Notre Dame Prep senior Katherine Carlson has been named the 2015 Walt Bazylewicz Athlete of the Year by the Catholic High School League.
Carlson, who lives with her family in Lake Orion,’was selected from more than 27,000 students in nearly 30 Catholic high schools in the Detroit area. Each year, one senior male and one’senior’female athlete are chosen for this honor.?
‘Carlson is the fourth from Notre Dame Prep athlete to receive the award. Last year, current U-M standout soccer player Taylor Timko was the’league’s Athlete of the Year. Molly Coldren (2008) and Sara Barron (2012) also received athlete of the year honors from the CHSL.?
? ‘It is a tribute to you and your accomplishments to be named as the top female athlete from among all of the student-athletes in the Catholic league,?’Vic Michaels, the director of the CHSL, said in a letter to Carlson.
She received her award at the Catholic League’Baseball’Championships on the infield at Comerica Park on May 15 between the class C-D and A-B finals.?
Carlson has a rich history of accomplishments on the courts, fields and classroom.
She was named’Miss Volleyball for the State of Michigan last year, led Notre Dame to the state championship for Class B in?2013 and to the semifinals last year where the Irish fell to eventual champion North Branch.?
The amassed 1,042 kills, 114 service aces and 63 blocks while posting a kill percentage of .600 and leading the Fighting Irish to the Class B finals.
‘A member of the National Honor Society, she has volunteered locally on behalf of the St. Vincent De Paul charity and as an elementary school tutor in addition to donating her time as a youth basketball, volleyball and soccer coach.
Next season she will take her volleyball skills to Valparaiso.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter was named first team All-State as a sophomore, junior and senior and was named first-team All-American for 2014-15 by Maxpreps.
She carried a 4.37 grade point average.
Notre Dame athletic director and volleyball coach Betty Wroubel said Carlson’s ability to raise the level of her teammates was unmatched.??
‘Katherine would have been all state in any sport that she played,? Wroubel added. ‘She is a terrific soccer and basketball player.
‘In middle’school, she was also a softball standout and prior to focusing on volleyball, Katherine also ran track.?