In the era of sports specialization, three outstanding female athletes set themselves apart by shining in multiple sports during 2023-24 high school sports year.
The following three athletes have been selected as finalists for The Columbian All-Region Multi-Sport Female Athlete of the Year: Sydney Dreves of Columbia River, Shaela Bradley of La Center and Peyton Dukes of Columbia River.
To be considered for this multi-sport honor, an athlete had to participate in sports in multiple seasons and earned a spot onto at least one All-Region team during the 2023-24 school year.
All three athletes will be honored at The Columbian’s All-Region Athletes Award ceremony on June 5 at Kiggins Theater. On that night, one of these athletes will be announced as the multi-sport athlete of the year.
Dreves, a junior, was an All-Region honoree in volleyball, helping Columbia River capture its third straight 2A state championship.
The junior outside hitter shined on offense and defense. Dreves had a team-high 234 digs along with 248 kills and a .445 hitting percentage.
In tennis, Dreves returned to the 2A state title match in doubles for a second straight year.
After winning the 2A doubles title last year with her sister Lauren, Dreves teamed up with Annie Morgan and advanced to the 2A doubles state title match last weekend in Seattle, falling in the final to Ella Morrow and Kira Carlson of Bellingham in three sets.
Bradley, a senior, was the All-Region girls soccer player of the year, leading La Center to the 1A state semifinals for the first time in school history.
Bradley ended her prep career with 137 goals, including all five of the Wildcats’ goals in the state playoffs. She will play soccer next year at Rutgers University.
She capped a successful senior year with a standout performance at the 1A state track and field meet last weekend in Yakima.
She earned runner-up finishes in the 400 meters (57.49 seconds) and long jump (17-7.25), was a finalist in the 100 meters (12.77) and helped La Center place fifth in 800-meter relay. She posted the county’s best marks of the season in the 400 and long jump among athletes in all classifications.
Dukes, a junior, was a three-sport standout for Columbia River.
Dukes earned an All-Region honor in soccer. She was the 2A Greater St. Helens League Defensive Most Valuable Player, anchoring a Rapids defense that gave up only 11 goals. Dukes also netted nine goals and six assists as River took third place at the 2A state tournament.
In basketball, she was a starter and key contributor for a River team that reached the 2A state quarterfinals for the first time since 1998.
In track and field, she was a multi-event athlete, competing in the long jump, triple jump, javelin and 800 relay.
She was the 2A GSHL and District 4 champion in the triple jump and a state finalist in the event. She jumped an area season-best at all classifications of 35 feet, 9 inches at the district meet.
