Senior three-sport athlete Erin Doherty was recently named the NJSIAA Female Athlete of the Year for Westfield High School.
According to njsiaa.org, this award is given to “an outstanding senior female athlete from each high school” in New Jersey. Sandy Mamary, Westfield’s athletic director, nominated Doherty for the award. When asked about why she selected Doherty, she said, “Because she deserves it. She’s a three-sport athlete. All of her coaches that I talked to, that was the first student athlete that they mentioned. It’s very difficult to be a three-sport athlete and she has a very strong work ethic. She’s a leader on all three teams. She’s just an overall terrific student athlete that deserves the award.”
Doherty has been an asset to the varsity field hockey, basketball and softball programs since her sophomore year of high school. Although being a three-sport athlete can be difficult at times, assistant field hockey head coach Katie DaSilva said, “When she is in-season, whatever sport she is in, she is FULLY dedicated. If you watch her in any of the three seasons, you’d have a hard time figuring out which sport is her ‘strongest’ because she works THAT hard.”
Doherty is captain of both the basketball and field hockey teams. One of the other basketball captains, senior Makenna Reed, commented on Doherty’s leadership, saying, “Erin is an amazing motivator and person to be around. No matter the outcome of our games, Erin is always the first one to give you praise and tell you that you’re doing a great job. She is one of the best leaders in our program on and off the court. I’m lucky to have had her as a friend and teammate since we started playing together in fourth grade.”
Doherty’s teammates are not the only ones that feel inspired by her. Westfield softball head coach Caitlin Cheddar said, “Erin is an encouraging and positive teammate. Her teammates love her sense of humor, her commitment and her love of the game. Erin is the first one to celebrate her teammate’s accomplishments and the first one to offer support when things are not going well.” DaSilva sang a similar tune: “Erin Doherty is the type of teammate anyone, including myself, would love to have. She is tough, selfless, hardworking, and resilient. She puts the team before herself over and over again. She is willing to play anywhere at all times. Erin is just incredible.”
“Receiving this award means so much to me because it has shown me that the hard work I put in to be a part of the athletic program at the high school is not without the support of everyone around me. I’m so proud to be able to represent Westfield women and girls in sports,” said Doherty.
The National Association for Girls and Women in Sports gifted Doherty a paper certificate and a portable charger, along with a ticket to the Rutgers vs. Penn State women’s basketball game on Jan.14. During halftime, the winners from each high school walked across the court, and they were recognized for their accomplishment.
“It felt…powerful,” said Doherty.
Feb. 7 will mark the 38th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. As society moves forward from the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the act that prohibited sex-based discrimination in every school or education that received federal funding, the opportunity for women in sports will only continue to flourish. According to the NJSIAA, each year, there are 18 sports and 25 championships for high school girls. Recently, they introduced girls wrestling, adding in a new wave of female participation to a previously male-dominated activity.
Senior Katie Walsh, a field hockey captain and Doherty’s teammate, commented about the importance of having this award. “Women in sports are often overlooked, so celebrating someone like Erin with this award reminds everyone at Westfield High School how important it is to work hard, and what you can accomplish when you don’t give up.”
“This award is important for many reasons,” said DaSilva. “Women in sports are obviously important to me and to see women and girls be represented in sports is exactly why I still coach. To see an athlete I know, that I was lucky enough to coach, be recognized for something I already knew, is fantastic. It feels satisfying to me, like properly giving credit where credit is due.”
Doherty will continue her athletic career next year at Salisbury University , continuing to inspire other young women to follow in her footsteps .
