Monday, September 28, 2009

Top 10 female athletes (Sept. 1999 to present)


Blogger's note: The following is the fifth in a series commemorating the best in local high sports of the past decade. Today's topic – best female athletes.

10. Brittany Taylor, Canon-McMillan

Part of a trio which included Natasha Williams (on the basketball team at Akron) and Cameron Jones (an incredible athlete who stopped playing sports before her senior year at C-M), Taylor was an exceptional talent when healthy. Whether it was volleyball, basketball or track, Taylor excelled at all three. On full scholarship at Ohio Valley University for basketball.

9. Shellie Cotton, Charleroi

The 2001 Observer-reporter Girls Athlete of the Year, Cotton was an outstanding soccer player who led the Cougars to back-to-back PIAA Class AA championship appearances in 1999 and 2000. Her 199 goals are a Pennsylvania girls high school record. Cotton was also a basketball standout.

8. Stephanie Kuhn, Ringgold

The 2003 O-R Girls Athlete of the Year, Kuhn was another three-sport standout (soccer, basketball and track). Kuhn received a full ride from Robert Morris for track and soccer. She was a multiple NCAA-qualifier in the javelin. At the high school level, Kuhn scored more than 50 goals and holds the school record with 52 assists.

7. Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg
A freshman at Ohio State University, Rohanna carved a golfing legacy within the borders of Greene County. Besides golfing with (and often beating) the boys, Rohanna won two WPIAL and PIAA individual championships. In addition, she was a four-year starter the softball team.

6. Jocelyn Floyd, Washington
At one point during her senior basketball season, Floyd recorded six consecutive triple-doubles. In each game, she topped double figures in points, rebounds and steals. A member of Duquesne University's basketball team, Floyd is arguably the best defensive basketball player Washington County has seen. She was also contributed heavily to the softball team.

5. Amanda Kennedy, Bentworth
Kennedy, part of the Marshall University track team and the 2009 O-R Girls Athlete of the Year, had yet to graduate from Bentworth and was already being called the greatest female athlete in school history. Hard to argue. Kennedy was an All-WPIAL talent in volleyball, the Bearcats' record holder in rebounds and the first athlete in Bentworth history to win multiple PIAA track and field medals.

4. Paige McMenamin, Peters Township
These days, McMenamin is winning national championships as part of the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team. During the 2006-07 school year, McMenamin put together one dominating performance after another. Besides being one of the WPIAL's premier field hockey players, McMenamin led Peters Township to a WPIAL lacrosse championship and earned All-America status. She was also the 2007 O-R Girls Athlete of the Year.

3. Brianna Liebold, Chartiers-Houston
Whether it was soccer or track, Liebold's considerable abilities drew considerable attention during her days at Chartiers-Houston. The most recent track great from Washington County, Liebold won four PIAA gold medals (two long jump, two triple jump) and remains among the top 12 in WPIAL history in each event. The 2006 O-R Girls Athlete of the Year, scored 139 goals in soccer.

2. Jaci Timko, Chartiers-Houston
Timko's offensive production may never be matched. A three-time O-R Softball player of the Year, Timko hit 32 home runs during her four years with the Bucs. She batted over .500 with a near .700 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage over 1.000. Timko played in one state championship game and helped C-H win three consecutive WPIAL Class A titles. Timko's softball abilities landed her in Sports Illustrated.

1. Charel Allen, Monessen
Allen left Monessen with one state title and an amazing 3,110 points. That total ranks second in WPIAL history (to fellow Greyhounds great Gina Naccarato) and fifth in state history. Allen went on to Notre Dame, where she was a team captain and a two-time All-Big East first-teamer. She played one year in the WNBA with Sacramento.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

No Emily Correal? Wow, she is one of the top players in the country but not in Washington County?

WOW?

Anonymous said...

Taylor Schram????

Anonymous said...

Guess you never saw a volleyball match, Natalie Abel was awesome!

Anonymous said...

Emily only played one sport right?

Anonymous said...

Natalie Abel definitely should be on that list...

Anonymous said...

I heard that Paige McMenamin has left the Northwestern lacrosse program - any truth to that? They don't list her on their roster.

Drew Denham said...

Kristin Polosky? from Mapletown she won 2 Collegiate National Championships and after 4 years of starting in basketball she joined the soccer team and started. Definetly deserve to be on this list!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe Ashley Morran isn't on the list either....

mike_kovak said...

Natalie Abel was certainly a consideration.

As for Kristin Polosky, she graduated from Mapletown before I arrived at the O-R, thus making her ineligible.

Thought about Ashley Morran as well and there's no denying her abilities. A senior year like her junior year would land her on this list.

Drew Denham said...

My bad, unlike other commenters I'll admit my mistake

R. Keith Taylor said...

Brittany Warren

Anonymous said...

Mike,

Charel should definately be #1 on this list; but, I'm confused - you indicated that you didn't include the Monessen girls basketball team that won the WPIAL and state championships on the top 10 teams list because you weren't covering Monessen, but now you are including a Monessen player from that team on your top athletes list. What's up with that?

mike_kovak said...

Here's what's up with that:

The O-R did not cover Monessen the year it won the state championship but we did cover previous seasons when Allen played.

Hopefully, that clears it up.

Sarcastic Sword said...

What is the paper's policy on covering non-Washington county schools like Monessen? From reading the blog, there were times that Monessen wasnt covered and there are times when Monessen is covered? Can the policy that is in effect now regarding Monessen change in the future?

mike_kovak said...

If I knew the policy, I'd tell you.

And, yes, future coverage can change. But we do plan on being out there Friday night for the Beth-Center at Monessen football game.

Sarcastic Sword said...

So if there is no policy for covering non-Washington county schools, is it then a week-to-week decision?

To be honest, Im surprised you cover Monessen at all since it is in Westmoreland Co. (albeit 30 minutes from Washington)...

When you have covered Monessen in the past, is it mainly because they are playing Wash Co teams and you're really covering their opponents and as a by-product, the Greyhounds get coverage.

mike_kovak said...

I don't think it's a week-to-week decision. It likely has to do with when and if we sell papers in certain areas. But I am not 100 percent positive on that.


A few years before I got to the O-R, the coverage area included Elizabeth Forward and Belle Vernon.

Anonymous said...

Nice conversation starter but where is Amber Harris. She was a 4yr starter at Wash High and a starter at Seton Hall. Small school state player of the yr.It was the group she led at Washington that fueled the local growth in girl's basketball.

Anonymous said...

Mike, you said that you were going to be out there Friday to cover Monessne/Beth Center game. Any comments about the teams or players? I know these two teams are building a good rivalry.

Anonymous said...

is ohio valley university D3???
never heard of it>>>

mike_kovak said...

I said the O-R would be covering B-C at Monessen. I covered Clairton at FC.