Emma Brooke Levering hauled in her second consecutive Gatorade Player of the Year award for cross country last month after 2024 graduate Will Jackson claimed the same accolade for soccer in June.
This is one of the most prestigious honors for high school athletes, and each year Gatorade chooses a male and female athlete from every sport to win this national distinction. Along with national recognition, award winners are granted $1,000 to donate to any local or national youth sports organization of their choosing.
This year, Levering was presented with the award for the second time in two years for cross country. However, she isn’t getting complacent. Her personal goals include setting new personal records and getting faster and stronger.
“You have doubts about yourself no matter how good you get,” Levering said.
Jackson, now a freshman soccer player at Wake Forest University, was announced the male Gatorade Player of the Year over the summer. He captained the varsity boys’ soccer team to the state championship win last May.
However, after his national recognition, he’s now adjusting to the challenges of Division 1 soccer. He said while he’s proud of the award, his focus is fully back on personal growth.
“I’m in the phase where it’s a lot of individual development,” Jackson said. “It just starts over after high school, you have to build up your reputation.”
Levering will also compete in the NCAA Division 1 next year as she has committed to Penn State. Pushing performance to the level of Gatorade Player of the Year awards and Division 1 athletics comes with constant pressure. As Jackson grows on the collegiate level, he reminds himself to remain humble amidst expectations.
“One of the most important things to remember is to just be yourself,” Jackson said.
As Jackson and Levering continue to live up to the Gatorade Player of the Year title, they remain committed to growing individually and inspiring other student athletes.
Levering said there’s more to achieving this level than talent and hardwork, citing time management as a major factor.
“You have to learn how to divvy up your time so that you’re putting work not just into athletics, but also sleep, recovery and school,” she said.
As a senior in high school, Levering has learned many lessons to help propel her down the demanding collegiate athletic path.
“A big lesson for me is just being grateful for what you have in the moment,” she said.
