CHICAGO (June 18, 2018) — In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Kyla Ferry of Xavier College Prep as its 2017-18 Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Ferry is the third Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Xavier College Prep.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Ferry as Arizona’s best high school girls soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Ferry joins an elite alumni association of past state soccer award-winners, including Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Steve Cherundolo (1996-97, Mt. Carmel HS, Calif.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, 2002-03, East Brunswick HS, N.J.), Matt Besler (2004-05, Blue Valley West HS, Kans.), Jack Harrison (2013-14, Berkshire HS, Mass.) and Mallory Pugh (2014-15, Mountain Vista HS, Colo.).

The 5-foot-8 junior forward and midfielder led the Gators to a 15-3-2 record and the Conference 6A state championship this past season. Ferry scored 19 goals and passed for 12 assists. The 2018 Conference 6A Player of the Year, Ferry is a finalist for the Arizona Republic Player of the Year award. She concluded her junior year with 46 goals and 23 assists in her prep soccer career.

Ferry has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit victims of domestic violence. She has also donated her time as a peer tutor and youth soccer coach. “Kyla Ferry was a force on the field all year,” said Mike Muto, head coach of Desert Mountain High. “She has the best eye for the goal, better than any other player.”

Ferry has maintained a weighted 4.14 GPA in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to play soccer on scholarship at the University of Colorado beginning in the fall of 2019.

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 work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport. Ferry joins recent Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Players of the Year Erika Yost (2016-17, Fountain Hills High School), Kelsey Turnbow (2015-16, Pinnacle High School), Bri Hatch (2014-15, Highland High School), Gabi Stoian (2013-14, Pinnacle High School), Jaden DeGracie (2012-13 & 2011-12, Highland High School), Rylie Johnson (2010–11, Hamilton High School), Hilary Zenuk (2009-10, Highland), Jessica Petznick (2008–09, Xavier College Prep.), and Brittany Cole (2007-08 & 2006-07, Corona del Sol), and Brittany Cole among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Ferry will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.