It’s not uncommon to play multiple sports in high school, nor is it unusual to excel in more than one. But winning at the highest level in multiple sports is exceptionally rare.
That’s exactly what Millikan junior Sarah Thaut did this year, starring in both soccer and beach volleyball and earning the Aaya McLyn Multisport Athlete of the Year Award. On the boys’ side, Long Beach Poly senior Kamarie Smith earned the honor for his contributions in both football and basketball.
Thaut didn’t just play on both championship teams, she was a major piece of both. She started as an attacking midfielder for a deep Millikan girls’ soccer team and played on Court 1 in beach volleyball alongside partner Bethany Arnold.
Thaut was also a part of Millikan’s championship run in soccer where the Rams posted 11 consecutive clean sheets to finish the season, including a shutout in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship game against Ayala. The victory secured the program’s first-ever CIF soccer championship, one the Rams celebrated close to home at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Long Beach City College.
Later in the spring, Thaut anchored Court 1 throughout a dominant playoff run as Millikan earned redemption after falling in last year’s CIF championship match. The Rams won five straight Division 3 playoff matches in convincing fashion, capped by a 3-2 victory over Windward to claim the program’s first CIF beach volleyball championship.
On the boys’ side, Long Beach Poly senior Kamarie Smith was already a standout football player before joining Poly’s varsity basketball team, where he carved out an important role off the bench with his speed and relentless defense at guard.
During his senior football campaign, the three-star receiver posted 539 all-purpose yards and found the endzone on four different occasions, including a two-touchdown game against Compton. Smith is set to continue his football career at Diablo Valley College after signing this spring.
