Rylee Stephenson of Cheyenne East High School has been named the 2025 Gatorade Wyoming Softball Player of the Year, capping off a standout season defined by leadership, athletic performance, and academic achievement, Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports.
Entering the season with a young roster and high expectations, Stephenson embraced a leadership role for the Thunderbirds and delivered across the board. She set a new state record for single-season home runs and played a central role as East’s primary pitcher.
Stephenson finished the season with a .539 batting average, tallying 18 home runs, 66 RBIs, and nine doubles. In the pitcher’s circle, she compiled a 13–5 record, striking out 158 batters over 99⅓ innings and maintaining a 3.24 ERA—more than a full run better than any other pitcher in the state.
“I knew I needed to step into a bigger role and be a leader on our team,” Stephenson said. “I worked hard and built a lot more confidence in myself. I knew I could get the job done and had a lot of people in my corner.”
East finished the season ranked No. 1 for much of the year in the WyoPreps coaches and media poll, ending with a 26–5 record and a third-place finish at the state tournament.
Stephenson’s performance earned her both conference and state player of the year honors from the Wyoming Coaches Association before receiving the Gatorade recognition, which is awarded annually to the top high school player in each state.
“She led the state in home runs and was the best pitcher,” said Cheyenne Central coach Carrie Barker in a statement provided by Gatorade. “She was also a really good third baseman and always displayed great sportsmanship.”
Cheyenne East coach Adam Galicia highlighted Stephenson’s growth throughout the year, noting improvements in her pitching strategy and mechanics.
“She did better this year with her curveball, and her drop ball was pretty effective,” he said. “Being able to keep it in on the hands and tie batters up was a big deal for her.”
Stephenson joins a short list of players to earn the Gatorade honor in Wyoming since the award began recognizing softball in 2022. She is the second player from Cheyenne to receive the title, following Brogan Allen of Cheyenne Central.
Off the field, Stephenson has maintained a 3.79 GPA and is active in community service. She volunteers as a softball instructor and tutors in math and science, in addition to participating in projects through her church youth group.
Reflecting on her season, Stephenson said:
“This year, I just came out and knew what I was doing. I was really secure in my fundamentals, which helped me be confident. I knew if anything was wrong, I could fix those things.”
