Gatorade Player of the Year Award

Peyton VanDeest, a junior at Spearfish High School in South Dakota, has been selected for the Gatorade Player of the Year, one of the highest honors in American high school sports.

Gatorade announced on the 24th (local time) that VanDeest has been named the 2025-26 South Dakota Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. This award evaluates not only athletic ability but also academic performance and community service, and is the most prestigious individual honor in American high school sports with a 41-year tradition.

37th Place Nationally, State Runner-Up

The 6-foot junior VanDeest finished as runner-up at the Nike Cross Heartland Regional Championship last season with a time of 17:04.3, earning All-Region First Team honors.

At the Nike Cross Nationals, she placed 37th, proving her national-level capabilities. She also finished as runner-up at the Class AA state meet, leading her team to sixth place, and ranked 19th nationally on MileSplit's top 50 rankings at season's end.

Consistent Growth Since Middle School

Rapid City Stevens High School coach Jesse Coy praised her: "Peyton is a great example of someone who had success in middle school but continued to develop in high school and reached the highest level. Her toughness to compete confidently in races against the best runners has made her one of South Dakota's all-time best."

Excellence in Academics and Service

VanDeest is also an exemplary student-athlete off the track. She maintains a 3.92 GPA while achieving excellent academic results and serves as a member of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She has also volunteered with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a program providing court-appointed volunteers for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect, and participates in Special Olympics, contributing to her community.

Gatorade Player of the Year Program

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes a total of 610 high school athletes across 12 sports in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Sports include soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field, with one national representative ultimately selected from each state's winners.

Recipients receive scholarships that can be donated to community service partners. To date, the program has delivered over $6.4 million in grants to more than 2,200 organizations.

VanDeest will be a senior this fall, and interest is building around her future college plans and athletic career.