East Hamilton School basketball and volleyball player Madison Hayes didn't leave many mountains to climb as she enters her senior season this fall.
Last week, Hayes won the Best of Preps Female Athlete of the Year awarded by the Times Free Press. Just a few days before, she was part of Team USA's championship basketball team at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia. In March, Hayes won her second Class AAA Miss Basketball award. She is also a member of the Best of Preps volleyball team.
"It's only the beginning for me," Hayes said in the days following winning the Times Free Press award.
The 6-foot-1 basketball star averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, four steals, 3.6 assists and 3.1 blocks per game as a junior for the Lady Hurricanes.
"I am going to work to get better because of the dreams I want to accomplish," she said.
Hayes was one of nine high school athletes honored at the annual Times Free Press banquet. Here are the other East Hamilton-area standouts honored by the Times Free Press:
Chris Bayne, baseball, Ooltewah High
Madeline Benson, girls' tennis, East Hamilton School
Will Campbell, baseball, East Hamilton School
Sydney Dattilo, girls' tennis, East Hamilton School
Addy Keylong, softball, Ooltewah High
Gabby Larson, girls' soccer, East Hamilton School
Syvana Rogers, softball, East Hamilton School
Cheyanne Sales, softball, Ooltewah High
Email Davis Lundy at davislundy@aol.com