Selecting an Athlete of the Year is never an easy one, especially in Federal Way.
During the course of the school year, I see hundreds of athletes from a variety of sports. When selecting the ultimate winner, however, three-sport standouts typically have a slight advantage over those who take part in just one or two sports.
That’s how the Federal Way Mirror came to choose Federal Way High School’s Jacqie Evenson as the 2008-09 Female Athlete of the Year. Evenson did it all on the soccer field during the fall, the basketball court during the winter and on the track during the spring.
The final decision, however, always is a tough one, especially when taking into account the sheer level of talent from the four high schools that are part of the Federal Way School District.
That being the case, below is the list of those who also were considered for the honor in no particular order:
Hannah Kiyohara, Jefferson
The junior excelled on the fastpitch field and the basketball court for the Raiders and has already verbally committed to play softball following her senior season at the University of Louisville.
On the softball field, Kiyohara was named the Mirror’s Player of the Year after an impressive junior season, in which she led the Raiders to their second state tournament berth in the past three years.
Kiyohara had a very impressive season at the plate for the Raiders. She led TJ in basically every offensive category during the regular season, which is impressive enough. But Kiyohara did it while hitting mostly from the leadoff position.
Kiyohara finished with a .508 batting average, 33 hits, two triples, one home run, scored 21 times, knocked in 22 runs and stole eight bases — all of which led the Raiders. She also led the SPSL North Division with 14 runs scored and a .744 slugging percentage.
But offense isn’t the only thing that Kiyohara can do on the softball field. She is also one of the best defensive shortstops around and gets to balls that other players can’t.
“I would describe myself as a player that just always goes in there and gets the job done,” Kiyohara said. “I’m not flashy or anything like that. But I make a lot of plays that other people don’t.”
On the basketball court, Kiyohara made her second-straight appearance on the Mirror’s All-City Team after contributing 12.1 points and four rebounds a game. Kiyohara scored more than 20 points three times, including a 32-point outburst in a win over Kent-Meridian in December and back-to-back 25- and 24-point efforts against Kentwood and Federal Way, the top-two teams in the SPSL.
Jayme Carbon, Jefferson
The senior was a standout on the golf course, basketball court and softball field for the Raiders. In golf, Carbon played at four-straight Class 4A State Golf Tournament and will play at Eastern Washington. She placed in the top 20 at the West Central District every year and finished fifth in the fall. She ended up in 14th place last month at the state tournament in the Tri-Cities.
Carbon was a first-team, All-South Puget Sound League selection during her junior and senior seasons and was a second-teamer as a freshman and sophomore. Carbon is also the TJ record-holder in individual wins in a season (nine) and career (14). She was also a Washington Junior Golf Association state qualifier in 2009 and district qualifier the previous three years.
In basketball, Carbon averaged two points a game as a reserve for the Raiders, who were one win away from qualifying for the state tournament.
On the softball diamond, Carbon had another solid season for TJ. The third baseman hit .400 on the season with four doubles, two triples, 16 runs and eight RBIs. Carbon also stole three bases and was one of the better defensive players in the league.
“Jayme is a pure athlete, and I think she will develop really well here,” Eastern Washington golf coach Mark Hughes said. “She doesn’t have the experience that the others have, but she has been devoted to a number of sports. She could have gone and played softball as easily as golf. She has intangibles that will make progress easier for her.”
Stacey Albrecht, Jefferson
The 6-foot-1 senior at TJ was a huge post presence for the Raider basketball team all season. Albrecht scored in double digits in 18 of Jefferson’s games this year and was an All-City selection after averaging 13 points a game. But rebounding is where Albrecht was most dominant.
Albrecht led the SPSL North at 12.2 rebounds a game and set the all-time Jefferson career record for rebounds. She finished the 2008-09 season with 292 rebounds, including 114 on the offensive end. Albrecht also led the Raiders in steals with 70. She will play at Central Washington.
On the Raider track team, Albrecht was a solid high jumper and triple jumper. She cleared a personal-best 5-2 in the high jump and had a 32-3 1/2 leap in the triple jump.
Megan Miller, Beamer
The Beamer senior was one of the better soccer players in the SPSL during her career and will play in the fall at Oregon State University.
Miller was a big-time playmaker for the Titans. The forward was second on Beamer in points with 13 goals and eight assists, behind junior Holland Crook, who has already committed to play at Arizona State.
Miller had two or more goals in five games, including a hat trick against Bethel and was a first-team, All-SPSL selection and a first-team, All-State selection following her senior season.
The Oregon State women’s soccer team finished the 2008 season with a 6-11-2 record and were 1-7-1 in Pac-10 Conference play. On the season, the Beavers played 15 one-goal matches and finished just 6-9-0 in those games.
Sarah Isaac, Decatur
The senior was a solid three-sport contributor for the Gators on the soccer field, basketball court and softball diamond.
Isaac was an All-SPSL first-teamer as a defensive player for the Decatur soccer team.
She tallied three goals and one assist during the season. Isaac was an honorable mention All-SPSL South selection in basketball after averaging 4.4 points and playing solid defense, and she was a solid contributor for the softball team.
Alleah Pac, Federal Way
The senior was the Eagles’ leading scorer on the soccer field during the fall and was Federal Way’s best hitter during the softball season. She was All-City in both sports. Pac finished seventh in the SPSL North with a .394 batting average. She also had three doubles and had an on-base percentage of .459 and slugged .485.
Pac will play both next year at Hamline University in Minnesota.
