By Alex Manzo Posted June 4, 2015
Alyssa Dendary has been chosen as the 2014- 2015 athlete of the year due to her outstanding athletic and academic achievements throughout her four years at Lowry. Dendary has played girl’s golf, basketball, and softball all four years. She was on varsity golf and basketball all four years and varsity softball for three.
She started softball at the age of six, basketball in the third grade, golf in the sixth grade. She also played volleyball in junior high.
“When I was little my parents had me do Little League Softball and youth basketball and I fell in love with those sports. Living with my brother who is the golf pro in town and who has such a strong passion for the sport definitely motivated me to play as well,” said Dendary.
Her parents are also her role models. Her dad because of his love for sports and because he was a two-sport collegiate athlete at UNR and Boise State. Her mom because of her positive demeanor and her drive to succeed in everything she puts her mind to.
Her parents influenced her drive to succeed.
“My biggest strength while playing a game would be the mentality and will to win,” said Dendary.
When asked what her favorite sport is she couldn’t choose between softball and basketball. She enjoyed going on road trips with her teammates and having overnighters she won’t forget.
According to Dendary every coach she’s had has influenced her in ways that she couldn’t begin to describe.
Her best memory was when she won basketball state her junior year, playing alongside her best friends and building a bond that will never be broken. Her worst memory was be losing to Fallon 10-9 at regionals this year during softball.
The advice that she would give to other athletes would be never underestimate your own ability and never stop working hard. day in and day out, always be thankful when you step on the court or field, it is not inevitable. And if you’re playing basketball, never leave the gym on a miss.
Her plans after high school are to attend UNR for a year, hopefully transfer to Boise State and from there obtain a degree in Sports Medicine- Kinesiology. After that she hopes she will be a certified athletic trainer and be part of a collegiate sports medicine team. If that doesn’t go well, she wants to move to Oregon and be a spray paint street artist and have dreads.
Dendary’s involvement in athletics has been rewarding in many ways.
“Athletics have taught me more about life than anyone ever could. It taught me the strength of a team, how to overcome adversity, and how to make a goal for reality,” said Dendary.
