California two-sport star wins high school soccer and basketball titles in less than 24 hours
Multi-sport athletes are one thing, playing a different sport as each season passes throughout the high school year.
Many boys play football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. Plenty of girls do the same, maybe it's volleyball, soccer and softball, or track and field.
That's hard enough as it is. But Louisville High senior Miye Kodama does something very rare. She plays two sports in one season – basketball and soccer.
And to take the task beyond rare and into a different stratosphere, Kodama captained both programs to CIF Southern Section titles in back-to-back days on Friday and Saturday.
The soccer team beat Monrovia 2-0 in the Division 4 final at Crespi High Friday evening, and the basketball team topped Lakewood 64-45 in the Division 2A final at Colony High early Saturday afternoon.
Louisville High senior Miye Kodama won a CIF Southern Section Division 4 soccer title on Friday and a Division 2A basketball title Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Kodama family
"I know it's a big accomplishment, but I wouldn't be able to do it without my teammates and coaches for putting up with me and the schedule," Kodama said. "I had to miss a lot of practices to play games."
Kodama had one goal and an assist on the pitch before starting and tallying eight points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 28 minutes on the hardwood in the span of 18 hours.
She's got two CIF plaques to show for it.
Last week, Kodama had to play both semifinals in one day. The soccer team beat Walnut in penalty kicks before Kodama scampered to Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks for her basketball game.
"Things were going so fast that (semifinal) day, it was hard to realize what was going on," Kodama said. "But I was able to soak in the soccer championship with my teammates and family because it was on a different day. Now, I can soak in the basketball championship."
Kodama said she owes the physical ability to do both sports to Louisville athletic trainer Kay Montgomery.
"She was there for me at every game and match this year. I wouldn't be able to do it without her, period," said Kodama.
Louisville High senior Miye Kodama won a CIF Southern Section Division 4 soccer title on Friday and a Division 2A basketball title Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Kodama family
Taylor Westbrook, a senior forward on the basketball team, paced the Royals in the comeback win over Lakewood with 18 points and six rebounds.
"We've been working for this goal all summer," Westbrook said. "Our team chemistry showed when we were down and had to focus on the little things."
Khali Sowell-Mitchell notched 17 points and 10 rebounds. Eva Van Lokeren added 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Kodama and company will now await the schedule for the soccer and basketball CIF State tournament. There's more to win ...
"I'm ready for a CIF State run," Kodama said.
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