Player of the Year is one great way to end a career

By Ginna Young

It was a well-kept secret for the announcement of the East Lakeland Conference girls basketball Player of the Year Award, which remained a mystery until March 18. There, at an awards night, in front of coaches, family and fellow teammates, Lake Holcombe senior Emma Lechleitner heard her name called.

“I didn’t really see it coming,” said Lechleitner. As the third and final member of the dominating Lechleitner sisters, she wanted to finish her high school career in a big way. Not only did she get Player of the Year (as voted on by coaches in the league), but she also hit 1,000 points during the season.

Through all the hard work over the years, Lechleitner says it’s nice to have a final award that acknowledges that.

“I honestly do feel very accomplished,” she said.

While some may be sad to hear it, Lechleitner is not going to play college ball, even though she’s had many offers to do so from junior colleges, and Division 2 and Division 3 universities. Because none of the programs aligned with her educational course of studying architecture and design, she made the decision to focus on academics.

Lechleitner would be remiss if she didn’t mention the coaches she’s had, who all made her the player she is.

“They each have taught me something different and I wouldn’t have made it this far, without any of them,” said Lechleitner.

She also couldn’t have done it without her co-captains and hopes she influenced younger players, the same way she looked up to older players as a youth.

“If you put hard work in, you can succeed with your goals.”