Gatorade has officially announced its male winner of their prestigious Athlete ("Player") of the Year award for the 2025 Track and Field season. Each year, a national winner is announced on the boys' and girls' sides, as well as a winner for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For the second straight year, Nixa's Jackson Cantwell has received the honor in Missouri.
Cantwell has stolen headlines all season for his incredible performances in his junior campaign. He now owns the overall State record, as well as the records for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in the Shot Put after hitting 23.45m (76-11.25) at this year's MSHSAA Class 5 State Championships and finishing just a centimeter off the NFHS record set in 1979 by 1984 Olympian and former NFL player Michael Carter. He also won the Discus in Class 5 for the second straight year, throwing a personal best and MO No. 3 All-Time of 64.13m (210-4.75).
After announcing his commitment to the University of Miami to play football, Cantwell announced that the 2025 season will be his last. He ended his track and field career with five individual State titles in six attempts, as well as national titles at Nike Outdoor Nationals 2024 and 2025 and the 2025 U20 Championships.
Gatorade's press release and website also detailed his academic and extracurricular success, noting his 4.0 Grade Point Average and participation in volunteering for Least of These Food Pantry, the only food pantry which services Christian County, and as a youth track and field coach and peer tutor.