Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
MK Gomez Named Utah’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year
5/29/2020 9:48 AM | Softball
Outfielder now finalist for National POY award in June
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Softball incoming freshman Makaiya "MK" Gomez was named the state's Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
The outfielder from West Jordan was a three-time First Team All-State selection for the Copper Hills Grizzlies. Gomez posted a .632 batting average this spring before the season was cancelled. That followed a junior year in which she batted .704, tops in the state, with a 1.254 slugging percentage—she struck out just once in 2019 and concluded her prep softball career with a .574 batting average, 136 hits, 119 RBI and 115 runs scored.
MK is the daughter of Maddie Gomez and Eric Gonzalez, a Utah alum. She has three siblings, Preston, Sybella and Sophie and plans to major in kinesiology to become a physical therapist. She is a honor roll student at Copper Hills and an All-Region Academic selection that also played basketball. In her spare time, she works at a local community center coaching softball and volunteers at a local homeless shelter and food bank.
"MK is a Utah kid who was determined to be a Ute," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "She came to camps year after year and became an easy pick for us to add to this 2020 class. She's gritty, does not back down from a challenge and brings a ton of leadership qualities to the field. She is an outfielder with speed and a left-handed hitter who is a triple threat."
"Makaiya is a once-in-a-lifetime player for any high school coach," Copper Hills head coach John Flores stated. "She is one of the most inspiring, humble, confident and unselfish kids I have ever coached."
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation's most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The filter bar below allows you to search all state winners since 1985. The Gatorade National Player of the Year will be announced in June
The outfielder from West Jordan was a three-time First Team All-State selection for the Copper Hills Grizzlies. Gomez posted a .632 batting average this spring before the season was cancelled. That followed a junior year in which she batted .704, tops in the state, with a 1.254 slugging percentage—she struck out just once in 2019 and concluded her prep softball career with a .574 batting average, 136 hits, 119 RBI and 115 runs scored.
MK is the daughter of Maddie Gomez and Eric Gonzalez, a Utah alum. She has three siblings, Preston, Sybella and Sophie and plans to major in kinesiology to become a physical therapist. She is a honor roll student at Copper Hills and an All-Region Academic selection that also played basketball. In her spare time, she works at a local community center coaching softball and volunteers at a local homeless shelter and food bank.
"MK is a Utah kid who was determined to be a Ute," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "She came to camps year after year and became an easy pick for us to add to this 2020 class. She's gritty, does not back down from a challenge and brings a ton of leadership qualities to the field. She is an outfielder with speed and a left-handed hitter who is a triple threat."
"Makaiya is a once-in-a-lifetime player for any high school coach," Copper Hills head coach John Flores stated. "She is one of the most inspiring, humble, confident and unselfish kids I have ever coached."
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation's most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The filter bar below allows you to search all state winners since 1985. The Gatorade National Player of the Year will be announced in June
Utah Softball's Hailee White Feature
Tuesday, April 15
Utah Softball's Jolie Mayfield Feature
Friday, March 28
Utah Softball - The Inaugural 1976 Team
Wednesday, March 19
University of Utah Athletics - A Storied History
Friday, August 02