VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S WESTBROOK, ATHENS' THOMPSON SHARE 2020-21 FEMALE 'NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR' HONORS (2021-08-15)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY "”
Waverly 8th-grader Addison Westbrook and
Athens freshman Mya Thompson made their marks in multiple sports in their first year of varsity competition and will share the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report Female "Newcomer of the Year" honors.
Only an 8th-grader, Westbrook provided solid minutes off the bench for the Waverly basketball team consistently this season, and showed flashes of becoming a dynamic scorer.
Westbrook, primarily a spot-up shooter (and a very good one at that) averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 deflections, and 1.7 steals per game. She also knocked down 10 3-pointers.
Her best two games this season came against Tioga. She scored 16 points in a win at home, then four days later, she poured in a career-high 23 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win at Tioga.
On the soccer pitch, Westbrook scored three goals and had one assist in Waverly's six-game season.
At the Class C Track & Field Championships, Westbrook ran on the second-place 1600-meter relay team , which placed fifth at the Section IV Showcase. The relay finished second at the IAC Championships.
Thompson medalled in four events at the District 4 Track & Field Championships She placed sixth in the triple jump, and sixth in the long jump at Districts, and also ran on a pair of fifth-place relays - the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events.
Thompson won a silver medal in the in the long jump at the NTL Coaches Invite, and was eighth in the triple jump. She also ran on a pair of gold-medal relays - the 400- and 1,600-meter events.
A starter, and all-Valley performer on the soccer pitch, Thompson scored two goals and doled out three assists in her first varsity season.
Thompson also saw a bit of time on the varsity hardwood, and should be a major contributor for the Lady Wildcats the next three years.
Westbrook was the VSR Basketball "Newcomer of the Year," while Thompson won the same honor in track & field.
2020-21 Female "Newcomers of the Year:"
Addison Westbrook, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.
Mya Thompson, freshman, Athens: See above.
Harper Minaker, 8th-grader, Waverly: Minaker consistently led the Lady Wolverines' cross country team in dual meets, and invitationals. She finished fourth at the IAC Large School Divisional meet, and fourth at the overall IAC Championships. Minaker finished 15th at the Section IV Championships.
She was the VSR Cross Country "Runner of the Year."
On the track, Minaker finished seventh in the 1,500-meter run at the Section IV Showcase, after a second-place finish in the event at the Class C Championships.
At the IAC Championships, Minaker placed fourth in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. She finished second in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs at the IAC South Divisional meet.
Paige Robinson, freshman, Waverly: On the hardwoods, Robinson is a presence in the open floor. She averaged 3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 deflections, and 1.2 steals per game.
On the track, Robinson was sixth in the 400-meter dash, and sixth in the pole vault at the Section IV, Class C Championships,
Robinson was third in the pole vault and the 400-meter dash, fourth in the 200-meter dash, and sixth in the 100-meter dash at the IAC South Large School divisional meet.
Natalie Garrity, sophomore, Waverly: On the track, Garrity was sixth in the long jump, seventh in the 100-meter dash, and ran on the third-place 400-meter relay at the IAC Championships.
Garrity was fifth in the 100-meter dash, and seventh in the long jump at the Class C Championships.. She also ran on the third-place 400-meter relay team, which went on to finish fifth at the Section IV Showcase.
In the pool, Garrity finished second at the IAC Diving Championships, and was fourth at the Section IV, Class C Championships.
Reese Howey, sophomore, Tioga: On the hardwoods, Howey can handle the ball, score in transition or in the low blocks, and is a strong rebounder. She will likely be the go-to offensive player for the Lady Tigers the next two seasons.
On the volleyball hardwoods, a versatile player, Howey is effective at the net, but can also handle the ball defensively.
Peyton Shaw, freshman, Waverly: A physical low-post presence, Shaw can also step out and hit the occasional 3-pointer. She averaged 3.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 deflections, and 1.4 steals per game this season.
A solid defensive first baseman on the softball diamond, Shaw had 12 hits, seven RBI, and seven runs scored for the Lady Wolverines this spring.
