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Naomi Straub 2022, Heidi Deuel 2023, Aurelia Meza 2024 and now Julia Taylor 2025. These are just a few of the athletes selected for the Athena Award during early Spring through community nominations and committee review.
The Athena Award is awarded to female athletes who participate in two to three MSHSL sports and most importantly, show leadership and kindness during their time participating in their sports. The award emphasizes the connections formed in the athletics community as well as the hard work and dedication athletes put into their sports.
Right after finding out about being given the award from the athletic department, Taylor first shared the big news with her dad.
Taylor said, “he was sitting right next to me on the couch, and it was just a really special moment being able to share [the news] with him, especially since he’s been a part of my athletics journey for so long.”
Taylor’s father, Willie Taylor, has been a sports coach at various Minnesota schools such as Central High School and Stillwater High School over the years. As Julia entered high school, her father began working at SPA as a basketball and track coach.
“When my dad got the job as the basketball coach at SPA, […] I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do [the sport]. But when I started being a part of the program, I just instantly began to love the sport again. I think part of it was the great leadership from seniors when I was a freshman and sophomore,” said Taylor.
Often in athletics, although the sport is what sparks the athletes’ interest to join, the community is what keeps them on the team. Each athlete has their own story of what kept them going, and it’s the girls who continuously work to create a positive atmosphere in their sports who are considered for the Athena Award.
Taylor said, “I think the SPA program is carrying a lot of momentum with them in the future years. I know for [girls] basketball this year, as a transition year, a lot of people left, a lot of new people came. But I think that’s just really great for women’s sports especially. I see younger girls coming to our games, supporting our games, and we’re supporting them. And that is so huge.”
The Athena Award’s goal is to empower young girls and recognize the leadership and effort put into their sports. Year after year, girls’ athletics are continuing to grow and the next generation of female athletes emerge from these athletic programs.
