While a large amount of Penn student athletes are multi-sport, few go to the lengths that Freshman Shreya Nayee does.
In the fall, Nayee participates in Cross Country and plays as midfielder for the Girls Soccer Team. In the winter, Nayee plays upward for Penn’s Girls Basketball Team, and runs for the Track & Field Team in the spring.
Starting her freshman XC season at the top of the state catapulted Nayee into the eyes of fans and recruiters alike, being awarded the title of South Bend Tribune’s Athlete of the Week in early September, and being nominated again for the title in early October.
Nayee doesn’t remember a time before her athletic reign, as it’s all she’s ever seemed to know. She’s played both soccer and basketball from what she feels was the beginning of time.
“I’ve played upward from a really little age. And basketball has kind of been like, the team I play for has kind of been like a family for me, we’ve formed our own kind of like AA group,” she said, “We’re all really close – and the coach, he’s always been super cool, like he would always say the team was like a family.”
While managing all of her practices, games, and other extracurricular activities (such as interning for Girls on the Run) may seem like a hefty feat for some, but Nayee manages with the support of all the people around her.
“My parents help me so much and just, like, figuring stuff out and getting everything done. All the clubs and, people who organize my sports – they’ve all been really nice and helpful in being lenient and helping me organize everything,” Nayee said.
Nayee accomplishes to emphasize the student in student-athlete despite her full schedule, and is described as very school oriented and efficient by her teachers.
“Sometimes I procrastinate,” she said, “so I’ll be up late studying, but it’s worth it.”
With two loving parents and two older brothers, Nayee has had a successful model set up for her her whole life. She hopes to fulfill the expectations she’s had set for her and has also set for herself.
“They both did so well in high school, so I feel like I have to live up to that in some degree,” she said.
Nayee attended Northpoint Elementary School and Discovery Middle School before aging up to Penn, and is still unclear about what she wants to pursue in the future.
However, with the support of her friends and family, Nayee is confident in her future, knowing that her determination and love for what she does will get her through it.
“Sometimes I think like, ‘oh my gosh,’ I don’t want to do this or, like, can I not go today?” Nayee said, “But I always end up going and then it’s fun in the end. It’s like a process.”
Teammates throughout all four of Nayee’s sports are in awe of her accomplishments, as well as her overall personality.
“You can just tell from watching her play that she’s an incredible person,” soccer teammate Marie Roach said, “I know her future, at Penn and beyond, is bright.”
With a fiery start to her high school career, Nayee shows no signs of stopping. With determination and grit, motivation and organization, and the support of everyone around her, she’s got the eye of the tiger.
