Rotolo, Olvera, Smith, and Livingston are All Area, SWH Barry Mellen, Coach of the Year

Three listening area girls are on the Hutch News all area team. Liberal’s Hannah Rotolo makes the 1st team after averaging 12 points and five steals per game for 21-2 Liberal. Vivian Olvera of Southwestern Heights is a first team all area player after averaging 12 a game for state champ Southwestern Heights. Alicia Smith of Elkhart is all area after averaging 24 points per game for the 2-a state qualifying Lady Wildcats. Deni Jacobs of Southwestern Heights makes the third team after averaging 12 a game. Rotolo and MaKayla McPhail make the all 6-5-a team. McPhail aveaged nine points and seven rebounds per game. Olvera and Jacobs are all 3-a. Smith of Elkhart is all 2-a. Payton Fleming of Elkhart and Sumr Robinett of Sublette (12 ppg) are second team all 2-a.

Kevin Livingston is all area on the Hutch News list. He scored 18 a game for 17-6 Liberal. Livingston also made the all 6-5-a first team. Trenton Specht of Southwestern Heights is all area in 3-a after scoring 16 a game. Elkhart’s Jordan Simmons was second team all 2-a after scoring 16 a game.

Southwestern Heights Lady Mustang Coach Barry Mellin, was chosen girls Coach of the Year. Mellen guided the Mustangs to a 25-1 record and the 3A title. In his 24th year, Mellen has now won two state titles (2A in 1992) and has taken his girls to state 13 times.