In April, Taylor Timko was honored at the Detroit Athletic Club as one of 12 finalists for Michigan Athlete of the Year. With her in the photo at the DAC is her father, John Timko, and NDPMA athletic director Betty Wroubel.
NDP senior Taylor Timko has been named the Walt Bazylewicz Athlete of the Year by the Catholic High School League. The three-sport student-athlete from Notre Dame Prep was selected from among 27 Catholic high schools in the Detroit area representing over 17,000 students. Each year, one senior male and one senior female athlete are chosen for this honor.
Timko is the third from Notre Dame Prep to receive the award. Molly Coldren (2008) and Sara Barron (2012) also received athlete of the year honors from the CHSL.
"It is a tribute to you and your accomplishments to be named as the top female athlete from among all of the student-athletes in the league," Vic Michaels, the director of the CHSL, said. Timko will be receiving her award formally at the Catholic League Baseball Championships on the infield at Comerica Park on May 15, 2014, between the C-D (10:00 a.m. start) and A-B finals (12:30 p.m. start).
Timko also 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.
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.
About the Walt Bazylewicz Athlete of the Year Award
During the 1988-89 school year, the Walt Bazylewicz Athletes of the Year Award was created in honor of the man who served the longest term as director of the Catholic League – 15 years. During challenging times, rather than accept budget cuts and possible league closure, Bazylewicz set in place a funding base that secured the league's survival. The creator of several programs, including the Prep Bowl, it was under Bazy's term that girls' championships and the Hall of Fame were formed. Since 1989, this award has recognized the accomplishments of the league's top male and top female senior athletes. Bazylewicz also coached football and basketball at Notre Dame High School in the 1960s.
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.