Copyright THE NEWS TRIBUNE (Tacoma, WA), 2010. Reprinted with permission of The News Tribune.
DHC Photography	DHC Photography

Some athletes transcend their sport and dominate every field of play. In her time at Steilacoom High School, Marki Creger-Zier has established herself as one of those athletes. Her list of achievements is extensive, and the mere fact that she will play softball for the defending NCAA Division I national champion Washington Huskies next year reveals her remarkable ability.

Softball is Creger-Zier's love in sports. A four-year participant at Steilacoom, Creger-Zier received tremendous recognition for her contributions on the diamond, including first team all-state middle infielder, Nisqually League Most Valuable Player and Tacoma Athletic Commission "Athlete of the Month."

"The game has taught me so much and I have had a solid foundation for a long time," Creger-Zier said. "I cultured the meaning of leadership, teamwork, competitiveness, strength, dedication, hard work and so much more from playing this sport."

Besides softball, Creger-Zier ran cross country for three years at Steilacoom, earning first team all-state honors and placing fourth and sixth at the Washington State Cross Country Championships her first two years before turning her focus to softball.

She was also a four-year participant on the Steilacoom basketball team, earning the school's most valuable player award and all-Nisqually League second team honors. After three years of cross country in the Fall, she turned her attention to soccer her senior year and earned first team all-Nisqually League honors in her one year on the team.

During her junior year, Creger-Zier received the "Nisqually League Outstanding Junior Award," giving her an opportunity to represent her high school among the athletic directors and school principals from the Nisqually League.

"I have a strong loyalty to Steilacoom High School," she said. "Many of the teachers, coaches and administrators have been so supportive of my. They have seen the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm, school spirit, leadership and academic achievements that I strive for, and I have been so lucky to have these role models in my life."

Mike Norris, her softball coach at Steilacoom, has nothing but complimentary things to say about his star player.

"In addition to Marki being a gifted athlete and outstanding in the classroom, she is also a quiet leader on and off the field and leads by example," Norris said. "Despite all her athletic accomplishments and awards, her successes have not gone to her head and her teammates respect her for that. She has a can-do, will-not-be-denied mentality that makes her even more special as an athlete, and it has been a pleasure to be her high school coach these past four years."

With her overwhelming athletic prowess, Creger-Zier could likely compete and dominate at the collegiate level in various sports. However, she will attend the University of Washington with the focus on softball, her favorite sport and the one that she has grown up playing.

"I will always cherish the diamond, the dirt and the cleats on my feet and the glove on my hand," she said.