Athletic trainers with Mercy Sports Medicine are embedded inside many St. Louis metro area high schools and get to know the athletes throughout the year. As a way of highlighting outstanding students from these schools each month, a new Mercy Sports Medicine Athlete of the Month will be recognized. Athletes are nominated by coaches and selected by a committee.
Here are the Mercy Sports Medicine Athletes of the Month for the 2024-2025 school year.
March 2025
Jordan Speiser, a senior basketball player at Lutheran High St. Charles, was a four-year starter. During her time at Lutheran, she has played at the top level earning all-state accolades three times, McDonald's all-American in 2025 and Gatorade player of the year in 2023. She is currently playing at the USA Nike Hoop Summit. Speiser broke the school record for total points scored (held by her coach) with more than 2,100 points. She is not only an accomplished basketball player, she is also a leader on and off the court and a model student, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
Brendan Larson, a Parkway West senior, is a multisport athlete and a leader in all – wrestling, cross country and track and field team. He boosts the mood of his teammates and classmates and pushing them to be their best. He earned his 100th career wrestling win and finished the year with 113 wins, fourth most all time in Parkway West history. In January, Larson was named the Parkway West Athlete of the Month and is a great example of what it means to be a Parkway West student athlete, always willing to offer advice to younger players and help them succeed in their sport.
February 2025
Anna McAndrew, a senior multi-sport athlete at Clayton High School, is a standout athlete, leader and scholar. With a positive attitude and lighthearted spirit, she uplifts and motivates those around her. Competing in cross country, swimming, soccer and track each year and demonstrates determination, resilience and sportsmanship regardless of the sport. She competed in state swimming and track and field meets during her high school career, placing in multiple races, and was part of the 2023 girls soccer state championship game scoring the tying goal in regulation and winning goal in overtime. She plans to attend Washington University in the fall where she will compete on the cross country team.
Ty Kuehl, a senior basketball player at Parkway West High School, displays impressive character and confident humility. He leads by example and treats others with respect. He works hard in the classroom, maintaining a 3.9 GPA even with multiple AP and honors classes, and holds team and school records. He is the leading scorer for the second consecutive year and will go down as one of the best three-point shooters in the program’s 57-year history.
January 2025
Sophia Stecher, a sophomore wrestler at Lindbergh High School, is the captain of the girls wrestling team and undefeated in dual meets this season. When not at practice or tournament, she is a volunteer coach for the school’s youth wrestling program and inspires other young girls to try the sport. Her work ethic at practice and leadership while coaching has had a tremendous impact on the program.
Noah Barnes, a senior Parkway South High School basketball player, has surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone and averages 23.2 points per game. He leads the St. Louis area in scoring, assists (6.1 per game) and free throw percentage (88.9%). He led his Parkway South team to its best start since 2011-12 season and is a leader in the classroom as well. He serves as a role model to the younger players, including the eighth-grade team he helps coach.
December 2024
Morgan Ulrich, a senior swimmer at Mehlville High School, is a leader in the pool and in the classroom. The last two years, she has been a three-sport varsity athlete and maintains a high GPA while taking honors classes. Coaches commend her positive attitude and willingness to work hard, qualifying for the state meet the last two years. She is active in HOSA, a club for students interested in entering the medical field after high school, in the sports medicine division.
Max Roth, a Rockwood Summit High School senior basketball player, was recognized for his high level of play on the court and in practice. He hit 20 points in two recent games and continued leading the team vocally and with his actions during practices. He averages 14 points per game, three rebounds and three assists. He is a National Honor Society member and state qualifier on the golf team.
November 2024
Makenna Johnson, a freshman softball player at Fox High School, was the team’s starting shortstop leading the team in hits, home runs, runs scored and was second in RBIs. She earned many accolades for the season including first team All-Conference, first team All-District and second team All-Region. She stands out as an exceptional student with a heart to help others. Her coaches say, “Mackenna’s enthusiasm and love for competition is infectious to the team, which makes everyone better.”
Benton Mohrmann, a junior football player at Parkway North High School, was a starter on both sides of the ball. He played tight end on offense, serving an integral role in the team’s running scheme and, as defensive end, was one of the toughest and most consistent defenders. He has been called a “selfless teammate” who sacrifices for the team unlike any other player. He maintains a 4.13 GPA taking several advanced courses and also active in his church community.
October 2024
Caden Thorneberry, a junior football player for Marquette High School, is a leader on the field and in the classroom. As the team captain and quarterback, he displays exceptional sportsmanship toward the opposing team and officials, setting a high standard for his teammates. He works to unite the team, never placing fault on anyone player and always offering a “we will get it next time” attitude. He is an active volunteer with the Junior Mustang youth football program, working closely with younger players to support their growth and love for the game.
Hannah Zaiser, a senior and four-year varsity field hockey player with Parkway West High School, brings passion to all her activities. As the team captain, she helps her teammates learn new skills and leads during warmups. She coaches the elementary and middle school field hockey teams and is someone these young players look up to as she continues to strive for improvement. With a 3.83 GPA, she is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and Blue Crea and participated in NDHCA National Academic Squad.
September 2024
Addy Denny, a Parkway North High School senior softball player, has a bright future. She creates key offensive and defensive plays, leads the team in hitting stats with a batting average of .340, on base percentage of .373 and the most RBIs on the team with 11. In the 14 of 21 games she pitched, Denny struck out over 100 batters, setting the school record for most strikeouts in a single game at 17.
She is a leader on and off the field, staying involved in National Honor Society and other high achieving academic clubs. She also participates in the Sports Medicine SPARK program through Parkway, which gives students the opportunity to explore their interests in sports medicine careers. Denny always brings an upbeat attitude to the athletic training room, the field and even the classroom. She exemplifies what it means to be a phenomenal student-athlete.
Hayden Wolfe, a senior football player at St. Francis Borgia High School, is the key to their strong start this season. He is a team leader through both his words and actions. He inspires the team through pep talks and shows character in everything he does, including interactions with officials and cleaning up after his teammates in the visiting locker room. He rushed for 595 yards through four games, with an average of 9.9 yards per carry. In the same four games, he has scored 13 touchdowns and is also an important member of the defensive backfield with 12 tackles and one interception.
Wolfe also participates on the track team and National Honor Society.
