Dylan Willingham, a senior forward from Washburn Rural High School, has been crowned the 2025–26 Kansas Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year, an honor that celebrates excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
His impact was immediate and historic: he guided the team to a Class 6A state championship, tallying 37 goals and seven assists, a performance that set a single‑season school record and placed him at the top of the state’s scoring charts.
A season that rewrote the record books
The accolade also recognized his all‑state selection and a United Soccer Coaches All‑American nod, underscoring a career that culminated with 67 career goals, the most in program history.
Beyond statistics, Willingham maintained a strong academic record and devoted time to local youth clinics, embodying the character component of the Gatorade award.
Looking ahead, the standout athlete has committed to continue his soccer journey at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he hopes to build on the foundation forged in Kansas.