MIDDLETOWN >> The Welton family of Hidden Valley Lake now has a 3-2 lead over its nearest pursuers.
Kelsey Welton of Middletown won back-to-back Lake County Record-Bee Athlete of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009, a feat accomplished by only two other county athletes in the award’s history, and now it’s younger sister Ashlyn’s turn in the bright spotlight.
Ashlyn Welton, 17, an incoming senior at Middletown High School, is the Lake County Record-Bee female Athlete of the Year winner for the recently completed 2014-15 sports season. And what a season it was for the two-sport standout, who finds herself just 171 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career in basketball.
But first things first.
The Weltons — Kelsey and Ashlyn — are the third group of siblings and second set of sisters to win the award since the Record-Bee first began honoring the county’s top male and female athletes nearly 30 years ago. Sister and brother Heather (1995) and Jason James (1997) of Kelseyville did it first followed by sisters Tanya (2001) and Trisha White (2003) of Clear Lake.
If Ashlyn can win the award again next season (2015-16), she would become only the fourth person to accomplish that feat in consecutive years, joining sister Kelsey, Clear Lake’s Brittany Rumfelt (2006-07) and Upper Lake’s Shannon Melville (1988-89).
“I’m the better basketball player, she (Kelsey) was the better soccer player,” a smiling Ashlyn said without a second of hesitation.
But who is the better athlete overall?
“I am,” Ashlyn said. “She’s smarter than me, but I’m the better athlete.”
Kelsey, a three-sport athlete (soccer, basketball, track) who dabbled in a fourth sport (cross country) one season might want to raise an objection, so let the Welton family feud begin. One thing that isn’t disputed is the number of Athlete of the Year plaques now residing in the Welton residence … three.
During the 2014-15 season it was younger sister Ashlyn who dominated on both the soccer pitch and basketball hardwood. As a sweeper for the Mustangs’ league-winning soccer squad (the Mustangs’ seventh straight North Central League I title), and as a center on the Mustangs’ league-winning basketball squad, dominant is about the only way to describe Welton’s play in both sports.
While achieving plenty of individual success in the process, both of Welton’s teams piled up the wins and made appearances in the North Coast Section playoffs. The soccer team (15-3-3) came within a victory of advancing to the sectional finals for a third straight year (the Mustangs won it all in 2012 when Ashlyn started as a freshman and were section runners-up in 2013) while the basketball team (20-7) just missed stunning Marin Catholic in the opening round of the playoffs, that after winning a school-best 20 games during the regular season.
“I honestly don’t care if I score goals in soccer or about how many points I score (in basketball),” Welton said. “I care how far we go as a team. Losing is the worst thing. I hate to lose.”
As for the success she’s achieved — once again All-League first team in soccer and MVP on the All-League basketball team — she said her teammates and coaches deserve a lot of the credit. And she really means it.
“I’m flattered when people point me out but I wouldn’t be here without my teammates and my coach supporting me. There is no ‘I’ in team. I hate players like that. I wouldn’t be where I am without my team.”
Welton’s contributions included lockdown defense in soccer and a mix of offense and hard-nosed defense in basketball.
“I love defense probably more than offense,” said Welton, who enjoys mixing it up, which is one reason she didn’t go out for volleyball. “In volleyball, if you’re mad you have to stay mad at yourself. I love the contact (of soccer and basketball).”
Welton has never been shy about pushing herself to achieve great things. She played Little League baseball with the boys until seventh grade and thoroughly enjoyed it.
“They told me I had to play softball after that,” said Welton. “I didn’t like it nearly as much.”
While she hasn’t played a spring sport since her freshman year (softball), she stays plenty busy in March, April and May.
“I play AAU basketball,” she said.
Welton was called up to Middletown’s varsity basketball squad late in her freshman season by former coach Tony Hart and has been a varsity mainstay ever since. In 2014-15 she averaged 15.6 points a game despite being double- and even triple-teamed on many occasions. She was good for a double-double (at least 10 points and at least 10 rebounds) almost every time out.
Not a very good defensive player by her own admission early on in her career — “I fouled a lot and fouled out of games” — she had steadily improved under the guidance of her current coach, Anthony Bazzano, who she has played for some six years running between high school and AAU.
“He’s such a good coach,” Welton said. “He always says, ‘You can be as good as you want to be,’ and I am always trying to improve. I always feel like I could have played better.”
A vocal leader on the court, Welton said she encourages her teammates as much as possible and they do the same for her. “You’ve got to push yourself, your friends and your teammates.”
Welton is also her own worst critic, especially after a performance she considers substandard.
“I take it home with me,” Welton said. “I’ll be driving home with my parents and talking to myself. They’re like, ‘Are you done now?’”
As much time as she spends playing sports, Welton is about as well-grounded a teenager as you’ll find. She has a 3.87 GPA in the classroom and wants to pursue a career in law enforcement once her basketball playing days are over, which if she has her way won’t be for a long, long time.
“I want to go to the WNBA,” Welton said. “If I could play basketball for the next 20 years … go out and have fun and enjoy my job, I can’t think of anything better.”
If not the WNBA after college, maybe overseas to play basketball in Europe.
“I love to travel so I would love that,” she said.
Until then, her senior year and college beckons. She’s already attracted the attention of 54 two- and four-year colleges and universities who are interested in her as a basketball player and, in at least one instance, in soccer. Where she ends up will depend on the scholarship offers.
“I never thought my senior year would come so fast,” Welton said. “I have to get tapes out to schools, letters. There’s a lot of work to do.”
She’s also looking to step up her game for one final go-around in the high school ranks.
Can she be even better in 2015-16?
“Yes,” she said, again without a moment’s hesitation.
The youngest daughter of James and Jamie Welton, Ashlyn’s older sisters, all Middletown High graduates, are Brianna, Kayla and the aforementioned Kelsey.
“I’m the last one, so I’m trying to make it special for my parents,” Ashlyn said.
So far, so good.
