At the Detroit Athletic Club in downtown Detroit today, Notre Dame Prep senior Taylor Timko was one of only 12 high school student-athletes in the entire state to be nominated as a finalist for the Michigan High School Athlete Of The Year. One of six female finalists and one of six male nominees will be announced as winners during a May 12 awards ceremony at the DAC.
Former Notre Dame Prep student-athlete and current teacher Molly Coldren was nominated as a finalist in 2008.
A four-year starting midfielder and a three-year captain for the NDP soccer team, Timko has had a stellar high-school soccer career and as she competes in her final season at Notre Dame, she is approaching 100 goals, an extremely difficult feat considering the level of competition. Thus far in her high school career, with one more season to complete, she has been named first-team All State as a sophomore and junior, and was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America first-team All-American and first-team Dream Team selection.
For the last three years Timko was named All-Region, All-District, All-County and All-Catholic and earned the Wendy's High School Heisman program School Winner award in October. She also has been honored as a number-one player in the district, region and county for the past two years. She is ranked nationally no. 40, regionally no. 4 and in her position, no. 9.
In addition, Timko was named first-team All State in track and field and was NDP's placekicker for the varsity football team during the past two seasons.
As impressive as her athletic accomplishments are, off the field, Timko has devoted an equal amount of time and effort within the school's academic and community/citizenship channels. She earned highest honors academically and was a National Honor Society member for the last three years. She is a SADD member, a Student Ambassador, Varsity Club member and has tutored other students in math for the past two years.
Jim Stachura, Notre Dame's head varsity soccer coach, says it has been a complete pleasure to coach Timko the last four years. "What her time at NDP has meant to the soccer program and to the school is immeasurable," he said. "She has left an impact on her peers that is unbelievable, setting a standard both athletically and academically that will be difficult for anyone to follow."
Timko has committed to play soccer in college at the University of Michigan.
Follow Notre Dame at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.