Incoming Northern Arizona freshman Haley Wingender was named the Nevada Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year after wrapping up a sensational senior year at Bishop Gorman High School, leading her team to a 17-3-2 record and the Class 4A state championship. The award was based on three pillars including athletic production and impact on the field, high academic achievement in the classroom and exhibiting exemplary personal character.
“It feels like everything I’ve done for the past 12 years of my life has paid off,” Wingender said. “It feels good to be recognized by my state because I feel like I’ve worked hard for this the last four years.”
Wingender was a four-year letter winner and starter for Bishop Gorman and received the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year honor following a senior season in which she scored 33 goals and recorded 20 assists. In her team’s 4-0 victory over Green Valley in the state championship game, Wingender scored two goals and assisted on a third.
Wingender finished her high school career with 93 goals and 51 assists. She also carried a 3.50 GPA in high school and was active in the Las Vegas community.
She will be a part of a 10-member recruiting class, five of whom will come from Nevada. They will help fill the void left by 12 graduating seniors.
“I’m excited, but now that I’ve received the Player of the Year, I know I’ll have to work even harder because I don’t want to let down any expectations from my coaches or my teammates at NAU,” Wingender said.
