NIAA announces Top 10 Student-Athletes of Year

Nearly every school has the high-performing student. The one who hopes to be an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer and carries the high grade-point average in honors classes while still managing to do community service on the side.

Nearly every school has the standout athlete. The one who earns state championships and puts in countless hours of practice time to become better on the field of play.

Every once in a while, the top student and standout athlete turn out to be the same person. The one who somehow manages to maintain the GPA and excel at sports, all while squeezing in that community service on the side.

Each year the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association along with Farmers Insurance Group and Lifetouch honor those who manage to excel in the classroom and on the playing field by naming their Top 10 Student-Athletes of the Year.

The NIAA will honor the Southern Nevada Top 10 at a banquet May 23 at Sam’s Town. The winners receive a $1,500 scholarship and other commemorative awards.
Following is a list of this year’s winners:

Nicole Ameli, Palo Verde — Ameli will attend Notre Dame on a fencing scholarship and earned eight varsity letters in basketball and track. A top U.S. fencer, Ameli has competed in national and international events. She carries a weighted 4.657 GPA.

Shae Bryant, Moapa Valley — A two-time state champion wrestler, Bryant earned nine varsity letters: four in wrestling, three in cross country and two in track. He helped the track team to the Class 3A state title in 2010. Bryant ranks first in his class of 142 with a weighted GPA of 4.725.

Janea Edgel, Cheyenne — Edgel was a four-year letter winner in soccer and also played on the freshman volleyball team. She was captain of the soccer team as a junior and senior. Edgel ranks first in a class of 527 with a weighted GPA of 4.8.

Angel Gomez, Rancho — A standout in football and wrestling, Gomez also earned two varsity letters in swimming. He was a second-team All-Northeast League pick at offensive guard in the fall and placed second as a heavyweight at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament. Gomez ranks 122nd in a class of 686 with a weighted GPA of 3.81.

Jamaal Martin, Canyon Springs — Martin was a member of the Class 4A state basketball championship team in February and earned five varsity letters in basketball and football. He started at quarterback in the fall. Martin is ranked 36th in a class of 461 with a 4.1 weighted GPA.

Indiana Mead, Boulder City — Mead will play soccer at UC Santa Barbara. She earned one varsity soccer letter, three in golf and one in track. Mead helped the Eagles to the Class 3A state golf title in the fall, placing fifth individually. In track she placed second in the 400 meters, third in the 200 and fourth in the 100 as a junior. Mead ranks first in a class of 145 with a weighted GPA of 4.8.

Elliott Owens, Pahrump Valley — Owens earned 11 varsity letters in soccer, wrestling and golf. He was a second-team All-Southwest League pick in golf as a junior and finished third at 130 pounds at the Sunset Region wrestling tournament as a senior to qualify for state. Owens ranks ninth in a class of 276 with a weighted GPA of 4.326.

Mallory Reese, Shadow Ridge — A standout runner in track and cross country, Reese earned eight varsity letters. She placed 10th at the Class 4A state cross country meet last fall. As a junior, Reese was third in the 800-meter run at the Sunset Region meet. Reese will receive the Mustang Medallion for completing at least 17 advanced placement or honors credits while maintaining a minimum 3.8 GPA.

Anne Underwood, Valley — Underwood earned 10 varsity letters in soccer, track and cross country. She was the Class 4A state champion in the 800-meter run as a junior and placed fifth at state in the 1,600. Underwood ranks 22nd in a class of 611 with a weighted 4.506 GPA.

Richard Vince, Boulder City — Vince earned three varsity letters in track and cross country and also played junior varsity soccer and baseball. He finished eighth at the Class 3A Southern League meet in cross country as a senior. Vince ranks first in a class of 145 with a 4.8 weighted GPA.