Elma’s Brandi Thomas made her
mark on the basketball court and on the track. Her performances earned her The Daily World’s Athlete of the Year honor for 2009.
On the track and basketball court, Brandi Thomas was tough to beat in 2009.
The Elma High School senior began the year as a key performer on an Eagle girls basketball team that finished fourth in the state 2A tournament.
In May, she concluded a stellar track season by capturing her second successive state triple jump championship. And she ended the year, in basketball, by surpassing the 1,000-point mark in career scoring.
For her multitude of accomplishments, Thomas was selected by the sports staff as The Daily World’s Athlete of the Year.
As it developed, all the 2009 honors went to East County females.
Montesano’s state 1A softball champions received the Team of the Year award.
Veteran Montesano volleyball coach Debbie Gibson, who guided the inexperienced Bulldogs to their first-ever state trophy in that sport, shared Coach of the Year honors with Elma basketball mentor Lisa Johnson.
Thomas served notice early that she was bent on repeating her state triple jump championship.
In April, she captured her speciality at the Larry Eason Invitational in Snohomish ? becoming one of only a handful of Harbor athletes to ever prevail at that prestigious all-classification meet.
After winning a district championship, she bounded 37-2 to repeat in the state 2A meet at Tacoma. She also placed fourth in the long jump.
Thomas and teammate (and close friend) Katie Colard shared the Evergreen 2A Conference Most Valuable Player award in girls basketball as the Eagles wound up second at district and fourth at state.
A consistent double-figure scorer and rebounder and an exceptional shot-blocker, the 6-foot-1 Thomas received honorable mention recognition on the Associated Press all-state team. She has signed to play to play collegiately with Washington State University.
With Thomas and Colard continuing to excel, the Eagles are considered a strong bet to return to state next March.
Thomas was also the leading hitter on Elma’s volleyball team.
mark on the basketball court and on the track. Her performances earned her The Daily World’s Athlete of the Year honor for 2009.
On the track and basketball court, Brandi Thomas was tough to beat in 2009.
The Elma High School senior began the year as a key performer on an Eagle girls basketball team that finished fourth in the state 2A tournament.
In May, she concluded a stellar track season by capturing her second successive state triple jump championship. And she ended the year, in basketball, by surpassing the 1,000-point mark in career scoring.
For her multitude of accomplishments, Thomas was selected by the sports staff as The Daily World’s Athlete of the Year.
As it developed, all the 2009 honors went to East County females.
Montesano’s state 1A softball champions received the Team of the Year award.
Veteran Montesano volleyball coach Debbie Gibson, who guided the inexperienced Bulldogs to their first-ever state trophy in that sport, shared Coach of the Year honors with Elma basketball mentor Lisa Johnson.
Thomas served notice early that she was bent on repeating her state triple jump championship.
In April, she captured her speciality at the Larry Eason Invitational in Snohomish ? becoming one of only a handful of Harbor athletes to ever prevail at that prestigious all-classification meet.
After winning a district championship, she bounded 37-2 to repeat in the state 2A meet at Tacoma. She also placed fourth in the long jump.
Thomas and teammate (and close friend) Katie Colard shared the Evergreen 2A Conference Most Valuable Player award in girls basketball as the Eagles wound up second at district and fourth at state.
A consistent double-figure scorer and rebounder and an exceptional shot-blocker, the 6-foot-1 Thomas received honorable mention recognition on the Associated Press all-state team. She has signed to play to play collegiately with Washington State University.
With Thomas and Colard continuing to excel, the Eagles are considered a strong bet to return to state next March.
Thomas was also the leading hitter on Elma’s volleyball team.