The nominees for Westman Journal female athlete of the year for the 2009-10 season have an amazing list of accomplishments.

Jen Dixon of Vincent Massey, Laura Popplestone of Neelin and Lisa Barclay of Crocus Plains all had outstanding years but only one of them will be crowned the winner when next week's announcement is made in the Journal.

Dixon competed in three varsity sports in 2009-10. In volleyball, she was named her team's most valuable player, a Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association graduating all-star and was named to the All-Manitoba team. In basketball, she was also team MVP, an MHSAA graduating all-star and picked up a number of MVP awards in tournaments. As a fastball player, she shone on the diamond, leading her team in innings pitched and batting.

In all three sports, she led her teams to the provincial championship tournaments.

Her nominator, teacher Kelly Cowieson, said Dixon has maintained a high academic average and her “work ethic . . . makes her stand out among her peers.”

Popplestone has competed in volleyball, basketball, soccer, beach volleyball and badminton at the school level and is involved in sports outside of school as well. Henry Crossin, coach of the varsity girls' basketball team at neelin, says Popplestone has proven that “with hard work, a desire to compete and dedication . . . that it is possible to be a successful multi-sport student-athlete.”

She was captain of the varsity girls' soccer team that won the city championship in her third year as a starter. She was a two-year starter on both the Spartans' volleyball and basketball teams. Away from the team sports, she helps coach and officiate in a number of sports as well.

Barclay has a glowing resume. Daily newspapers in Manitoba think she's something, as the Winnipeg Sun named her the No. 1 female volleyball player in the province and the Brandon Sun named her the winner of the Krug Crawford memorial medal as Westman athlete of the year.

“Lisa is committed to setting goals for herself and working very hard to attain each of these goals,” said her nominator, Trista Wenger, coach of the Crocus Plains' volleyball team.

Barclay, captain of the team, was most valuable player in a number of tournaments this year, and was MVP at the provincial championship, which her team won in back-to-back years.