High school sports in 2024 offered an array of spectacular moments, lasting memories, and remarkable athletes.

The year will be highlighted by historic victories, record-setting achievements, viral highlights, celebrity coaches, and iconic players and teams.

Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) basketball, Etiwanda (Calif.) girls basketball, Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) baseball, and Orange Beach (Ala.) softball were recognized as national champions for the school year concluding in June. Looking ahead to 2024-25, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) secured the volleyball championship, while Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) dominated their way to a third national championship on the football field.

Top 20 high school sports stories of 2024

1. Incarnate Word Academy’s winning streak

The girls basketball team at Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) matched the national record for consecutive victories by the end of the year. The Red Knights have gone unbeaten since February 8, 2020, with hopes of securing their seventh consecutive Class 6 title last season. Tragically, head coach Dan Rolfes endured a life-threatening heart attack shortly after their semifinal win, spending nearly a month in the ICU. Despite this adversity, the team clinched the state title the following day, and Rolfes worked diligently to return to coaching at the start of the 2024-25 season. The Missouri powerhouse now eyes the opportunity for a record-breaking 139th consecutive win on January 7.

2. Teddy Bridgewater leads Northwestern to state glory, returns to the NFL

Just a week after guiding Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) to the 3A championship, head coach Teddy Bridgewater announced his decision to return to the NFL, aiming for a Super Bowl run. He signed with the Detroit Lions as a backup. Bridgewater, a standout at Northwestern from 2008-10, then moved on to Louisville, later becoming a first-round draft selection in 2014 for the Minnesota Vikings.

3. Robert Hughes, all-time winningest coach, passes away at age 96

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame mourned the loss of legendary coach Robert Hughes in June. He led I.M. Terrell (Fort Worth, Texas), a historically Black school during segregation, and Dunbar (Fort Worth, Texas) throughout his impressive 47-year coaching career. Hughes amassed five state championships, 35 district titles, and a remarkable record of 1,333-265, surpassing notable coaches Gary McKnight of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

4. Surprising developments at Mater Dei

Frank McManus stepped in as head coach for the Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) football program preceding the 2023 season and guided the Monarchs to their fourth state championship since 2017. However, he was unexpectedly dismissed after leading the team to a 13-1 record, with the lone defeat occurring during the regular season against rival St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). As a Mater Dei alum, McManus dedicated 16 years to coaching at the school.

5. Charlie Woods rises to prominence

Charlie Woods, son of golfing icon Tiger Woods, played a pivotal role in helping Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) secure a Division 1 runner-up finish after winning the state title the previous year. Tiger was present as Charlie shot a 7-over 151 during the two-day tournament. Additionally, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur, a prestigious tournament his father won three times.

6. De La Salle makes history in London

The prestigious De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) achieved a 31-9 victory over the NFL Academy in October at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the same venue where the Minnesota Vikings faced off against the New York Jets just two days earlier. As the NFL expands into international markets, the league sought to infuse some international flair into high school football, and who better to showcase than a program known for its remarkable 151-game winning streak? This marked NFL Academy’s third matchup against an American high school team this season, but certainly the most notable.

7. Thrilling finish in New Jersey playoff basketball game

A New Jersey playoff basketball showdown in March was packed with drama – featuring a buzzer-beater that was ultimately overturned, resulting in lawsuits and appeals, ultimately leading to a state title for Camden. Manasquan appeared to clinch victory with Griffin Linstra’s last-second shot; however, officials ruled it came after the buzzer, allowing Camden to advance with a 46-45 win in the New Jersey Group 2 semifinal. Following days of appeals and lawsuits, which were denied, Camden triumphed in the state championship just four days later, much to the dismay of the Manasquan players watching from the sidelines.

8. Mater Dei retains dominance

Despite off-field turmoil, including the dismissal of first-year head coach Frank McManus and the hiring of Raul Lara, the Mater Dei Monarchs proved their superiority once more. Finishing the season undefeated at 13-0, they maintained the No. 1 ranking nationally, securing their second consecutive Open Division state title and marking their status as the first team to achieve three national championships since the rankings began 20 years ago.

9. Woliczko claims second consecutive Nike TOC MVP award

McKenna Woliczko, a junior basketball prodigy from Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), led the Monarchs to their second consecutive Nike Tournament of Champions title prior to Christmas with an impressive win over previously top-ranked Ontario Christian (Ontario, Calif.). The five-star forward set the stage early with eight points in the first quarter, concluding with 25 points, making her one of only two players, alongside Katie Lou Samuelson from Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), to earn two MVP awards in the tournament’s 27-year history.

10. Oak Cliff Faith Family departs UIL

Shortly after being barred from postseason participation and having their coaches suspended by the Texas high school sports governing body, Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Dallas, Texas) declared their intention to exit the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to pursue a national schedule. The UIL imposed a two-year ban on the school’s coaches and prohibited postseason eligibility for this season and in 2025-26. The controversies stemmed from 18 player transfers, including several highly-rated recruits.

