From her state record-breaking 55 soccer goals in a season to her performance in the classroom, senior Sonora Defini has seen her fair share of recognition, and she is on the shortlist for more. Yesterday, she was announced as one of three finalists for the inaugural Nebraska Girls Athlete of the Year, The Jordan Larson Award, an honor recognizing Nebraska’s top female high school athlete, for her performance as a forward during the 2024 soccer season.
“It’s an honor,” Defini said. “There has to be a lot of hard work and dedication to put into your sport. There’s a lot of focus that goes into soccer for me, and it’s become something that I do every day.”
According to The Jet Award Foundation, the foundation presenting the award, candidates were selected for their outstanding contributions to their sport(s) throughout the 2023-24 school year. Defini was one of eighteen original candidates selected and announced on Nov. 15. Since then, a panel of voters including media members from the metro and other contributors to high school athletics, the candidates were narrowed down to Defeni and two others: Elkhorn North 2024 graduate Britt Prince, for her success in basketball and track, and Gretna High senior Alexis Jensen for her success in softball.
While Prince has continued to make a name for herself, playing women’s basketball at Nebraska, it says something that her name is next to two Gretna Public Schools seniors as finalists.
“It says a lot about our community,” Gretna East Girls Head Soccer Coach Chace Hutchinson said. “The work ethic we have within our community and the dedication to extracurricular activities. I think what it says about the Gretna community and about our programs is you can succeed at really high levels even in a closed district.”
This nomination follows other accomplishments for Defini, including a single-season record number of goals and being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 for girls’ soccer in the state of Nebraska. While Defini has received these accolades, she hopes to continue to take these experiences into her upcoming season.
“I want to take that next step and continue to excel in soccer,” she said. “But the most important thing is being there for my team, doing whatever I can for my team and celebrating my teammates.”
The award was named in honor of Nebraska Hall of Famer and 4-time Olympic medalist Jordan Larson. Larson’s volleyball legacy includes: winning a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and winning gold at the 2014 FIVB World Championships and the Volleball Nations League in 2018, 2019 and 2021. She is also a three-time All-American and was a member of the Husker volleyball team that won the 2006 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
“Jordan Larson has really represented female athletes in a good light,” Defini said. “I think it’s cool that females get the opportunity to win this award because I feel like a lot of time female sports aren’t recognized as they should.”
The winner will be announced and presented with a trophy on April 10, at the 14th annual Jet Award Gala.
“Gretna East should be proud of her that she’s a representative for us,” Hutchinson said. “We’re excited for her.”
