Student Athlete of the Week- Shelby Valvano

 

Shelby Valvano started playing soccer when she was five-years-old and never stopped. The Elk Lake senior is the Independent’s Student Athlete of the Week.

“It was the first sport I was old enough to play,” Valvano said. “I kept with it and kept playing because I really enjoy it and love the game.”

Valvano is proud of what she and her teammates have accomplished under their coaches Carly Dibble and Scott McAleer. “Every year the team gets stronger and better. This is our fourth solid year with a having a team and in those four years we have accomplished a lot. This year is our second year making it to playoffs. Each year we earn more wins and gain more confidence. It’s been an exciting, fun year and I couldn’t have asked for a better team than the one I got to play with these past four years. Everyone has been working hard and made improvements this season.”

The Lady Warriors’ season ended on Thursday night when they lost a playoff game in overtime, but that doesn’t mean that Valvano is going to have more spare time.

In addition to soccer, she keeps busy with many different activities: she is the co-captain of the basketball cheerleading squad, is a member of the Student Council, and serves on the prom steering committee.

Valvano has also studied dance for 14 years at Wendy Peckins School of Dance in Tunkhannockl. “(Dance) is something else that I really enjoy doing,” she said.

And when she gets the chance, she also enjoyes skiing.

She is the daughter of Kevin and Angela Valvano, of Springville. “My parents inspire me,” she said. “They support me in everything I do. I can always count on them. They taught me to work hard and to believe in myself.”

Hard work has helped her in the classroom as well, earning her entry into the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.

Her post-high school plans include attending college where she hopes to continue playing soccer at that level.