UPPER LAKE >> Former Lake County Record-Bee Athlete of the Year Katherine Edmonds of Upper Lake High School is still going strong in the college ranks.
Edmonds, better known as Kat, is headed to Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon, where she will continue her basketball career with the Lions. The 2012 Upper Lake High graduate spent two successful seasons with Mendocino College in Ukiah, helping the Eagles win a Bay Valley Conference Championship and earning most improved player honors in her first season. In her final season, she was named defensive player of the year and earned an All-Conference honorable mention after averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds a game. She was named to the All-Academic conference team both years.
A 5-foot-9 guard/forward, Edmonds, 21, helped turn around the fortunes of Upper Lake’s varsity girls’ program after a long spell of losing basketball.
“I am very proud of Kat’s continued success and achieving goals that she set for herself long ago,” said Upper Lake’s Mike Smith, who coached Edmonds in high school. “She is an amazing example to local athletes that a path through Mendocino JC can lead to many exciting opportunities.”
Women’s basketball was added to the Multnomah sports program a little more than a year ago. The Lions went 6-15 in in their inaugural season of 2014-15.
“Having Katherine as part of our team is very special,” Multnomah head coach Tim Bieri said in a story printed on the university’s website. “She brings so much maturity and athleticism to our young team. There is no doubt in my mind that God has something special planned for Katherine here at MU.”
While at Upper Lake, the Lucerne resident starred in volleyball, basketball and softball and was named to the All-League first team in all three sports her senior year. In basketball, she averaged a county-best 16.5 points a game as a senior while also leading the Cougars in rebounds. She finished with 946 career points amassed over three varsity seasons.
Multnomah University is non-denominational Christian university. It offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. The school is a member of both the National Christian College Athletic Association and the Association of Christian College Athletics.
