Some of our All-City Awards required lengthy deliberation, weighing the pros and cons of a number of potential winners. Then there was our Girls’ Multisport Athlete of the Year Award, which took no time at all.
In fact, the award felt inadequate for an athlete who embodied what this honor was all about: relentless determination, competitiveness, and the versatility to represent her school in four different varsity sports. Our community may never see another season quite like the one Aaya McLyn just had for Long Beach Poly, and The562 was compelled to rename our All-City Multisport Athlete of the Year Award in her honor.
Therefore, McLyn has been selected as the inaugural winner of the Aaya McLyn Multisport Athlete of the Year Award, capping off a peerless senior season for the Jackrabbits. On the boys’ side, the honor goes to Wilson senior Nathaniel Parris.
McLyn’s accomplishments earned her Girls’ All-City Athlete of the Year recognition this year, but what made her year so special was the sheer volume of her contributions. In the fall, she was an All-American and the Moore League Player of the Year in flag football, then during winter she split time between the soccer pitch and the basketball court, excelling in both.
She was the Moore League Midfielder of the year in soccer, where she earned a full ride to Washington State, and was a valuable contributor to Poly’s Moore League champion girls’ basketball team, where she earned second team All-League honors.
In the spring, she was part of Poly’s first-ever CIF-SS championship team in softball, batting .375 for the Jackrabbits with a pair of home runs. In an era of specialization, where young athletes are often encouraged to focus on one primary sport, McLyn’s season was unique and exceptional–something we may never see again.
On the boys’ side, Parris was a key contributor in both basketball and baseball, earning All-Moore League honors in both sports. A four-year contributor on the hardwood, Parris was the senior captain for a young Bruins squad and provided valuable leadership to go with his defensive prowess.
On the baseball diamond, Parris emerged as the leadoff hitter for the Bruins as they earned a share of the Moore League title in 2025. The outfielder wasn’t initially an everyday starter for Wilson, but earned his spot in the order by hitting .386 on the year with a .463 on-base percentage. He also stole 10 bases for the Bruins and was only caught once.
