Senior Ava McCulla is leaving South High as the highest scorer in Patriot history.
In basketball, McCulla joined the ranks as one of the few Patriots with 1,000 points in her career, and this year she set two significant records: all-time scorer and highest rebounds
McCulla reflected on what it meant to break the record. Which record are we talking about here?
“I didn’t know until practice the next day, but I felt so proud of myself and thought it was a cool accomplishment,” she said.
McCulla’s basketball journey has also been shaped by her time spent playing alongside her sister, 2023 graduate Alivia McCulla. The two bonded on the court, although it wasn’t without some sibling rivalry. They played as teammates on Varsity at Parkway South for 2 years.
Head Coach Thomas Williams has coached both McCulla girls throughout their years at South High.
“Playing with her sister made Ava better at practicing. There was a huge rivalry between the two, very physical but made the game better for her,” he said.
McCulla also credits her sister’s achievement of 1,000 points as a source of motivation. Alivia scored her 1000th point for the Patriots in 2022, her senior season.
As a freshman, McCulla made the varsity team. Now that she is a senior captain, her younger teammates look up to her.
Sophomore Carrie Naeger is a small forward on the Patriots this year.
“Ava’s my role model and queen because she scores 30 points a game and that motivates our team,” Naeger said.
At the end of the regular season, McCulla averaged 20.7 points per game.
McCulla said she has embraced her leadership role, guiding her younger teammates and setting an example for them to follow.
Coach Williams describes how McCulla has grown to be a leader.
“She is much more assertive. When she was a freshman and sophomore as the young kid on the team, and she has now grown to be a great upperclassman. She had a broken nose and still didn’t miss a game, and she waited until the end of the season to get surgery. That shows how committed she is,” Williams said.
McCulla said being the only senior on the team this year can be difficult.
“I liked Senior Night but that was really it. It can get lonely not having anyone else in my grade, but I still enjoy being a leader of this team,” she said.
In addition to basketball, McCulla was also a multi-sport athlete, also excelling in volleyball. She has played every year except for her junior year.
Outside of sports, McCulla keeps up with her grades academically, maintaining a 4.2 GPA. Maybe talk here about any clubs she’s involved in? Her dedication to her school work is clear as she balances drawing, homework, and time with friends while keeping school a top priority.
Coach Williams states another great part about McCulla.
“Great attitude, very inclusive with her teammates and she doesn’t let her individual success affect how she treats her teammates. She is very level-headed and team first,” he said.
