KETTERING -- Winning consecutive state tennis titles was toughenough. Being student council and class president was over the top.
'Both are so tough,' said Waynesville High School senior AlyssaRitchie.
'There's a little more pressure in tennis, maybe. But trying todo a lot of activities and please everyone is difficult, too.'
It wasn't difficult in choosing Ritchie the 2011 Rae Burick Womenin Sports Award winner Wednesday evening at a packed Trent Arena.The 24th annual event honored more than 330 senior girls from 48area high schools.
Ritchie succeeds 2010 winner Lisa Nouanesengsy of Wayne as the$1,000 college scholarship winner. Four other runners-up received$500 scholarships.
The event is a community service project of the Kiwanis Club ofDayton and The Children's Medical Center. Rae Burick was the wife oflongtime former Dayton Daily News sports editor Si Burick.
Athletics, academics, community service and a personal essay wereevaluated. Richie shined in all areas: Two-time unbeaten (66-0)Division II state singles champion, class valedictorian (4.7 GPA),president of two major school groups and a volunteer for physicallyand mentally challenged adults.
She also hopes to be a surgeon.
'You can't help but go away from this event feeling better aboutthe future of our own community and the generation that's comingalong behind us,' said selection committee chairman Stephen Brown.
Ritchie will pursue her tennis career at either Cornell or NorthCarolina-Wilmington. She's nationally ranked for girls ages 18 andunder.
'Being recognized with all of these athletes -- from all thesports and not just tennis -- is really great,' Ritchie said.
'This means a lot. It shows that hard work pays off.'
The four runners-up were Marianne Bonanno (Northmont), RebeccaEsselstein (Alter), Kelsey Schlater (Versailles) and Erin Yenney(Troy).
They too were No. 1 or near the top of their classes, excelled inmultiple sports and were involved in numerous activities.
'You're humbled every year when you hear everything that theydo,' said Alter athletic director and committee member Chris Hart.
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.
