High school sports: Elyria Catholic's Isabelle Niederst and Avon's Luke Hamilton named Lorain County Student-Athletes of Year

LAGRANGE — Avon's Luke Hamilton and Elyria Catholic's Isabelle Niederst each have one more award to remind them of their outstanding high school careers. Hamilton and Niederst were honored Monday as the Lorain County Student-Athletes of the Year in a ceremony at Grey Hawk Golf Club. The award, presented annually by the Lorain County Athletic Administrators Association, was voted on by athletic directors from across the county. Niederst, who also won the Ron and Janet Gilgenbach Award as her school's most outstanding female athlete, earned 12 varsity letters in her high school career, four each in volleyball, basketball and softball. "It's so great seeing all of your hard work pay off and being able to be a role model for all of the young girls coming up," Niederst said. "I feel like this award shows all of the hard work was worth it." Niederst left her biggest mark on the basketball court where she was a three-time All-Ohio selection, including earning first-team honors last season. She was also captain of the volleyball team, where she grabbed a spot on the All-Northeast District first team, and was a four-year starter for the softball team. "Playing three sports is not that easy," she said. "Especially balancing three sports and academics. You didn't really have a break between sports seasons so that was a bit of a challenge, but knowing you always lean on your coaches and teammates and knowing they were always there for you made it easier." Niederst was as successful in the classroom as she was on the playing field, carrying a 4.207 GPA. In the fall, she will continue her academic and basketball careers at Tiffin University. "I'm super excited for college and I can't wait to see what the future holds for me," Niederst said. Hamilton's high school career just ended Saturday when he came home from the Division I state track meet in Dayton as a two-time All-Ohio performer after finishing third in the shot put and sixth in the discus. However, Hamilton's greater accomplishments came on the football field where he was two-time first-team All-Ohio selection and the 2023 Division II Offensive Player of the Year. "I really didn't know about this award until about a week ago," Hamilton said. "Winning it is a big thing, it's the most prestigious award in Lorain County. I'm very grateful for my community and the people around me who vouched for me to win this." Hamilton was a four-year letterwinner in football and track. He was a part of Southwestern Conference championship teams in football and qualified for state in track each of his last three years. The Lombardi Award winner as Lorain County's top lineman, he will be continue his football career at the University of Michigan. "All of my success started in the weight room," Hamilton said. "Coming in freshman year I wasn't very strong, I was just kind of a chubby kid who didn't have a lot of things going for me. (Avon strength and conditioning coach) Jared Cecchetti got a hold of me and my body started to transform and I got more athletic as I went along. That and the support of my family really helped me." "Everyone is saying college is really hard and the practices are really terrible," Hamilton said. "But at Avon we ran our practices like a college does and we hammer it in the weight room and with nutrition. I think it's prepared me for college and I'm ready to go." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.