"Maya is a fantastic student-athlete! She never misses practice, is a verbal leader on the team, and is one of our best players. She plays catcher, which is arguably the most difficult position on the team. She is always working hard, and the team views her as the leader of the team. Maya is a three-sport athlete, president of the school, and represents what is great about Northridge." - Dave Fosdick, Softball Coach

Student Name

Maya Burkholder

School

Northridge High School

Grade Level

Senior

Sports

• Softball
• Basketball
• Track

Positions

• Catcher
• Guard
• Shot 
• Discus

Stats

• Softball: Batting Average 0.320, OBP 0.436, Hits 58, RBIs 45
• Basketball: PPG 5, DEFR 4, RPG 5
• Track: Shot Put 32' 8.5", Discus 92'

"I am most proud of our basketball state run last year because we made it to the sweet sixteen. Not only did we make it to the sweet sixteen, but we went against the number one seed in the tournament. We held them to only being up by ten at half-time. No one expected a tiny team from Greeley, Colorado to make the game that close and intense. I am so proud of my team for putting our all into that game even with the rankings." 

What's one goal you're currently working towards in your sport?

"A goal I am currently working towards in softball is to win regionals and make it to the state playoffs for my senior year." 

Describe your worst sports performance. What did you learn from this experience? 

"My worst performance was a basketball game agains Central last year. It was a rival game that had really been worked up, and I did not play well at all. All of my shots reflected off the backboard, and it really brought down my energy as well as the teams because I was a captain. Other saw that I was done, and also started to give up. That was the first time our school's program had lost to Central in such a long time, and I took that really hard. I never wanted to lose to Central again. To ensure that I wouldn't, I learned that you have to adjust. Basketball is such a fast-paced game you have to learn from each shot and play, and adjust going into the next. I also can take this into life. If something is going wrong, figure out what it is and change."

Who are your role models in your sport or life, and how have they influenced you? 

"My role model in my sports and life is my dad Ryan Burkholder. Not only is he my father, but he is also my biggest supporter at softball, the scorekeeper for basketball, and my track and field coach. No matter what sport I am doing or if he knows about the sport or not, my dad always knows what to say. He knows whether I need direct feedback or just a hug. Not only is he my cheerleader and coach, but he also inspires me to become better at my sports each and every day. Knowing how he went from a high school athlete, to a collegiate athlete, and finally to a coach who inspires me to find what I truly love in life, carry that into what I have ahead of me in the future, and do it to the best of my ability every single day." 

How do you balance sports with other responsibilities like school or work?

"Balancing sports, school, and activities has always been one of my biggest challenges. Because I am the STUCO president, a dual enrollment student, and involved in many other school activities, it is really hard to find time for everything. I found the best way to balance sports and the rest of life is to devote all the time to my sport when I am there for practices or games. As soon as they are done, look to my other responsibilities. This ensures that I get everything I need to get done, and do not prioritize one over the other."  

What are your career or college plans after you graduate high school? 

"I plan on attending either Metropolitan State University of Denver or the University of Wyoming to study speech and language pathology." 

What advice do you have for younger athletes who want to join your sport?

"Go out and play whatever sport you can and want to. Sports are so much fun with all the people and memories that you make. Almost all of my closest friends have been made from sports, and there are so many memories with those people that come from the sports themselves. Whether it is softball, basketball, or track, all allow you to become a part of a team and family that lasts much longer than any of the sports do. And getting to build that family and bonds while being able to compete and have fun is something you can't get out of anything else." 

Do you have any funny pre-game rituals or superstitions that you stick to?

"Not really." 

If you were to participate in a talent show unrelated to your sport, what would your act be?

"Playing a song on the piano."