She never envisioned that happening a couple years ago.
“Dip your feet in and test it out,” Ward-El said. “You’re never going to know unless you try it.”
Hergert and Ward-El showed excellence in all that they did this school year, and they are The Columbian’s multi-sport athletes of the year.
Hergert made the All-Region team in football, basketball, and baseball. His senior year was made all the better when he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves. (He will decide on pro or college ball soon.)
Ward-El followed up Skyview’s girls basketball state championship season in 2012 with the player-of-the-year honor for the 4A Greater St. Helens League this winter, then finished second in the state meet in the shot put and fourth in the javelin.
Between them, that’s five sports, five All-Region selections, and one memorable school year.
We’ve selected them to lead a special group as The Columbian celebrates the athletes who do not specialize in one sport.
This was all by design. There was no luck involved.
Heritage senior Tim Hergert set a very high standard, then went about to make sure he reached his own expectations.
First team, all league. In three sports.
That was the plan all along.
Hergert returned to football after a one-year hiatus and had more than 1,000 receiving yards. In basketball, he led the region, scoring an average of better than 25 points per game. Then in baseball, he was part of the greatest team in Heritage history as the Timberwolves reached the state’s elite eight.
The coaches recognized him, too. Indeed, first team, all league, all sports. With his performance, Hergert is The Columbian’s All-Region male multi-sport athlete of the year.
“Not a lot of people can say they did that,” Hergert said of his trifecta. “It makes me feel really good about myself for putting in a lot of work and accomplishing my goal. Senior year, by far, my favorite year.”
Hergert did not play football his junior year, but just had to return as a senior.
“I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t play,” he said.
He ended up leading the region in receiving yards during the regular season.
Hergert was already a known scorer in basketball. Teams sent double- and sometimes triple-teams at him, but he still lit up the scorebook. He had a high of 41 points in a game and scored 30 or more five times.
He also would advise all younger athletes to keep their options open.
“Play as many sports as you can,” Hergert said. “When you go to college to play a sport, it’s the only one you’ll play. You play multi-sports (in high school) to get the most out of it.”
Other outstanding male athletes
Let’s make this clear: Skyview junior Aubrey Ward-El is a basketball player first.
“It really is who I am,” she said. “I’d probably be lost without it. It is my love.”
Still, she has plenty of time and plenty of passion for other activities.
“I just like to broaden my horizons, just touch on different things, and get a different experience from something besides basketball,” Ward-El said. “If you’re in high school and you have the opportunity, go for it.”
Ward-El made the most of her opportunity this school year. She was named the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League’s player of the year in girls basketball, then finished second at the 4A state meet in the shot put and fourth in the javelin. For her efforts, she is The Columbian’s female multi-sport athlete of the year.
Ward-El said she was too intimidated to go out for track and field her freshman year. As a sophomore, though, she gave it a try.
It turned out, she was a natural in the throwing events.
One year later, she was second in state in the shot put.
“It’s a really weird feeling,” she said. “I know there are girls who have been doing this since elementary school and I picked it up last year. But I’m also really proud of myself. It shows I’m versatile. I can do other sports besides basketball.”
Track and field is not just a hobby. She said she made it a point to work at this new sport, to stay for the full two-hour practice every day, determined to improve.
She expects more of herself next spring, too.
“The girl who won (the shot put) is a senior. I plan on taking first,” Ward-El said.
Of course, she would prefer winning another state championship in basketball. She and the Storm won the 4A title in Ward-El’s sophomore year. After losing several talented players to graduation and injury, this year’s squad was virtually a new team.
Ward-El helped Skyview get to within one win of a berth to regionals.
“I was just really honored,” she said of her player of the year award.
As a senior, Ward-El is considering a return to the pool. She was a swimmer for Skyview as a freshman and sophomore.
“So I can end as a three-sport athlete my senior year,” she said.
If she does swim, with her “track” record, watch for Ward-El to go to state in that sport, too.
Don’t worry, basketball. You’re still her No. 1.
Other outstanding female athletes
