Past Independent Female Athlete of the Year recipients
2015: Hayley Romo
2014: Hayley Romo
2013: Miranda Caballero
2012: Maile Keanu
2011: Kelsey Callaghan
2010: Riley Dopps
2009: Stephanie Osterdahl
2008: Kaileigh Westermann
2007: Madison Rousell
2006: Madison Rousell
2005: Brittany Miller
Emma York made a name for herself both on the field and in the classroom during her time at South Kitsap.
She played multiple positions for the volleyball team and helped the softball team make it to the post-season, all while taking four advanced placement (AP) classes, serving as senior class president and graduating with a GPA of 3.94, finishing eighth in her class.
For those reasons, York is the Port Orchard Independent Female Athlete of the year.
Even though the volleyball season had its frustrations, York played as the team’s outside hitter and setter. Her favorite memory on the court came during the “Dig Pink” game, which also happened to be Senior Night.
“We had lost our first two sets and came back and won the next three,” York said. “And being Senior Night, it was very emotional.”
While also serving as senior class president and working overtime studying for her four AP exams that took place in the spring, York also played first base for the Wolves softball team.
The Wolves finished with a 13-12 record and competed in the district tournament to close out their season.
Again, during her last game in the maroon and gold for South Kitsap, York created one of her most memorable moments.
Although they ultimately lost 11-8 to Tahoma, York made her last game count, going three-for-four on the day and left everything on the field, in a big way.
“On my very last at-bat, I hit a home run,” she said. “That was a very cool moment.”
York, along with several of her teammates, received her diploma at the Tacoma Dome June 14. She graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.94, in the top 10 of her class and with departmental honors.
“Some people say to focus just on sports or schooling, only be good at one,” she said. “I do ASB, take four AP class and play sports. It’s not fun all the time, but it pays off in the end.”
York will be attending the University of Washington in the fall to study mathematics and eventually become an actuary.
“It’s very bittersweet, but I’m ready to move on to the next chapter,” she said.
What she’s going to miss most about being a Wolf is the bond she held with her teammates.
“A lot I don’t normally see at school. We hung in different crowds, but with sports, there’s a wide variety of people and we all came together,” York said.
She also recognized her coaches’ hard work and the passion they put into every player.
“They push us to be better people,” she said. “They instill characteristics in us that they aren’t always recognized for, but they deserve so much.”
Although her time at South Kitsap has come to an end, York said she is ready to go to the University of Wwashington and eventually into the rest of her life. And even though school sports may not be in her future at the moment, she is proud to have all her hard work on and off the field pay off.
“All the classes get very stressful. To get recognition for how hard it is to do both, the time, energy and dedication … it’s nice to have that hard work recognized,” she said.
