2023-24
Cuesta Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
ELLE CASSELMAN
In 2003 the Cuesta Athletic Department instituted its first true Athlete of the Year Award. The coaching staff was encouraged to nominate their best athlete and a committee was created to weigh performance athletic as the highest criteria. Today Cuesta announced its Outstanding Athletes of the Year for the twenty-second time. The 2023-24 Cuesta Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year is Star Harrier Elle Casselman (Cross Country)
Sophomore Elle Casselman was one of two women to compete in cross country this season. She and teammate Summer Gelman did not score as a team, but they made their mark on the season. Casselman was the Cougars' top place winner in all eight of her starts, including three Top 10 finishes. She also cracked the 20-minute barrier in seven starts, with the exception being the grueling mid-season Bautista Invitational. Casselman closed the season with 6th place at the 2023 Western State Conference Finals to earn all-WSC First Team, before making both the all-Region and all-State Second Teams. Her 25th place time of 19:27 at the CCCAA State Championships is the 16th fastest time in Cuesta's record book.
In the Spring, Casselman competed in her second season of Track & Field. She had established herself as one of the State's best middle-distance runners with a 5th place finish in the 800-meters at the 2023 CCCAA State Championships, but injuries kept her from State this year. However, Casselman did win a Western State Conference title in the 800m, while sharing another title in the 4x400 Relay. In the post-season, Casselman was slowed by late season injuries and fell one place short of a return trip to the CCCAA State Meet.
Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
2003 Shanna DeMichelle, Napa, CA (Swimming)
2004 Christina Reyes, Los Osos, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2005 Jessie Ritchie, Arroyo Grande, CA (Tennis)
2006 Lindsay Campana, Templeton, CA (Softball)
2007 Whitney Levicki, Santa Cruz, CA (Water Polo)
2008 Julie Coelho, Lemoore, CA (Volleyball)
2009 Chloe Redman, Morro Bay, CA (Tennis)
2010 Kelly Barmann, Cimarron, NM (Cross Country)
2011 Alexandria Bernard, Porterville, CA (Water Polo, Swimming)
2012 Devon Kelsey, Atascadero, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2013 Kryn Masutani, Honolulu, HI (Softball)
2014 Riley Cooks, Coarsegold, CA (Volleyball, Track)
2015 Rachel Gruetzmacher, Atascadero, CA (Water Polo, Swimming)
2016 Augusta Thomason, San Diego, CA (Track)
2017 Miranda Daschian, Atascadero, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2018 Torie White, Los Osos, CA (Swimming)
2019 Faith Archibald, Atascadero, CA (Water Polo)
2020 Martha Mora, Cambria, CA (Soccer)
2021 Madeline Fletcher, San Luis Obispo (Track)
2022 Annie Bartolome, San Luis Obispo, CA (Swimming)
2023 Madeline Scovil, Arroyo Grande, CA (Track & Field)
2024 ELLE CASSELMAN, Lafayette, CA (Cross Country)
