THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Basha High School Athletics

Taylor Drewry might have to make some more space in her trophy cabinet. Drewry, a junior at Chandler Basha, has been named the 2024-25 Arizona Gatorade Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. She successfully defended her Division I state title this past fall at the Arizona Interscholastic Association Cross Country Championships, joining a short list of athletes in Arizona history to win consecutive titles at the state’s highest level. In addition to defending her Division I individual title, Drewry was the Chandler City champion and also ran the third-fastest time in the state for the 5,000 meters at 17:55. Drewry fared well against out-of-state competition, traveling to California and winning the Blue Varsity A race at the prestigious Woodbridge Cross Country Classic. She had to rehabilitate a lower leg injury suffered during the track and field season as well as recover from a nasty fall, which required six stitches just below her knee. “I give so much credit to her for continuing to work hard after all she’s had to overcome,” said Basha coach Angela Orr. Drewry is the first athlete ever, boys or girls, from Basha to win the award. “I think it’s really important because she’s our only athlete that’s ever been honored as player of the year,” Orr said. “I’m not even sure if anyone from CUSD (Chandler Unified School District) has gotten the honor for cross-country. It does definitely help our program, make people see us as a stronger program. “It’s hard. Chandler sports are so deep and so good at all the schools. It does help us stand out a little bit.” With the award, Drewry’s name is now next to athletes who hold rarefied air in Arizona, including past winners such as Goodyear Millennium’s Landen LeBlond (in her freshman season competing at Oregon) and Chandler Valley Christian’s Lauren Ping (currently at Oklahoma State).

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Basha High School Athletics

BASHA'S TAYLOR DREWRY IS ARIZONA GATORADE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LOGAN STANLEY

AZ Central | 8/8/2025