 300 at the All-State championships. Ezechukwu then took seventh in the 300 at the New Englands after coming up one spot shy of a podium placement in the 55. Her school-record times of 40.91 seconds in the 300 and 7.32 in the 55 ranked fourth and eighth, respectively, in the state this season. Her most memorable moment occurred when the Panthers’ team bus received a police escort after her D5 state meet victory. Ezechukwu will study cognitive science at Boston University. She is the daughter of Evelyn Ezechukwu of Shirley.

Rahma Giwa

Wachusett, Freshman, 300

It was a phenomenal freshman campaign for Giwa. She finished first in the 300-meter dash in four meets, including the Gerry Frew Invitational while helping the Mountaineers to the team title, before taking second at the Division 1 state meet and sixth at the All-State championships. Giwa was one of two freshmen in the field of 24 at All-States, where she posted a personal-record time of 41.3 seconds that ranked first among underclassmen in the state this season. She also helped the 1,600-relay team strike gold at the D1 state meet, All-States and the New England meets before placing eighth at the New Balance Nationals Indoor and the 800-relay team finish fourth at the New Englands. She is the daughter of Safia and Bashiru Giwa of Holden.

Lindsay Isaacs

Wachusett, Senior, Shot Put

Isaacs was a peak performer for the Mountaineers. The senior shot putter finished first at the Gerry Frew Invitational to help Wachusett claim the team title. Isaacs then placed fifth at the Division 1 state meet, sixth at the All-State championships — after entering as the 13th seed — with a personal-best effort of 36 feet, 1¾ inches and 11th in her debut at the New Englands. Her most memorable moments of the season were simply the time spent with teammates and coaches on the van rides to and from the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Isaacs will continue her studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is the daughter of Heather and Toby Isaacs of Rutland.

Kylie Marion

Narragansett, Senior, 2-Mile

Once again, Marion showed she has the drive, determination and desire to go the distance. This three-time T&G Super Team selection finished second at the Division 5 state meet, fourth at the All-State championships in a school-record 11 minutes, 22.03 seconds and 12th at the New Englands. She considers her most memorable moments of the season to be helping the Warriors win their first league title in nine years and the entire experience of competing at the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City. Marion, who aspires to become a high school teacher and coach, will major in biology and continue her running career at UMass-Lowell. She is the daughter of Michelle and Richard Marion of Baldwinville.

Shae Regan

Littleton, Senior, Mile/2 Mile

Simply put, Regan dominated on the banked oval at the Reggie Lewis Center. This two-time T&G Super Team selection finished first in the mile and the 2 mile at the Division 5 state meet and then won the 2 mile — to complete an undefeated season in her marquee event — and placed fourth in the mile at the All-State championships. Regan’s top times of 10 minutes, 49.94 in the 2 mile and 5:04.74 in the mile ranked third and seventh, respectively, in the state this season. Qualifying for the New Balance Nationals Indoor in four events on the same day proved to be her most memorable moment of the season. Regan will continue her academic and athletic careers at Northeastern University. She is the daughter of Jen and Kevin Regan.

Siena Salyer

Groton-Dunstable, Senior, 55

It was a senior season to relish and remember for Salyer. She placed second in the 55-meter dash in a photo finish at the Division 5 state meet and then was ninth at the All-State championships. Her top time of 7.32 seconds was a personal record and tied for eighth in the state this season. Salyer also helped the 800 relay team place first at the D5 state meet, sixth at All-States and ninth at the New Englands. Her most memorable moments of the season included the Crusaders — with just nine athletes — finishing second as a team at the D5 state meet. Salyer will study environmental science at the University of Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Maureen and Miles Salyer of Groton.

Nyah Santana

Wachusett, Sophomore, 55/300

Santana’s first season on the indoor circuit was a rousing success. She finished second in the 300-meter dash and third in the 55 at the Division 1 state meet and then took eighth at the All-State and 12th at the New England championships in the 300. Her top time of 41.07 seconds in the 300 ranked fifth in the state this season. Santana also helped the 1,600-relay team finish first at All-States and eighth at the New Balance Nationals Indoor and the 800-relay quartet finish fourth at New Englands. Santana considers her most memorable moment of the season to be the overall experience of competing at the nationals in New York City. She is the daughter of Ada and Willfredo Santana Jr. of Holden.

Ava VanBuskirk

Marlborough, Sophomore, 55/300

It was a record-setting, medal-garnering campaign for VanBuskirk. She finished second in the 55- and 300-meter dashes at the Division 3 state meet, and then notched another pair of podium placements by taking eighth in the 55 and seventh in the 300 at the All-State championships. VanBuskirk capped things off with her most memorable moment of the season. The swift sophomore, who was a T&G Division 2 all-star in soccer last fall, sped to sixth in the 300 in a school-record 41.22 seconds at New Englands. That time ranked seventh in the state this season. Her top time of 7.4 in the 55 was also a school record. She is the daughter of Pam and Joe VanBuskirk of Marlborough.

Ashlynn Witt

Wachusett, Junior, 1,000

Witt’s combination of speed, strength and endurance has made her one of the most versatile runners in the state and led to four T&G Super Team selections with at least one each in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track. She won the 1,000-meter run at the Gerry Frew Invitational and went on to place fourth at the Division 1 state meet, sixth at the All-State championships and eighth at the New Englands. Her top time of 3 minutes, .44 seconds was a personal record and ranked seventh in the state this season. Witt also helped the 1,600-relay team win the D1 state meet, All-States and, in one of her most memorable moments of the season, the New Englands. She is the daughter of Susan and Davis Witt of Princeton.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: The 2022 T&G Hometeam high school girls' indoor track Super Team