Warrior claims three Academic All-State awards
Jun 06, 2017 02:42PM ● By Greg JamesBy Greg James | [email protected]
Taylorsville senior Mari Hasebi capped off an incredible senior year with an Academic All-State award and state playoff appearance in basketball and track.
“I loved playing sports at Taylorsville,” Hasebi said. “The coaches are absolutely amazing and push us to work hard, but they also manage to throw in lots of fun so I loved that.”
She was awarded her second and third Academic All-State awards of the year; one for 5A girls basketball and the other for track. She was given the same award last fall for girls soccer.
Hasebi is a four-year varsity soccer player and three-year varsity basketball player. She was named Honorable Mention All-Region in basketball and First-Team All-Region in soccer. She also was named to the Fox13 Utah Youth Soccer Association team in 2016.
The Warriors midfielder scored two goals this fall in the Warriors 2-9 season. She also played club soccer with USA Elite. Her club team won several local tournaments including the Park City Invitational, and it advanced to the ODF Region Championships and State Cup Finals.
“I was able to balance being a good student and good athlete by managing my time well,” she said. “I think my schooling always comes first, because we are called student-athletes not athlete-students.”
She maintained a cumulative 4.0 grade point average throughout her high school career. She is a member of the Taylorsville student senate.
Hasebi has signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, after her graduation.
Idaho State finished last season 7-13. It plays in the Big Sky conference. The Bengals’ head coach, Allison Gibson, called her recruiting class the most balanced she has had. They signed players from seven different states. Gibson called Hasebi a crafty midfielder.
As a member of the track team she posted a personal record 100-meter time of 14.23 at the Region 3 championships. She also placed 21st overall in the 200.
“Mari is a coach's dream from a basketball standpoint,” Warriors head basketball coach Jodi Lee said. “I think she was one of the best defenders in the state. We would always put her on the other team's best player. She is relentless on defense. I think we finished second in the state in least points allowed per game, and she is a big reason why.”
As a member of the Warrior basketball team, she helped the squad advance to the state playoffs. She averaged nearly three points per game and two assists. The Warriors finished the season with a 14-8 overall record and lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Fremont 53-45.
“Students that take their academics seriously are an incredible blessing for a coach,” Lee said. “Part of our job is to help our athletes stay academically eligible to compete. To have students like Mari that I did not have to keep tabs on is such a relief.”
The Academic All-State award is given to high school seniors who are varsity team contributors and maintain the highest level of academic achievement. The Utah High School Activities Association considers the award its most prestigious.
“Our seniors played hard, and that helped trickle down to the other girls,” Lee said. “Mari was certainly a part of making this season such a joy.”
Hasebi was also given the most outstanding female athlete and most outstanding female student athlete by Taylorsville High School at the end of year awards banquet. It was the first time the two awards have been given to the same student.
Taylorsville senior Mari Hasebi capped off an incredible senior year with an Academic All-State award and state playoff appearance in basketball and track.
“I loved playing sports at Taylorsville,” Hasebi said. “The coaches are absolutely amazing and push us to work hard, but they also manage to throw in lots of fun so I loved that.”
She was awarded her second and third Academic All-State awards of the year; one for 5A girls basketball and the other for track. She was given the same award last fall for girls soccer.
Hasebi is a four-year varsity soccer player and three-year varsity basketball player. She was named Honorable Mention All-Region in basketball and First-Team All-Region in soccer. She also was named to the Fox13 Utah Youth Soccer Association team in 2016.
The Warriors midfielder scored two goals this fall in the Warriors 2-9 season. She also played club soccer with USA Elite. Her club team won several local tournaments including the Park City Invitational, and it advanced to the ODF Region Championships and State Cup Finals.
“I was able to balance being a good student and good athlete by managing my time well,” she said. “I think my schooling always comes first, because we are called student-athletes not athlete-students.”
She maintained a cumulative 4.0 grade point average throughout her high school career. She is a member of the Taylorsville student senate.
Hasebi has signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, after her graduation.
Idaho State finished last season 7-13. It plays in the Big Sky conference. The Bengals’ head coach, Allison Gibson, called her recruiting class the most balanced she has had. They signed players from seven different states. Gibson called Hasebi a crafty midfielder.
As a member of the track team she posted a personal record 100-meter time of 14.23 at the Region 3 championships. She also placed 21st overall in the 200.
“Mari is a coach's dream from a basketball standpoint,” Warriors head basketball coach Jodi Lee said. “I think she was one of the best defenders in the state. We would always put her on the other team's best player. She is relentless on defense. I think we finished second in the state in least points allowed per game, and she is a big reason why.”
As a member of the Warrior basketball team, she helped the squad advance to the state playoffs. She averaged nearly three points per game and two assists. The Warriors finished the season with a 14-8 overall record and lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Fremont 53-45.
“Students that take their academics seriously are an incredible blessing for a coach,” Lee said. “Part of our job is to help our athletes stay academically eligible to compete. To have students like Mari that I did not have to keep tabs on is such a relief.”
The Academic All-State award is given to high school seniors who are varsity team contributors and maintain the highest level of academic achievement. The Utah High School Activities Association considers the award its most prestigious.
“Our seniors played hard, and that helped trickle down to the other girls,” Lee said. “Mari was certainly a part of making this season such a joy.”
Hasebi was also given the most outstanding female athlete and most outstanding female student athlete by Taylorsville High School at the end of year awards banquet. It was the first time the two awards have been given to the same student.
