When selecting a Female Athlete of the Year for the Kent schools it was no slam dunk. That’s a compliment to the overall high school athletic gracing the area these days.

Kentwood’s Jessie Genger took home The Reporter’s top honor last year and probably could have received the nod a second time around after helping the Conquerors win a state basketball title and place among the top four at state in volleyball for the third straight year.

Still, the final decision was difficult — and a look below at the Reporter’s Top Female Prep Athletes will show why it was difficult.

KAYLA SHIRA, KENTLAKE

How good of a gymnast was Shira this past winter? So good she even named her own gymnastics pose during the state meet, albeit jokingly. Boiled down, Shira proved to be the best gymnast to hit the area since Kentwood’s Liz Grajewski in 2002. She was the backbone to a deep and talented Kentlake team that took a school-best second at the state meet with 173.025 points, which also was a team scoring record. A Level 10 club competitor, Shira was in her first year on the high school team and certainly left her mark, winning the state all-around title (38.05 points), along with individual event titles on the floor (9.825), beam (9.825) and uneven bars (9.575). During the state meet, she delivered a pose during her beam routine – a one-armed handstand with her legs raised in the air – that she coined, “The Shira.” The Kentlake star will attend Washington State University next year.

JAMIE LARSEN, KENTWOOD

Quietly, Larsen produced one of the finest all-around seasons by any local athlete this year. A gifted all-around athlete, the Kentwood senior qualified for state in gymnastics during the winter and on the track during the spring. More than just qualify for state, Larsen left an indelible mark on both programs. In gymnastics, she posted a 37.025 all-around score at the state meet, which earned fourth place. And though she has been competing in gymnastics the majority of her life, Larsen left her biggest mark in the pole vault this spring by establishing a new school record in the event at 10 feet, 3 inches. That was good for ninth at the state meet. Larsen will be competing in the pole vault next year at Central Washington University.

JESSIE GENGER, KENTWOOD

Talk about a gifted athlete. Genger jumps out of the gym on the volleyball floor and shoots one of the prettiest 3-pointers around on the basketball court. The Reporter’s Female Athlete of the Year last year, Genger continued to impress, earning co-MVP honors on the volleyball court and taking home first-time accolades in basketball. Moved from middle blocker to outside hitter in volleyball, the 5-10 senior helped the Conquerors finish among the top four at state for a third straight year. In basketball, she was KW’s No. 2 option on the floor and averaged a steady 14 points per game. One of the Valley’s truly gifted athletes, Genger will play volleyball on scholarship at Boise State next year.

JOLENE CROOK-MEYERS, KENTWOOD

Crook-Meyers is as gritty and tough as they come, yet she was all smiles holding a bouquet of flowers at the end of the state wrestling tournament. Her ear-to-ear grin was understandable as Crook-Meyers became the school’s second female to ever win a state crown, pinning Skyline’s Alexis Willcher in 1:12. She finished the wrestling season with an impressive 29-3 record. In addition, she also pinned her way to league and sub-regional titles. But Crook-Meyers was nearly as good on the soccer pitch, where she earned first-team All-SPSL North accolades as a midfielder, leading Kentwood to a league title and its fourth straight state berth.

CHELSEA BAILEY, KENTLAKE

Considering everything Bailey did in the swimming pool last fall, it’s hard to believe she’s still just a sophomore. At state, she became the first girl in state history to break the 50-second mark in the 100-yard freestyle, stopping the watches in a mesmerizing 49.82 seconds. That was fast enough not only for Bailey to win the Class 4A title, but also fast enough to eclipse the old mark of 50.16, set in 2003 by former Bainbridge High star and 2008 U.S. Olympic swimmer Emily Silver. But Bailey wasn’t done there as she placed second in the 100 backstroke and also helped the Falcons take third in the 200 free relay.