Stars aligned for success
They discovered their athletic calling, perfected it at the high school level and now will receive a mostly-paid-for college education to compete for another four years.
If things go as well athletically in college as they did in high school, perhaps the next dreams for Adam Hall of Bonners Ferry and Kayla Stiegemeier of Lakeland could open a door to an Olympic opportunity. Both desire as much.
This much is true for both – they will set the bar high both athletically and academically in college as they did in high school.
Hall and Stiegemeier are the Idaho Spokesman-Review’s 2005-06 Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
Their athletic and academic feats were plentiful.
Hall was a three-sport standout, starting for a soccer team that captured fourth at the State 3A tournament last fall and culminating two weeks ago at state track when he took second in the 1,600 meters in a career-best time of 4 minutes, 33.98 seconds.
But it was what Hall accomplished in his signature sport, wrestling, that paved the way for a scholarship to Boise State.
The 152-pound Hall, who was ranked No. 1 in the nation throughout his senior year, won 161 of 165 matches in a four-year career that concluded with 121 straight victories and three consecutive state titles. His last loss was an overtime setback in the state final as a freshman.
“I don’t want to say I’ll never coach somebody like him (again), but the probability of coaching another one like him is pretty rare,” said 20-year BF coach Conrad Garner. “He’s one of a kind.”
Hall’s wrestling exploits didn’t end with the high school season in February. Since then, he won two national titles at tournaments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and was named the outstanding wrestler at both.
He also won Western Junior regional championships in Greco-Roman and freestyle in Reno, Nev., this spring and will be out to capture national junior titles in both disciplines in July at Fargo, N.D. He was a national runner-up in freestyle last summer.
Hall, who finished with a 3.81 grade-point average, was named a Dave Schultz High School Excellence regional recipient and was named to the 2006 Wrestling USA Scholastic All-America Team.
He made a name for himself on the national level.
“I never thought I’d be reading my name in national magazines,” Hall said. “I know I was good for this area, but I never would have imagined I’d get so much attention (nationally).”
His hometown honored him this spring when the mayor signed a proclamation declaring it Adam Hall Day. A special 20-minute assembly was held where the mayor presented Hall with a plaque and read the proclamation.
“High school’s been a long four years, but very satisfying,” Hall said. “My senior year went by the fastest of all the years. I’ve enjoyed it because I’ve spent most of the year wrestling.”
He isn’t through wrestling. He heads to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday to work out for two weeks with athletes trying to make the Junior World Team. He will follow that up in late June competing in some dual meets for Team Idaho as he prepares for the junior nationals next month.
The 5-foot-5 Stiegemeier’s accomplishments, including national honors, are lengthy as well. She was a four-year starter at forward in soccer and a two-year starter at guard and four-year letterwinner in basketball.
She’s headed to play soccer, her first love, at Seattle Pacific, which fell 2-1 in overtime to Nebraska-Omaha in the NCAA Division II title match last fall. She’s been told she will compete for playing time at forward this fall.
Stiegemeier was named to the 2005 National Soccer Coaches Association of American/Adidas All-America Team and was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Idaho.
Named the Inland Empire League player of the year in soccer, Stiegemeier scored 38 goals and had 24 assists last fall as she led Lakeland to the State 4A title game in the school’s first state appearance. The Hawks fell 2-1 in overtime to Century.
“Obviously, we wanted to win, but getting to state and playing for the state title was everything we wanted,” Stiegemeier said. “Getting there was so special, especially when nobody expected us to. We really battled and that was the best part.”
Stiegemeier set a benchmark in soccer that may not be matched for years to come at Lakeland.
“Kayla came into our program with one thing you can’t coach – a will to make things happen on and off the field,” Lakeland girls soccer coach Mario Maddy said. “Kayla made things happen with her drive and competitive spirit. That will to win and to work hard at everything she does is what made her a champion.”
Although basketball was a part-time sport for her, Stiegemeier played as if it were her first love. The speedy guard was named the IEL’s co-player of the year. She averaged 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists. Lakeland played for a state trophy and won district titles all four years Stiegemeier played.
“The thing that always stands out with Kayla is her quickness and ability to get right in the middle of the action and make things happen,” Lakeland girls basketball coach Steve Seymour said. “She assumed a larger role as a scorer and leader this year and that was huge for us.”
She was named to the 4A all-state basketball team. No all-state teams are comprised in soccer.
Stiegemeier, who finished with a 3.5 GPA, accomplished her varied athletic feats despite a lifelong battle with chronic asthma that occasionally flared up during soccer and basketball games.
She will play one more basketball game Wednesday as a member of the Region team in the 13th annual Jack Blair Memorial Classic at University High School.
After that, it will be all soccer. Stiegemeier played for the Boise Capitals U-18 team that won a State Cup title last weekend in Idaho Falls. She scored one goal and had three assists in two games. She will join the team for the Far West Regionals, which will be held June 18-25 in Boise.
“It seems Kayla has so many different things going on at one time,” Seymour said. “To understand she has a life outside of school and sports is hard to believe at times.”
It’s obvious neither Stiegemeier nor Hall became standout athletes by taking much time off.