But when athletic director Cheryl Brewer called out her name to come get a plaque designating her as the Yadkin Valley Conference female athlete of the year, the three-sport star had her name forever etched in the conference’s record book.
Since it is a new conference, she is the first winner of the award in the history of the league.
“Coach Brewer was talking about how we started playing in a new conference last year,” Hill said, “and that the conference awarded a female and male athlete of the year award. Then she called out my name as being the winner of the award for females. I was shocked, but happy at the same time. It made me feel really good.”
The award was voted on by the conference’s athletic directors during a meeting late last school year, but the results weren’t announced until a meeting last Friday, Brewer said. Each school was allowed to nominate one male and one female for the honor.
“She is just a good kid,” Brewer said. “She participates in three sports, she carries herself well and she is actively involved in other things than sports, like student government. She is just a model kid.”
Hill earned all-conference recognition in volleyball, basketball and softball last season. She was runner-up in the voting for the conference’s basketball player of the year. She doesn’t have any one favorite sport.
“It depends on what sport I’m playing at the time,” she said. “I like to devote all my attention to the sport I’m playing.”
Brewer, who coached Hill in basketball, pointed to Hill’s versatility as one of her strongest assets.
“She is very versatile,” Brewer said. “She played several different positions for us. Her natural position is shooting guard, but she would play underneath when we needed her. She was willing to sacrifice for the team.”
And Hill realizes that her accomplishment came in a team setting.
“It feels good to get an award like this,” she said, “but I know you can’t do it by yourself — it’s a team effort.”
Hill is the daughter of Tami and Ricky Hill of Bennett.
