Congratulations to Brandywine senior Miley Young for winning the South Bend Tribune 2024-25 Female Athlete of the Year poll, presented by the YMCA of Greater Michiana! Young was a three-sport star for the Bobcats in Niles, Mich. this year.
Here is more on Young and our other nominees from this year.
WINNER: Brandywine (Mich.) senior Miley Young
Young was a third team all-area selection in girls basketball after leading the Bobcats to the MHSAA D3 state semifinals for a second-straight season. Brandywine went 27-1, with Young playing elite defense to go along with averages of 9ppg, 4rpg, 4.4apg and 3.1spg. In the fall, she qualified for the state cross country meet. Then, in the spring, she was a four-time MHSAA D3 state track qualifier, advancing in the 800-meter run, 4×200-meter relay, 4×400 relay and 4×800 relay.
OTHER NOMINEES
Bremen senior Kila Foster
Foster guided the Lions to an IHSAA 2A girls basketball sectional title with averages of 18.6ppg, 3.3rpg and 2.6spg, becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer in the process. She then advanced to the state track finals as part of the 4×400 relay team for Bremen.
Marquette Catholic junior Laniah Davis
Davis continued to be one of the best small-school girls basketball players in the state, leading the Blazers to the final four of 1A with averages of 19.4ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.9apg and 3.4spg.
Mishawaka Marian senior Daisy Moody
Moody’s 25 goals and 9 assists led the Knights, who finished as IHSAA Class 2A state runner-up following a 16-4-2 campaign.
New Prairie senior Ava Geyer
One of two Miss Softball finalists from the South Bend area, Geyer complied a 17-3 record with a 1.17 ERA and 228 strikeouts in the pitcher’s circle, moving her into the top 10 all time for strikeouts in a career in state history. She also batted .444 with 12 doubles and 37 RBIs.
NorthWood junior Naima Ghaffar
Ghaffar will forever be remembered as one of the first IHSAA girls wrestling state champions, winning the 135-pound title in the inaugural season of it being a sanctioned sport by the Association this winter. She went an impressive 46-1 overall in her junior campaign.
NorthWood senior Claire Payne
Payne was a three-sport star for the Panthers. In volleyball, she had 395 kills, 95 blocks and 47 aces for a team that went to the final four of 3A. In girls basketball, she posted averages of 14.5ppg, 11.8rpg and 1.7bpg. Then, in track, she was a two-time state qualifier in high jump and the 4×1 relay.
Penn freshman Shreya Nayee
Nayee was a breakout star this year. In cross country, she finished 13th at the state finals and was selected as the NIC MVP. During track season, she qualified for state in two events, the 1,600-meter run and the 4×8 relay, finishing 18th and 11th in those events respectively.
Penn junior Alayna Riggins
Riggins had a standout winter in the pool, finishing 2nd in the 50-yard freestyle, 5th in the 100-yard butterfly and 5th on the 200-yard medley relay for the Kingsmen at the girls state swimming championship meet.
Penn senior Ava Zachary
The second Miss Softball finalist had another sensational season, hitting .543 with 10 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs and 62 RBIs. The Kingsmen made it to the final four of Class 4A for a fourth-straight season this spring.
South Bend Saint Joseph junior Marley Dunham
Dunham led the Huskies to a 10th-place showing at the girls golf state finals this past fall. She was the team’s No. 1 player all season, backed up by being the low scorer for the group at state as well with a two-day score of +20.
South Bend Washington senior Monique Mitchell
Mitchell is mostly known for her basketball abilities, with the Akron recruit being named an Indiana All-Star following a season of 18.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.6apg and 3bpg. She also was a good track athlete, though, as well, advancing to the regionals in high jump.
South Bend Washington senior Kira Reynolds
Reynolds was named Tribune area player of the year in girls basketball following a season where she averaged 14.8ppg, 13.4rpg, 6apg, 3.5spg and 6.5bpg. She finished her career as the state’s all-time leading blocker.
South Bend Washington junior Adriana Swanson
Swanson was never beat in the 100-meter hurdles all spring, capping it off with winning an IHSAA state championship two weekends ago. She also placed 8th in the 300-meter hurdles at state.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brandywine’s Miley Young wins YMCA South Bend Tribune 2024-25 Female Athlete of the Year vote
Reporting by Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