11. 91-game football losing streak continues

Columbia (Huntsville, Ala.) faced another setback, extending the longest losing streak in high school football history to 91 games as they fell to Hazel Green in their last game of 2024. This staggering streak will see the Eagles moving into 2025 still seeking their first victory since October 16, 2015, when they beat Ardmore 34-16. The losing streak began the following week with a 38-22 defeat to Johnson (Huntsville).

12. Apalachee pushes ahead

The Apalachee (Winder, Ga.) football team took the field three weeks…after a tragic school shooting that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, including defensive coordinator Richard Aspinwall, Apalachee faced Clarke County and suffered a 48-21 defeat, marking their fourth loss of the season and extending their losing streak to 25 games. However, returning to the field served as part of the healing process following the September 4 shooting, especially with a special visit from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who took the time to engage with students.

13. Harrison, Edwards Named Athletes of the Year

Kendre Harrison of Reidsville (N.C.) continues to shine on the basketball court this season after an impressive year, where he showcased his talents in both basketball and football, leading his teams to state championships as a sophomore. As a tight end, he made 62 receptions for 940 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, while also contributing to the Rams’ defense with 76 tackles and nine sacks, helping the team achieve a remarkable 15-1 record. On the basketball court, he excelled with an average of 19.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, and 3.7 blocked shots per game.

Joyce Edwards of Camden (S.C.) is recognized as a three-sport, all-state athlete in basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Now competing in basketball for Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina, Edwards joins Olympic champion Missy Franklin and WNBA player Alissa Pili as the only two-time recipients of this honor. Leading the 26-5 Camden volleyball team, she recorded 215 kills, scored 45 goals for the 18-5 soccer squad, and guided the basketball team to its second consecutive state title, averaging 31.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as the Bulldogs finished 28-2. Additionally, she shared co-MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American game.

14. Nothing But Ks in Postseason Perfect Game

Senior Westyn Balch from Hawley (Texas) threw a perfect game, striking out every batter during a 7-0 playoff victory over Forsan in May. Now a freshman at Harding University, Balch has achieved two perfect games overall. Throughout the season, he maintained an impressive average of over two strikeouts per inning and finished with an ERA of under 1.00.

15. Alo Signs with Savannah Bananas

Jocelyn Alo, college softball’s all-time home run leader from Oklahoma and Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), made headlines in April as the first female athlete to sign with the Savannah Bananas barnstorming baseball team. After an illustrious high school career where she won state championships in both wrestling and softball, Alo continued her phenomenal performance with the Sooners from 2018-22, hitting 122 career home runs and securing two national titles.

16. Home Run Cycle in Order

Layla Lamar of Panther Creek (Cary, N.C.) accomplished a remarkable feat by hitting for the home run cycle in a commanding 15-3 win over Middle Creek (Apex, N.C.) in April. Now committed to the Florida Gators, Lamar hit a solo home run in the first inning, followed by a two-run and three-run homer in the third, and capped it off with a grand slam in the fifth. She finished the game with an astounding 4-for-4 performance, totaling four home runs and 10 RBIs.

17. Mater Dei’s McKnight Passes Morgan Wootten

Gary McKnight, head coach of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), ascended to second place on the all-time high school basketball coaching wins list, surpassing former DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) coach Morgan Wootten. Currently holding 1,283 victories, he stands 50 wins behind the legendary Robert Hughes. Over his 42-year tenure, McKnight has led his program to 11 state championships, 16 regional titles, 24 section titles, and 40 league championships.

18. JaMarcus Russell Fired from Alma Mater

Former NFL No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell was released from the coaching staff at his alma mater, Williamson (Mobile, Ala.), over the summer and is now facing a lawsuit for allegedly misappropriating a $74,000 check intended as a donation to the football program. During his celebrated career at Williamson, Russell set the Alabama High School Athletic Association record with 10,774 career passing yards. A local business owner had issued the $74,000 check after Russell approached him regarding a donation for equipment for the Williamson football team. However, the school reportedly did not receive the funds, and Russell allegedly deposited the check into a credit union before quickly withdrawing the money.

19. Cooper Flagg Shines at Montverde Academy

Before heading to Duke, Cooper Flagg played a pivotal role in helping Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) secure its record seventh Chipotle Nationals title, contributing 16 points, eight rebounds, and six blocked shots in the championship game. This performance capped off another exceptional season for the program and solidified their No. 1 ranking in the final National Top 10. Montverde Academy has previously been recognized as a national champion in 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024, boasting a remarkable record of 344-27 under head coach Kevin Boyle since he took the helm prior to the 2011-12 season.

20. Miami Central Forced to Forfeit Nine Games

Central (Miami, Fla.), a nine-time state champion, faced a ruling from the Florida governing body in November, leading to the forfeiture of all nine games played this season due to the use of an ineligible player. The Rockets compiled an 8-1 record during this season with a fifth-year high school student-athlete on the roster, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association.