I am doing a six-week series of columns counting down my current top-30 Mustang High School athletes. The series started this week with Nos. 26-30 on my list.

26. Madison Maxwell, senior, girls basketball

Madison Maxwell has developed into one of the top girls basketball players on the Lady Broncos roster in the past two seasons.

As a sophomore, she was thrust into the varsity rotation when fellow sophomore guard Bailey Flynn went down with a season-ending injury. The young Lady Bronco struggled at first, but eventually developed confidence and played a key role in the Bronco girls making it to the regional championship game against eventual state champion Booker T. Washington Hornets.

Her junior year campaign was much more consistent for Maxwell. She led the team in scoring in multiple games and developed a reputation for creating turnovers and leading Mustang on many fast-break opportunities throughout the season.

The slick ball-handling guard has a rare knack for getting inside the paint area and despite her smallness in size, can get the ball to the rim despite having taller defenders around her.

27. Sarah Kellogg, junior, girls basketball and girls golf

Sarah Kellogg is one of the bright up-and-coming young athletes at Mustang High School.

Kellogg competes in two sports for MHS. The tall, athletic junior is a reserve forward for the Lady Broncos basketball team and one of the top golfers for the Bronco girls golf team.

As a sophomore, Kellogg played the role of scrappy rebounder and defender for the Mustang girls basketball team. In numerous games, she would come in and provide a much-needed spark for the Lady Broncos.

On the golf course, Kellogg improved her game dramatically by the end of the season last year. Her game got more consistent with each round she played.

As a junior this coming year, Kellogg will play a much bigger role for the girls basketball team as well as well as being a key cog on the girls golf team.

28. Josh Vannoy, senior, boys soccer and football

Josh Vannoy is a dual sport athlete at Mustang High School and he has made his name with his right foot.

Vannoy is a defense-man on the Bronco boys soccer team, where he utilizes his size and strength to fend off offensive attacks from opponents.

On the gridiron, Vannoy does the place-kicking for the Broncos. Last season, he was consistently good on his extra points and his powerful leg gives Mustang head coach Jeremy Dombek confidence to use him when MHS needs points deep inside the opposing territory.

Vannoy will be counted on this coming year to provide leadership both on the soccer field and on the gridiron.

Look for Vannoy to have an impact at the end of a Bronco football game this fall with the clock winding down with a chance to win the game with his right foot and the ball sailing through the uprights.

29. Bailey Flynn, senior, girls basketball

Bailey Flynn would be much higher on this list, but she hasn’t seen much action on the basketball court because of the injuries she sustained her sophomore and junior years.

Flynn started every game at the point guard position for the Lady Broncos as a freshman. She made her name with her ability to knock down long-range 3-point shots and the leadership she provided at a young age.

If Flynn can stay healthy this season for the Bronco girls as a senior, she will have a big impact on the squad. As a freshman, she led the Lady Broncos to the state tournament, let’s hope she has that same kind of magic for this year’s group.

30. Lauren Sloan, senior, girls golf

Lauren Sloan came on strong late in the season for the Lady Broncos golf team this past spring.

The senior right-hander started off the year with a few bumps in the road, but from the midpoint until the state tournament, the young Lady Bronco made her name known across the state.

Sloan’s solid play in the postseason tournaments will sling-shot her into her senior season with a lot of confidence. She will be counted on to provide a lot of leadership to a relatively young team next spring for the Bronco girls on the golf course.

Salomon can be reached at ksalomon@mustangnews.info