Each school year the ECHO asks varsity coaches, athletic department personnel, and administrators to name male and female athletes-of-the-year from among the senior class, and this year they selected these two scholar athletes: Anna Blum and Tyler Ziggas.

Blum is a three sport student athlete who excels at all she does. Blum played first singles in tennis, wears number 2 as a guard for the basketball team, and wears number 6 in centerfield for the softball team.

She has been playing tennis for just four years yet secured the coveted first-singles spot on this year’s team. She has been playing basketball for 13 years and was a starter on the 2020-2021 basketball team that won Beaver Area’s first WPIAL basketball title, boys or girls, in school history.

She’s been on the softball field for 13 years as well and she started in the outfield all four years of high school. She secures center field this year as part of the team that went to the WPIAL finals for only the second time in school history.

After high school, Blum will attend Clemson University where she will study chemistry. However, she’s not quite sure yet if she will continue her athletic endeavors by playing sports in college.

Pre-game rituals for each sport look a little different. Blum admits to having no pre-game ritual for basketball; however, for softball, the team circles up and prays. For tennis, they pass around and kiss the “lucky leaf” (until COVID put a stop to the tradition).

Blum’s favorite thing about high school sports is competing and winning games with her teammates and spending every day with them.

“Out of all the [athletic] memories, my favorite one is making the first and only 3-pointer of the WPIAL championship this year in basketball and just that win in general,” shared Blum.

Blum also has a few of her favorite athletes:

“[Retired] Derek Jeter because I watched him play baseball when I was younger and he was so fun to watch. [Present] Coco Gauff because she plays amazingly at such a young age.”

Blum also is great at hitting the books. She is graduating with honors.

“I know that I have practice or games every day, so I use my study halls to study to keep my grades up. I make sure to put school first though,” said Blum.

Blum has some advice for those who are scared or nervous to play high school sports:

“You should play because you could surprise yourself and end up enjoying it way more than you thought. It’s also very fun to be a part of something and have teammates that will always have your back.”

If she could have one, her walk up song would be “All The Lights” by Kanye West because she loves that song and it gets her hyped up.

Other than her sports, Blum loves to spend time with her friends and visit her grandparents.

If she could have any superpower she would want to be invisible because she could be anywhere at any time and no one would know.

She prefers morning practices and likes Gatorade over Powerade.

Also reaching for the Gatorade over Powerade is Ziggas, another three-sport athlete. He wears number 7 for the football team as a cornerback and wide receiver, wears number 32 on the basketball court as a shooting guard, and is a high jumper for the track and field team. He has been playing each sport for 13 years.

After high school, Ziggas will attend the College of Wooster to major in business and entrepreneurship. He plans to continue football and track in college.

Before each game he just reminds himself to go out, have fun, and always give effort.

His favorite thing about high school sports is when the student section would cheer you on after you make a big play.

His favorite athletic memory is when they beat Uniontown in the first round of playoffs in basketball.

“It was the best feeling ever, especially since no [boys basketball] team in Beaver Area has won a playoff game in 20 years.”

Other favorite memories include receiving all-state cornerback in football and being ranked number-one high jumper in the WPIAL alongside friend and classmate, Emma Pavelek.

His favorite athlete is basketball legend Micheal Jordan because he played with fire and passion that no one else could beat him.

But that love of sports doesn’t mean Ziggas trails in the classroom.

“I always prioritize academics first because academics will get you farther in life than athletics will, but I’m able to balance them pretty well.”

Ziggas also has some advice for those who are scared to play high school sports:

“Don’t be afraid, step out of your comfort zone and try to be the best person on and off the field and always make sure to put in hard work because champions are made when nobody is looking.”

If he could have one, his walk up song would be “God's Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash.

His superpower would be mind reading because “you always got to know who’s real or fake to you.”

Ziggas prefers Gatorade just like Blum but he loves night practices because it gives off good vibes, especially during football season.

Congratulations to this year’s athletes-of-the-year!