Carmi-White County seniors Kale Wiggins and Ashlyn Rager have been voted as the 2025 WRUL Sports Male and Female Athletes of the Year!
Wiggins and Rager are both four-sport athletes, leading the way for their teams during the 2024-2025 school year.
Wiggins played a vital role in leading Carmi-White County Football team to their 4th consecutive playoff appearance. In the final four games of the season, Wiggins saw an increase in carries becoming the number 3 option in the Bulldog offense, and Wiggins made the most of his opportunities. Wiggins carried the ball 51 times for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns. Wiggins was also 4th on the team in tackles with 53, including the 2nd most tackles for loss with 7 as a defensive back, earning him an All-BDC 1st Team nod.
Wiggins carried his success from the football field to the wrestling mat, winning 18 matches during his senior season.
In the spring, Wiggins juggled track and tennis for the Bulldogs. Wiggins’ 4×1 Relay Team re-broke the CWCHS record with a 44.21 run at Sectionals, qualifying them for the IHSA State Track meet and breaking the record which they broke a season ago. Wiggins also qualified for State in the 300 Meter Hurdles.
Not only did Wiggins excel on the field, mat, track, and court, but also in the classroom. Wiggins was Valedictorian for the Class of 2025, and he will be attending Purdue University in the fall to study Engineering.
Senior Ashlyn Rager began her senior year leading the Carmi-White County Lady Bulldog Volleyball team to a school record 37 wins. The Lady Bulldogs made it all the way to the Super-Sectional, winning back-to-back Regional & Sectional Championships, along with a Black Diamond Conference Championship. Rager was awarded a BDC All-Conference nod as well as a spot on the All-South Volleyball team.
Rager’s senior basketball season hit a major bump in the road. After averaging 5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in her junior year, Rager was ready to take her game and the Lady Bulldogs to the next level. In just the 2nd game of the season, Rager broke her foot. In what was originally thought to be a season-ending injury, Rager returned to the floor after missing 12 games. Rager averaged 5 points and 5.5 rebounds once again as she helped guide the Lady Bulldogs to their second consecutive BDC Championship, and their second consecutive regional championship game appearance.
Rager also balanced two sports in the spring. After qualifying for State as a junior in discus, Rager decided to play softball for the first time since 8th grade. Watching her play, you never would’ve guessed that Rager hadn’t played softball in 4 years. Rager batted .291 for the Lady Bulldogs, which included 12 RBI and 1 Home Run. Rager finished in 2nd Place in the Conference in Discus, and was one place away from advancing to the State Track Meet for the 2nd straight season.
Ashlyn will be continuing her volleyball career at the collegiate level, she will be attending Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington to major in Exercise Science.
Kale Wiggins and Ashlyn Rager are prime examples of what it means to be a Carmi-White County Bulldog. Hard work and dedication with excellence in everything they do. They will be very difficult to replace, and the CWC sports community will miss them dearly.
Congratulations to Kale Wiggins and Ashlyn Rager, your 2025 WRUL Male & Female Athletes of the Year!
