NIAA honors scholar athletes

Sports have the power to teach high school athletes several different things.

Things that aren’t necessarily found in an academic setting.

Rarely do the two intertwine, but when they do, it’s such a beautiful thing.

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

These student-athletes are the future leaders of America, the ones who top their class rankings, who lead their student government and who volunteer at shelters when he or she is not dominating the arena of choice.

The NIAA honored Southern Nevada’s Top 10 on Wednesday with a banquet at the Aliante Resort.

Here are this year’s recipients:

Whitney Barlow, Boulder City — Barlow earned a total of 11 varsity letters during her time with the Eagles: four in volleyball, four in basketball and three in track. A five-time team captain, Barlow is a three-time first team all-state selection in volleyball and a three-time all-region first team pick in basketball. She was voted the Sunrise Region’s Most Valuable Player in basketball her senior year, while leading the Eagles to the state title game. She carries a weighted 4.6 GPA.

Abbie Barnard, Virgin Valley — A standout basketball player, Barnard was a Division I-A first team all-state selection in her junior and senior seasons. She was named the Sunrise League’s Most Valuable Player as a junior and is ranked No. 1 in her class academically with a 4.8 weighted GPA. Barnard, who is a member of the National Honor Society, participated in student government all four years while earning 11 varsity letters.

Tyler Charlton, Sierra Vista — Charlton is a three-time letter winner in baseball and is ranked second academically among 509 students with a 4.78 weighted GPA. Over the course of the last two seasons, he led the Mountain Lions’ pitching staff with the lowest earned run average. After joining the varsity tennis team this past fall, he qualified for the Sunset Region tournament.

Cole Crosby, Sierra Vista — A four-year letter winner in baseball, Crosby has helped the Mountain Lions finish at or near the top of the league standings since his freshman year, while earning a 4.68 weighted GPA. He is a three-time first team all-league and All-Sunset Region selection and a Second Team all-state honoree as a junior. He plans to continue his baseball career at Concordia University and major in pre-medicine.

Dillon Graves, Virgin Valley — Graves has earned 11 varsity letters in football, basketball and track with the Bulldogs. He has a 4.68 weighted GPA and has qualified for the NIAA’s all-state Academic Team 11 times. Graves, who earned his Eagle Scout Award through the Boy Scouts of America, plans on serving a two-year church mission after high school before playing football at Dixie State University.

Morgan Manley, Round Mountain — A 12-time varsity letter winner, Manley excelled in volleyball, basketball and track with the Knights. She was a three-time team Most Valuable Player in volleyball and basketball. She was named to the Division IV All-Southern League second team twice in volleyball and was a first team all-league selection her senior season in basketball. Manley, who was recently named the school’s Student of the Year, has a 3.85 weighted GPA and has participated in student government every year since elementary school.

Ryan Nielson, Palo Verde — Nielson has been an integral part of four league championship teams combined in soccer and volleyball. In two varsity soccer seasons, he helped the Panthers capture two Northwest League titles and was a captain this past season on the state-runner up team. In three volleyball seasons, he helped the Panthers to the state semifinals during his sophomore and junior years. An Eagle Scout, Nielson maintains a weighted 4.73 GPA. He plans on serving a two-year church mission after graduation before attending Brigham Young University.

Sydney Sladek, Pahrump Valley — Sladek completed her four-year soccer career as one of the most decorated players in Nevada history. While leading the Trojans to two state titles and one state runner-up finish, Sladek set three state scoring records: single game, single season and career. Also a four-year standout in track, she captured the Division I-A state 800-meter title last season. Sladek, who is a member of the National Honor Society, has a 4.5 weighted GPA and plans on attending the University of Southern California to play soccer and to study to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Jana Williams, Boulder City — Williams has earned nine varsity letters in soccer, basketball and track. She was team captain during the past two soccer seasons and helped the Eagles to the Class 3A Southern League title as a sophomore. In basketball, she led the team to a league title and an appearance in the Division I-A state title game this past season. She also ran a key leg on her team’s school-record setting 3,200-meter relay team in the 2013 region finals. Williams, who serves as the president of the National Honor Society, has a perfect 4.8 weighted GPA and is tied for first among 158 students.

Samuel Woodbury, Boulder City — Woodbury served as captain of both the football and basketball teams this past season. He was named to the Division I-A All-Southern Region as a cornerback after the conclusion of his senior year and was named the basketball team’s Athlete of the Season this past winter. He is a five-time varsity letter winner, including one in swimming. Woodbury, who also is an Eagle Scout, is tied for first among 158 students with a 4.8 weighted GPA.