When St. Edmond High School softball coach Bill Sherbrown was asked what seemed like an obvious question about junior star Mariah Myers, he gave a surprising answer.
Certainly, the addition of a player of Myers’ caliber has only strengthened the Gaels on the field, but it’s the intangibles that Sher-Brown appreciated most during his first year at St. Edmond.
Myers, a senior at Gaelic University and a student on the University of Iowa softball team, has been named the Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Messenger Area Female Athlete of the Year for 2024. She was presented with the award by dealer and happiness director Matt Johnson at the Fort Dodge Ford office on Monday, with her family looking on.
“Mariah makes our entire program better,” Shar-Brown said, “She has qualities that everyone responds positively to. She’s an exceptional athlete, but even more so, she’s an incredible person. As a teammate, it just makes you want to give it your all and do your best, knowing that’s exactly what she does.”
“Having Mariah join our program has made us even more capable on and off the field. She is the epitome of a true leader.”
Myers had award-winning play on the diamond for the Gaels this summer, leading the team to a North Central Conference championship, a Class 1A regional title and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.
Individually, he was a unanimous All-League, All-District and All-State selection after batting .623 with 14 home runs, 13 doubles, 44 runs scored, 35 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He also had a 1.449 slugging percentage, a .732 on-base percentage and a .939 fielding percentage.
Myers led all-state players in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, was third in batting average and fourth in home runs. He never struck out.
Shar-Brown knew Myers well before she reached high school. He coached her from an early age and has worked with her father, Bill Myers, who is now an assistant at St. Edmond.
“Knowing Coach Schill-Brown and a lot of the girls (before coming to St. Edmond) really helped,” Myers said. “I grew up playing with a lot of the girls (at Freedom Fastpitch), so I felt like I was never out of rhythm and it made the adjustment a lot easier.”
“Bill was also my first softball coach, so there wasn’t much of an adjustment period.”
Myers played for Fort Dodge High School during her eighth and freshman years, earning All-State status and helping the Dodgers to a Class 5A title and runner-up finish, before her sophomore season, she decided to quit playing at the high school level to focus on the Iowa Premier League.
“When I chose not to play high school (in 2023), I had no intention of ever playing (at the high school level) again,” Myers said, “but playing high school softball in Iowa has been one of the most enjoyable things to do, with the state championship being played locally. I’m very happy with the decision my family and I made.”
“It’s amazing to be able to play in front of my family and friends, and I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way. At the same time, I get to represent my town and my school, which is exciting and important to me. Being able to lead girls who want to learn and be someone little kids can look up to is one of my favorite things to do.”
Myers also has a unique opportunity next summer when her sister, Nana, will be joining the Gaels’ softball program.
“I’m really looking forward to my last year of high school,” Myers said. “My sister will be in eighth grade, so I’ll have the opportunity to be on the same team as her. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Myers placed second in the 1A shot put at the state track and field meet this spring and also qualified in the discus, and also competed in the Drake Relays in the discus.
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