6-08-2024 5:36am

Sydney Lessentine of Alamogordo High School Named the 2023-24 Gatorade New Mexico Softball Player of the Year

Chris Edwards Editor

In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced they for New Mexico it was naming Alamogordo High Schools Sydney Lessentine of the 2023-24 Gatorade New Mexico Softball Player of the Year. Lessentine is the first Gatorade New Mexico Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Alamogordo High School but not the first student to achieve recognition as State Athlete of the Year from Alamogordo High School.

Yvonne Stinson of Alamogordo High School was the 2021-22 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Stinson was the first Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Alamogordo High School. Alamogordo High School track and field is the most successful winning program for Alamogordo Public Schools with a tradition of state titles starting in 1950.

Sydney Lessentine continues a Tiger tradition of excellence and recognition for outstanding academic and sports programs that continue.

The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and
in the community, distinguishes Lessentine as New Mexico’s best high school softball player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Amanda Freed (1997-98, Pacifica High School, Calif.), Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Springs High School, Texas), Rachel Garcia (2014-15 & 2012-13, Highland High School, Calif.) and Ava
Brown (2022-23 & 2021-22, Lake Creek High School, Texas).

The 5-foot-9 senior right-handed pitcher and second baseman led the Lady Tigers to a 27-5 record and a berth in
the Class 5A state championship this past season. Lessentine compiled a 22-2 record in the circle with a 1.89 ERA in
152 innings. She struck out 259 batters against just 19 walks on her way to recording a 0.763 WHIP. She also batted
.396 with seven home runs, 49 RBI and a 1.172 OPS. A four-time All-District selection, she made the 2024 New
Mexico High School Coaches Association Senior All-Star Team at the end of the season.

Lessentine has volunteered locally with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and also provides pitching lessons to
youth athletes. In addition, she’s donated her time at a community thrift store. “She’s hands-down the best pitcher in
the state,” said Mike Lopez, head coach at Silver High School. “Her delivery is effortless. She has a complete arsenal
of pitches.”

Lessentine has maintained a 3.93 weighted GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play
softball on scholarship at Texas A&M this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of
the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls
basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player
of the Year in each sport.

The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection
Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and
determine the state winners in each sport.

Lessentine joins recent Gatorade New Mexico Softball Players of the Year Faith Aragon (2022-23 & 2021-22, Carlsbad
High School), RyLee Crandall (2020-21, Artesia High School) and Brianna Gallegos (2019-20, Rio Rancho High
School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant
to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $4.9
million in grants to winners across more than 1,900 organizations.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-
athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com