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Monroe’s Alana Aulph Named Regional Girls Athlete of the Year

VaselineJuly 16, 2024

3 5 minutes read

Monroe’s Alana Aulph Named Regional Girls Athlete of the Year

MONROE – Alana Aulph wants to become a nurse.

Unfortunately, this does not leave her with much time to work as a student athlete.

The recent Monroe High graduate has been named The Monroe News 2024 Girls Athlete of the Year after a stellar three-sport career came to an end. This year, for the first time, the winner was determined by combining votes from fans and The Monroe News sports staff.

She plans to attend Michigan State University in the fall and will apply to a nursing program after her freshman year.

More: Vote for the Monroe County Boys and Girls Athlete of the Year

“I think I’m going to miss it,” she said of sports. “I just want to focus on becoming a nurse and getting my degree. Maybe do something fun, like intramural sports.”

Playing softball in college was an option at one point, and rightfully so. She pitched, played shortstop and third base for the Trojans, batting .511, tying a school record with nine home runs and driving in 39 runs. She had 15 doubles and a fielding percentage above .900.

“I talked to a few college coaches and they all said that nursing is a really hard major to balance with softball,” she said. “I decided that it would be best for me to go to college and get my degree. Eventually, sports are going to die and I want that degree.”

Monroe softball coach Jim Davis called Aulph one of the best athletes he ever coached.

“She’s done it all in four years at the plate, in the field and on the mound,” he said. “Her four home runs against Dexter are something I’ll never forget.”

Aulph hit three home runs against Dexter in the first game of the doubleheader at Dexter, and hit another in the second game.

“That was a pretty awesome memory for me,” Aulph said. “It just happened. Things really went well that day.”

Davis, who has coached many great players in his 10 seasons as head coach of the Trojans, including Division 1 prospects Ellie Sieler and Amanda Arnett, says Aulph is one of the best players he’s ever coached.

“She can play anywhere and is just willing to do whatever it takes to help the team,” he said. “There were so many times where we just needed a groundball to short. She’s the one player you want to hit the ball to.”

Aulph hit or was hit by a pitch more than 30 times this season, and opponents didn’t want to pitch to her.

“She’s been a great hitter in the middle of our lineup, really,” Davis said. “This year, she’s hit with a little more power. … She’s such a clutch player. When we needed a hit, you almost expected her to come.”

Aulph took no pitching lessons, yet was one of Monroe’s best pitchers.

“If it were up to her, she wouldn’t pitch at all, but she’s one of those players who will do whatever it takes to win,” Davis said.

Softball has long been the most popular sport in Aulph.

“I’ve been playing softball longer than the other two,” she said. “I’ve put more time into that than the other two.”

She was All-Region in volleyball with 197 digs and 112 assists.

“Alana has the heart of a champion,” Monroe volleyball coach Angela Tedora said. “Her hard work in everything she does — school, sports, 4-H, — embodies the saying ‘Hard work pays off.’

“Alana was our team captain and is the epitome of a selfless leader. As a sophomore and junior, Alana trained as a setter, but when she came into her senior year, she was given additional duties. There were times during her senior year that she was tasked with leading our offense as our setter, playing only three rotations, while other times she was our libero playing all six rotations and anchoring our defense… sometimes mid-game. No matter what was asked of her, she took it head-on, without complaint, and gave it her all.”

Tedora loves that Aulph excelled in three sports.

“I consider myself fortunate to have had Alana as a member of the Monroe varsity volleyball team for three years, and to have been able to watch her compete in basketball and softball,” she said. “Alana’s ability to be successful in three sports is just a testament to her dedication and competitive nature.”

“I made so many friendships in volleyball,” Aulph said. “That’s what made it great.”

Basketball coach Trent Moody was in his first season at Monroe this year. He liked having Aulph help him get his system in place. She was the only senior on the roster.

“She was a really good leader,” Moody said. “She accepted what we were trying to do. She went along with it and made sure everyone was on the same page.”

Aulph averaged 5.3 points per game and barely left the field.

“She was averaging 30 minutes a game, if not 32,” Moody said. “She was so good at understanding what we were trying to do out there. I couldn’t take her off the court because she wasn’t making mistakes.”

She was also an outspoken leader.

“She was very encouraging to her teammates,” Moody said.

In an era when athletes specialized in one sport, Aulph played three.

Video: Ava Chapman hits homerun for Monroe against Bedford

Monroe’s Ava Chapman hits a three-run home run for Monroe against Bedford in the District Semifinals on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

“The only sport I played travel ball was softball,” she said. “The other one I really only played in season.”

The daughter of Bill and Shelly Aulph said sports came naturally to her.

Her parents were both involved in sports: her father played basketball and baseball, while her mother was a volleyball player.

“I’m a competitor,” she said. “I’m very active. I don’t like to sit still and do nothing. It’s always been an outlet for me.”

She said she will miss the competitive sports, but is happy with the relationships athletics has given her over the years.

“I’ve made so many friendships that I wouldn’t have had without sports,” she said. “It’s always been something to fall back on and keep me busy.”

GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

2023-24 VOTES

Alana Aulph, Monroe 44

Jessica Schrader, Ida 40

Victoria Gray, Bedford 36

Malea Wourman, Milan 30

Brenna Baker, Airport 23

Elizabeth Sweeney, Erie Mason 19

Addison Dolencic, New Boston Huron 17

Payton Pudlowski, Bedford 16

New Mullins, Bedford 15

Kennedy Irwin, Dundee 13

Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock 10

Jessica Costlow, SMCC 8

Jaeli Jones, Summerfield 4

Jenna Pilachowski, Jefferson 2

Makenna Payne, SMCC 1

Previous winners

2024: Alana Aulph, Monroe

2023: Malea Wourman, Milan

2022: McKenna Salley, Dundee

2021: Ryley Osentoski, Flat Rock

2020: Taylor Wegener, Ida

2019: Amy Jackson, Flat Rock

2018: Kaylyn Carsten, Ida

2017: Payge Salenbien, Dundee

2016: Payge Salenbien, Dundee

2015: Janie Bunge, Whiteford

2014: Janie Bunge, Whiteford

2013: Morgan Kaiser, Flat Rock

2012: Morgan Kaiser, Flat Rock

2011: Jaclyn Sawasky, Ida

2010: Abby McCollum, Monroe

2009: Heather Carlson, Summerfield

2008: Chae Small, Monroe

2007: Ashley Gilson, Summerfield

2006: Ashley Gilson, Summerfield

2005: Alyssa Eppler, Jefferson

2004: Katie Loosvelt, Carlson

2003: Jenifer Sulewski, Bedford

2002: Jen Hurst, Erie Mason

2001: Kelly Upchurch, Erie Mason

2000: Breanne Chany, Whiteford

1999: Carrie Schroeder, Mason

1998: Krissy Montague, Monroe

1997: Meghan Peregord, Monroe

1996: Wendy Adams, Whiteford

1995: Amy Laboe, SMCC

1994: Amy Wilson, Ida

1993: Tanya Potcova, Jefferson

1992: Jennie Bringman, Bedford

VaselineJuly 16, 2024

3 5 minutes read

GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Vaseline

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