By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Mia Napier had aspirations of being part of a state championship team at Western Alamance.
Then in a matter of months, it happened twice.
“I definitely didn’t think it was something I would do,” Napier said of the dual titles.
In Western’s school year of unprecedented success, Napier was the only athlete to be on two teams that won state championships.
There was the girls’ basketball team’s championship in mid-March and the girls’ soccer title May 30.
“It was very special as a senior,” Napier said. “All I wanted to do was be a state champion. It was very emotional because I wanted to do this all my life.”
The soccer team’s achievement by defeating South Point 1-0 in the Class 3-A final was most satisfying for Napier, who played as a defensive midfielder. She was also a team captain and the only senior in the starting lineup.
“I gave more to soccer,” she said. “Having a crucial role, and that was definitely my main sport.”
There was overlap for the sports. She was a reserve guard on the girls’ basketball team.
The basketball season extended a couple of weeks into the soccer season. The soccer team was 5-0 by the time Western’s basketball team topped Cramer for the state title in Winston-Salem.
She never missed a basketball game, but was absent from some practice time late in the season because of soccer.
“I didn’t want to miss any of the preseason workouts and I wanted to be a good captain,” Napier said. “I was definitely focused more on the soccer which was part of the reason I had to choose.”
Soccer coach Camden Brooks said Napier was an important veteran leader on a team that was stocked with youthful talent.
“She was able to do both,” Brooks said of the multiple sports. “She gave us some experience.”
For several years, Napier was immersed in both sports, participating in travel ball. She went through offseason workouts during the fall semester with both teams.
“It means long nights staying up doing homework,” she said.
She said she realized her impact came in different portions on the respective teams.
“My roles were definitely different,” Naper said. “With basketball, I was playing with my best friends for the last time and that was important to me.”
Napier, 17, will attend High Point University, where she’s signed up to be a walk-on for the women’s soccer team. She’ll major in interior design.
For decoration, she’ll have two North Carolina High School Athletic Association medals, two championship shirts, and two rings.
