2022 SWC Girls Basketball Year End Awards

Defensive Players of the Year

Mary Meng of Midview

My goodness will this young lady change your gameplan quickly!  I’ve never seen such a force in this conference on the defensive end such as Mary Meng.  She entered the SWC this year and took it by storm!

It doesn’t matter if it is a rebound or a shot block, you can count on Mary Meng to get it.  She has the rebounding skills of Dennis Rodman and the shot blocking skills of Dikembe Mutombo.  I’m just glad she doesn’t waive the finger after every block like he did.  She shows class, and that makes her even better.

Mia Kalich of Olmsted Falls

If we had an award for the most underrated player, it would go to Mia Kalich.  She can do it all and showed everyone in the tournament last year that she can even hit the outside shots. You wouldn’t expect it from a girl that tall, but she has the range.  Her name seldom gets mentioned and that is a CRIME!  She is a do it all player who can also change an opposing coaches gameplan quickly.

However, the biggest reason she won this award is her attention to defense.  She doesn’t need to paint herself in the key, she can move around everywhere including the press to cause havoc.  Mia has great court vision and anticipation that makes her so dangerous. The next time you watch a Bulldog game, pick three possessions and just focus on Mia on defense, you won’t see her out of place a single time.

Coach Eaton has this to share about Kalich, “Mia has great basketball instincts; her ability to anticipate passes and move her feet allows her to guard any position at any time.”