FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: The cream of the crop

Club honors girls from Basic, Green Valley and Foothill

Female athletes from each Clark County School District high school, including those in Henderson, were honored at the Las Vegas Athletic Clubs Female Athletes of the Year awards event in May. The event was designed to celebrate young female athletes and inspire women to remain physically active through adulthood.

For the second year, Connie Stewart, women's activities coordinator for the athletic club, organized the event, which sought to honor one female athlete from each school. She contacted the school district and 28 high school athletic programs responded with their choice for the best female athlete, including Basic, Boulder City, Coronado, Foothill, Green Valley and Silverado high schools, as well as Southern Nevada Vocational Technical College.

"Judging from many of the women chosen it was more than their performance. It was what they contributed to the teams as well," Steward said.

The athletes tend to be high-achievers in nonsport areas as well.

"All of them have excelled at multiple things," Stewart said, pointing to high grade point averages and academics. "It bears out the fact that young women do better in academics if they are involved in sports."

For Stewart, the idea for the awards is personal. She found through the Women's National Sports Foundation that teens who regularly exercise are less likely to use drugs or smoke, have less incidences of teen pregnancy and pursue education further. In addition she said studies from the American Medical Association show that active girls run less risk of suffering from adulthood diseases such as breast cancer and osteoporosis. This gave her the idea to promote high school athletes.

Stewart said an added incentive to the award was not only recognizing the individual high school athletes but also inspiring girls to see what female athletes can accomplish.

"We hope that by focusing on young women it will encourage girls to participate," she said.

Seven Henderson-area student-athletes were honored at the luncheon held May 22.

Britney Randall of Basic High School participated in soccer, cross-country, track and field and diving last year for the Wolves. She earned numerous awards including an all-state academic team selection, and she's an eight-time Scholar Award winner. She was student body treasurer last year, was in National Honor Society and is the Youth Conference Committee President for her church.

"Every win or loss has helped me to learn how to overcome trials and try harder to win the next game," Randall said.

Boulder City High School student Chelsey Friedmann was identified by her coaches as an outstanding player this year following her performance in soccer and softball. The valedictorian of her graduating class, Friedmann also played in the school orchestra and was in National Honor Society.

The Coronado Cougars wouldn't have been the same without Lauren Bucherie on the volleyball and softball teams. She was voted varsity volleyball MVP in 2001 and 2002 as well as Sunset Rotary Scholar Athlete in 2002. She also earned the Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award. She was active in student council and participates in a church outreach program.

"Athletics has given me a feeling of empowerment, as well as tremendous confidence in who I am," she said.

Roxanne Ritchie of Foothill High School was on the Falcons volleyball, basketball and softball teams last year. She has earned a softball scholarship to the Community College of Southern Nevada after being named MVP in varsity softball and basketball. She has also received a Brigham Young University Academic Scholarship. Ritchie was in the National Honor Society and Foothill marching band, and she works as a Red Cross volunteer and is active in her church.

Green Valley High School coaches picked Carolyn Forbush for the Las Vegas Athletics Club honor for her performance in volleyball and basketball. Thanks to her work on the volleyball court, for which she received an Outstanding Offense Award, she has earned a full scholarship to Utah State University.

"My participation in women's athletics has been a wonderful experience," Forbush said. "It has given me the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships."

Lacee Koelliker of the Silverado High School Skyhawks volleyball team has not only received numerous awards for her athleticism, but also plays piano. She has been team MVP for the past three years and Sunrise Region MVP for 2001 and 2002.

"My coaches have been so influential in my growth. Under their direction I have grown as an athlete, a student and a person," she said.

Vo-Tech student Perla Melendez was on the soccer, swimming and cross-country teams. She has earned accolades including varsity soccer Inspirational Award for 2001 and 2002, varsity soccer Leadership Award for 2002 and 2003, the Millennium Scholarship and the Latino Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. The Roadrunners' athlete has been active in the Key Club, Latino Club, Health Occupations Club, student council and in her church.


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