Ebony Chavez GHS Athlete of the Year

May is a special month for high school seniors and athletes as they look back on their memories, seasons and accomplishments. For one, Grants High School senior, Ebony Chavez, a special honor and recognition was bestowed on her as she was named the 2023 female Athlete of the Year for Grants High School.

We had a questionand- answer session with Chavez recently, here are the excerpts:

What sports did you play in high school?

My freshman year I played volleyball and basketball. Then in my sophomore year which was the “COVID” year I played volleyball, basketball, and softball and continued to play those three sports till my senior year.

What was your inspiration when you were young to play sports?

Growing up my parents always put me and my siblings in all the sports to keep us active. In being involved I would watch my older siblings play. Specifically, my older sister, watching her play made me want to be just like her if not better. As a kid I looked up to her and I aspired to be like her playing in a Pirate jersey.

Which sport did you excel at the most and why do you think you excelled at it?

I believe I excelled in basketball. Basketball has always been the sport that I consider to be my main sport. I began to realize that I had loads of potential in basketball playing in the recreational league as a 76’er. That was when I began to receive recognition for the style of game I play and I continued to receive recognition as a Pirate. From receiving recognition for my style of play I knew that I was excelling in the game of basketball.

What were your positions you played in team sports?

In basketball my position was mainly a post player (5), however, I would sometimes play a power forward (4). In Volleyball I was a middle hitter/ blocker. In softball I was a pitcher, catcher, and third baseman.

What are your strengths to make you a great athlete?

My strength as an athlete was that I knew all the positions in the sports I played. I was very flexible and reliable. My coaches knew that if they needed me to play a new position that I could do it.

What is your favorite sport to play and why?

My favorite sport is basketball. I enjoy playing the game as it brings out the competitiveness in me. Although it is a team sport, I like how I can do 1 on 1 action in a game. I could never get bored of the sport whether I'm playing or watching.

What are your goals/plans after high school?

After high school I plan to further my education at NMSU to obtain a degree in education. With the shortage of teachers increasing, I plan to give back to my community by becoming a teacher with hopes of becoming a positive influence.

What were your most recent stats from your team sports?

My senior year was my year of career highs. In volleyball I had 115 kills. In basketball I had 3 double-doubles and a career high of 27 points in a game. Lastly, In softball I had 2 home runs.

Were you ever a team captain? How was that experience?

Yes, I was a team captain in all the sports I played. As a captain I was able to connect with my teammates and coaches. I would always have suggestions for my coaches and advice for my teammates if they needed me. I enjoyed being in that role as a captain.

What was your most successful season?

My most successful season would be my senior season as a whole. I was very successful in all three sports my senior year in which I achieved my greatest stats. If I had to choose one I would say my senior basketball season because I accomplished a lot of my personal goals.

What is your best advice your coach ever gave you or a play during the game?

The best advice a coach has ever given me was to break down my main goal into segments. She told me that if my goal was to score 20 points in a game, which seemed like a tough goal to accomplish, to break it down by quarter. She told me to set little goals such as scoring 5 points a quarter, which sounds a lot more doable and the outcome is still 20 points. I use this advice now in everyday life as it gave me a new perspective on things.

What are the most memorable moments in sports in high school?

The most memorable moments in sports are seeing the younger kids look up to us as role models. Being able to have an influence on the younger kids of our community is a great feeling and I will always remember seeing them come to my games to watch me play as I once did as a kid too.

How did you handle being an athlete and a student?

I handled both similarly. I treated the classroom like it was the court or field. That was the mentality I had and I believed it helped me find a balance between both academics and athletics.

What are your challenges that you overcame while playing athletics?

Being a multi-sport athlete, I would sometimes encounter a slump. I would start to feel burnt out but I always came out of that slump and all the time and effort put into these sports paid off in the end as it shaped the person I am today.

Any advice for future athletes on how to play sports?

My advice for future athletes is to be open minded and flexible. Having an open-minded mentality creates more opportunity for yourself and prepares you for anything. I also advise to stay on top of your academics because if you do not you are only holding yourself back.

Bobby Perez was named the male Athlete of the Year for GHS. We will feature an article on Perez in our next edition.