Niwot’s Addison Ritzenhein Named Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year

Niwot, Co. – In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes for excellence on and off the field of play, Gatorade announced Addison Ritzenhein of Niwot High School in Niwot, Co. as the 2023-24 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year.

Ritzenhein joins an impressive group of former Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Players of the Year who have combined more than eight National Championships and five bronze medals. The sophomore was selected from more than 300,000 other student-athletes who compete in high school girls cross country nationwide, and she becomes the ninth Coloradoan to win the national award in their sport. She joins Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger (2015-16) and Grandview’s Brie Oakley (2016-17) as the only girls cross country national winners from Colorado. 

Yesterday, Ritzenhein was named the Gatorade Colorado Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. Today, NCAA champion and four-time Gatorade National Player of the Year Katelyn Tuohy surprised Ritzenhein with the trophy at school. Ritzenhein was pulled out of class for what she thought was an interview about winning Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and was then surprised on the outdoor track by Tuohy, her teammates and family. Notably, Ritzenhein is the daughter of Olympic distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein, who won Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 1999-00 and 2000-01. Afterwards, Ritzenhein got a taste of the pro athlete experience with a styling session, photoshoot and media interviews. 

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on and off the playing surface. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of girls cross country alumni that includes Jordan Hasay, who holds the record for the fastest-ever debut marathon by an American woman, Katelyn Tuohy, the winningest Gatorade Player of the Year in history, and Irene Riggs, the 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. 

“The Gatorade Player of the Year Program has a nearly 40-year history of recognizing young athletes on their journey to greatness,” said Gatorade president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo. “Our iconic alumni have gone on to win world championships, start businesses and become Hall of Famers, and we can’t wait to see the incredible legacy Addison will leave behind.”   

Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best of the best in their respective sports, but they’re also leaders in the classroom and in their communities. A member of the Niwot High School Leadership Academy and a Student Aide at her school, Ritzenhein is also a member of her school’s choir. She has volunteered locally on behalf of REAL Training youth running club and in the concessions booth for NHS boosters.  

“Addy Ritzenhein achieved more and raced smarter than any prep girl in the country this past season, beating a stacked race field at the Nike Cross Nationals Final and leading her team to the podium,” said Rich Gonzalez, PrepCal Track editor. “Her excellence throughout 2023 on Colorado courses at altitude set her up for nationals, where her strength and tactical racing opened up the field. She was the best racer in the best races and she’s only a sophomore.” 

As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $4.9 million in grants to winners across more than 1,900 organizations. 

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. 
 

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