Brentwood's Huffman honored with Booster Athlete Award

Two of the most recognizable names in the Brentwood athletic program over the past four years have been Molly Huffman and Dorian Bowie.

Both competed in multiple sports throughout their school years, and with a high degree of efficiency.

Little wonder then that Huffman and Bowie were honored as Brentwood's top senior athletes in 2016-17.

Both were honored at the 61st annual Brentwood High Athletic Boosters' all-sports awards banquet at the end of the school year.

Huffman was presented with the Booster Athlete Award as the top female athlete. Bowie was presented with the Mark Reider Award as the top male athlete.

Huffman competed in volleyball, basketball and track and field in high school. She also was lauded as the most outstanding team member for girls volleyball in 2016-17.

“This award means so much to me,” Huffman said. “Through the years I've watched some of the best female athletes (at Brentwood) win it, and I'm honored to follow in their footsteps.

“It's a great feeling knowing that all your hard work and success was not only noticed by your coaches, but even by some of the other coaches.”

Huffman, a four-year multisport standout, graduated from Brentwood with a 4.67 GPA and No. 3 class ranking.

A devastating ACL injury in early December knocked her off the basketball court this winter.

As well as off the track this spring.

The 5-foot-5 Huffman finished her high school career as a three-year participant in volleyball, four-year athlete in basketball and three-year competitor in track.

“Athletes like Molly don't come along too often,” Brentwood track coach Mike Cramer said. “Not only was she a naturally gifted athlete, she is an even better person. I can't remember a day that she wasn't smiling. She is what makes coaching so great; she was extremely coachable, driven.

“Often times, we as coaches see athletes that have so much talent but don't have the drive, or they lack the talent but have the drive. Molly had both. I always tell the athletes to smile during their workouts to make it easier, but Molly was always smiling. She was obviously raised the right way.”

In volleyball, Huffman was an outside hitter/defensive specialist and an all-section selection two times. She was a team captain for three years, including two years at the junior varsity level, and led the team in kills (114) and service aces (45) last season. She also finished second in digs.

Huffman was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain in basketball, helping spark the Spartans to four consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances.

She was named to several all-tournament squads in her career before suffering the ACL injury in the season-opening Brentwood High Boosters' tip-off tournament (which was won by Huffman & Co. the past four years).

On the track, Huffman specialized in the hurdling and triple jump events. She was a WPIAL qualifier in the 300 hurdles and triple jump as a sophomore and in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and triple jump as a junior.

Huffman was unable to compete as a senior because of her injury but led the girls team in points scored in her sophomore and junior years. She was a WPIAL medalist in the 300 hurdles as a junior, placing eighth in the event at the WPIAL finals.

“Molly qualified for the WPIAL finals in three events,” Cramer said, “and we could always count on her to score 20 points a meet. Even though Molly couldn't compete this season, she was at every meet — home and away — and helped score the meets.”

Huffman also was involved in various extracurricular activities — National Honor Society, senior steering committee, Garden Club, Pep Club and the powder-puff football program.

She will be attending Pitt in the fall to study physical therapy.

“It's actually kind of funny how it all worked out,” Huffman said, “because I decided what I wanted to major in back in November, and I tore my ACL in our first game in December. So throughout the recovery process, I (got) to be exposed to everything I want to do in the future.”

Huffman was named “most outstanding” team member in basketball (along with Alecia Folino) as a sophomore and in track and field as a junior.

She also was the recipient of the WPIAL scholar-athlete award for the 2016-17 school year.

“Molly will be successful in whatever field she goes into after college,” Cramer said. “I really can't say enough good things about her and the leadership she brought to our program.

“I have three girls of my own, and they could not wait to see Molly at practices and meets. She is a great role model for my girls.”

Note: Coming next week, a closer look at Dorian Bowie.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.