MIDDLETOWN >> Kaleigh Alves delivered more times than not for the Middletown High School girls’ soccer team during each of the last two seasons and she has two North Central League I most valuable player awards to prove it.
Alves, a four-year starter for the Mustangs in soccer and an accomplished player on the basketball court as well, is a candidate for the Lake County Record-Bee female Athlete of the Year award.
During her soccer career at Middletown, Alves experienced nothing but success as the Mustangs won the undisputed league title every year and reached the North Coast Section Division III championship game twice, winning in 2012 and losing in 2013, both times facing powerhouse Sonoma Academy. Middletown advanced as far as the semifinals in 2014 and 2015, losing this past season to Sonoma Academy 3-2 in a double-overtime thriller at Bill Foltmer Field.
Alves, a midfielder/forward, was among Middletown’s chief threats on offense.
While the Mustangs were adding to their league pennant collection in soccer — eight titles in the last eight years — the Middletown varsity girls’ basketball team brought home its second straight league crown, finishing as co-champios in 2015-16 along with Kelseyville. The Mustangs won a first-round Division IV playoff game before losing to eventual section, NorCal and state champion Cardinal Newman in the quarterfinal round.
Alves earned second-team league honors on a team that featured other Middletown stars such as Makenzi Smith and Ashlyn Welton, the two-time league MVP. Welton is also a candidate for the Athlete of the Year award.
The Record-Bee will profile female and male candidates for the Athlete of the Year award leading up to the naming of the 2015-16 winners. Coach of the Year winners in boys’ and girls’ sports also will be honored.
Athlete of the Year candidates must be juniors or seniors who play at least two varsity sports and are in good academic standing at their respective schools.
