Portage High School senior Nicki Monahan has devoted herself to athletic excellence since beginning her high school career in the fall of 2009. In fact, Monahan’s path to local stardom on the basketball court and soccer pitch began when she was just three years old.
Monahan led the lady-Indians soccer squad in goals last fall before transitioning to the hardwood for the winter, where she dropped 15.5 points per game to lead her team. Over a decade of constantly going from practice to practice and from one sport to another all year around has paid off for the PHS basketball stud. Monahan credits the help she has received from her loved ones for her success and development as an athlete and as a person.
“My dad has been my coach since I was three, so he pretty much taught me everything,” she said. “All of my other coaches, teammates, friends and family have made an impact as well.”
After years of playing travel and youth soccer and basketball all year around, Monahan was immediately bumped up to the varsity roster for both sports as a freshman. Since then she has continued to elevate her statistics and level of play.
“I like competition,” Monahan said. “It’s been fun. It teaches you a lot about life, how you have to manage time and you have to make good choices. It just teaches you more about life and how you have to have your priorities straight and set goals.”
The highlight of Monahan’s basketball career thus far came when she was selected to play for the Indiana Junior All-Star team last month. Monahan and the other stars from around the state who just finished their junior year defeated the Senior All-Stars and the Kentucky Junior All-Stars.
“There was a lot of good competition,” she said. “We beat the seniors. It was the first year that juniors actually got to play Kentucky and we beat them by three. It was a lot fun playing against good competition and meeting new people.”
Monahan also participated in the East-West All-Star Game, the North-South All-Star game and the Indiana All-Star Classic this year.
In order to become an All-Star player while remaining strong academically with a load that includes several AP classes, Monahan has had to find a way to balance athletics and academics, which sometimes requires sacrifice of leisure activities.
“It’s a lot of time management,” Monahan said. “You do have to give up sleep every now and then. It’s school first and then athletics and then you get to hang out with your friends after all that stuff is done. You have to get your homework done right after practice and then get some sleep, because sleep is very valuable.”
Monahan is a member of National Honor Society and Captains’ Council. She participated in Natural Helpers and has served as a Portage Youth Basketball scorekeeper.
Monahan is undecided as to which college she will attend but has hopes of continuing her hoops career at the collegiate level. However, for now she is ready to make the most of her senior season.
“I really want to win sectionals this year,” Monahan said. “I just want to go out on a good note and just have fun, be with my friends and win.”