Meet SBLive's Senior Athletes of the Year in Washington for 2021-22: These high school athletes changed programs, made history

Some changed programs. Some re-wrote history. All will be remembered long after they graduate. Here are the top multi-sport athletes in the state for 2021-22.

Author:
Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Jun 21, 2022 10:21 PM EDT

Each year, SBLive names the top multi-sport athlete in each classification on both the boys and girls side.

On Sunday, the last of the 12 winners for the 2021-22 school year were announced as this year's recipients of the award.

Here are those boys athletes and here are their stories, as well as a look-back at every athlete from the past two years that has received the honor.

2021-22 SBLIVE SENIOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

1B: Reece Isaak, Almira-Coulee-Hartline

1A Athlete of the Year - WSH - Horizontal (1) — Graphics by Johario Lopez

College: Washington State

It wasn't just Isaak's dominant five-year run as a wrecking ball offensive lineman. Nor his all league baseball prowess. Not even his combination of strength, touch and footwork that made some describe him as the best 1B basketball big they'd seen. To his coaches, Isaak's legacy will be defined by grace, selflessness and leadership. (READ MORE)

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2B: Jackson Esary, Kalama

Image from iOS (1) — Graphics by Johario Lopez

College: University of Providence (basketball)

Some athletes' obsession with winning borders on mania. Esary's team only lost once his entire senior year when he was on the floor — and it's become his fixation. But he'll be remembered by his town, opponents he conquered and fans who flocked to see his Kalama teams play as a natural-born winner. He willed the Chinooks to a 2B state championship with a herculean title game performance played through an injured throwing shoulder. Then he turned around and led the basketball team on an undefeated run through the state's deepest 2B conference and a state third place finish. (READ MORE)

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1A: Jason Grant, Toppenish

Wshintion State 1A Athlete of The Year — Graphics by Johario Lopez

College: Eastern Oregon (football)

Jason Grant dazzled with the his size, force and the speed and fluidity at which he moved. He was a standout receiver/safety on the Toppenish football team that won its first playoff game since 1990. He was a key cog in the Wildcats basketball team that ended rival Zillah's 122-game league win streak, won a district title and made noise at state. And he was a multi-year all-league baseball selection. But it wasn't just his physical dominance that made him great. (READ MORE)

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2A: Colton Bower, North Kitsap

Wshintion State 2A Athlete of The Year — Graphics by Johario Lopez

College: Washington State (baseball)

It's not common that a single athlete can change the culture of an entire athletic department. So consider Bower a unicorn. He led the Vikings' football team to its deepest playoff run in program history as a quarterback, defensive back and occasional kicker. He was the charges leader and lunch-pale-bringer off the bench for NK's title-contending basketball team. And he was SBLive's all-class all-state catcher selection, leading the Vikings to earn the top overall seed in the 2A state playoffs. (READ MORE)

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3A: Josh Conerly Jr., Rainier Beach

Wshintion State 3A Athlete of The Year — Graphic by Johairo Lopez

College: Oregon (football)

One of the top offensive line prospects in the country, Conerly Jr. always knew high-major college football was in his future. But first, he wanted to leave his stamp on Rainier Beach High School. He led Vikings to a 3A state quarterfinal appearance in football and saved his best basketball of his life for the Tacoma Dome, where he led Beach to a state runner-up performance behind a four-game tournament MVP performance. (READ MORE).

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4A: Joshua Wood, Graham-Kapowsin

Wshintion State 4A Athlete of The Year — Photo by Johairo Lopez

College: Fresno State (football)

Wood re-wrote his school's history in two sports. He led the Eagles to its first 4A state football championship with an undefeated 15-0 season in the fall, which included a thrilling nationally-televised upset in the GEICO Bowl Series. Then, he captained the school's basketball team to its first Class 4A state tournament performance and was the catalyst behind its first playoff win over Davis in the first round. (READ MORE)

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