At KCII, we’re continuing to count down the top 10 sports stories at area high schools in the 2023-2024 academic year. At number six is Sigourney’s Carly Goodwin receiving the Gatorade Player of the Year award for Iowa high school softball.

One of the most prestigious awards in all of high school sports, Gatorade gives out a Player of the Year honor in multiple sports to one athlete from every state, and Goodwin joined that club with the 2023-2024 selection for her work on the diamond.

Goodwin was coming off a junior season of total pitching dominance, allowing a minuscule 0.19 earned-run average and racking up 325 strikeouts on her way to a 23-3 record in the circle.

Not only was Goodwin a state leader in multiple pitching categories, but her excellence powered Sigourney to the Class 1A state tournament for the second time in the previous three seasons.

Yet Goodwin would further solidify her place as Gatorade Player of the Year with a senior season for the history books. Goodwin went 24-2 with a 0.37 ERA and 361 strikeouts this past summer, leading Sigourney not only back to the state tournament but also to their first-ever state title game and first-ever Class 1A championship.

Goodwin also finished her career with her best season as a hitter, leading Sigourney with a .500 batting average, 50 total hits, 14 doubles and 40 runs batted in.

Goodwin also blasted seven home runs, one of which were part of her two hits and two runs scored in the Savages’ 3-2 victory over Martensdale-St Marys in the state championship game.

It all adds up to Goodwin joining the likes of current college All-Americans like Nijaree Canady and Jordy Bahl, all-time softball greats like Cat Osterman, and sports legends like Maya Moore and Peyton Manning in earning a Gatorade Player of the Year nod.

Be listening next week as the countdown of KCII’s Top 10 Area Sports Stories from the last year continues, and find the stories as their spot on the countdown is revealed at KCIIradio.com.