—Messenger photo by Dana Becker st. edmond senior megan flattery stands with her parents, Debbie and Dave Flattery. Flattery was named the 2017 Carol Donnelly Award winner, given annually to the top female athlete at St. Edmond.

When St. Edmond decided to create the Carol Donnelly Award to honor the school’s top senior student-athlete, the idea of someone like Megan Flattery is likely what they had in mind.

Flattery was recently named as the latest Donnelly recipient, adding to her myriad accomplishments over the past four seasons.

A four-sport standout who excelled on the field, in the classroom and through various other activities and clubs, Flattery hardly had a moment to ever just soak in being a high school student.

She didn’t want it any other way.

The youngest of five children — all of who were standout athletes for St. Edmond — Flattery embraced the grind. She played volleyball and basketball for four years, ran track for four seasons, and was a member of the SEHS softball team for five.

“Winning the Carol Donnelly Award means so much to me,” Flattery said. “I have seen so many great student-athletes receive this award, so all throughout high school, this award has always been in the back of my mind and something I was striving for.

“It’s quite the honor. It was so thoughtful of Leigh Ann Donnelly to come to Fort Dodge to present this award to me on behalf of the Donnelly family.”

On the volleyball court, Flattery recorded 395 career kills, 78 aces and 72 blocks. She had high-marks in all three categories this past year with 152 kills, 31 aces and 30 blocks.

“I have always loved the team aspect of volleyball,” she said. “Everyone has a role, and when that all fits together, the game is so much fun.

“Coach (Dee) Huss was always so good at teaching our team different offenses, defenses and different game plans to make sure everyone was on the same page so that we all were really well educated about the game.”

During the winter months, Flattery played 86 basketball games for St. Edmond, scoring 696 points — which placed her ninth on the all-time list.

Along with nearly 700 points scored, Flattery also made 250 field goals, 189 free throws, had 582 rebounds, 123 blocks, 118 steals and 106 assists. The Gaels won a pair of North Central Conference titles with her on the hardwood.

“Basketball is probably my favorite sport to play,” Flattery said. “Growing up, I played with and against some very talented players. Seeing those girls on the court has pushed me throughout the years to improve my skills and get better.

“I have had some outstanding coaches help me do this. Ever since middle school, Randy and Roxanne Kuhlman have been critical parts of my basketball development. They were in the gym with me all the time, teaching me new things and helping me get better.”

In the spring, Flattery added a sixth Top-10 finish at state track to her resume, including a personal best. She broke a minute in her final 400 as part of a relay inside Drake Stadium.

“Track has been the sport that I have excelled at the most individually, but I could never have done it without my teammates and coaches pushing me to get better everyday in practice,” she said. “I owe a lot to Coach (Liz) Flattery for getting me in shape so that I was ready to go come district time.

“State track was always the ultimate goal for me, and I loved running at Drake Stadium every single year.”

So far this summer, Flattery and the Gaels have found success on the softball diamond. After seeing limited action as an eighth-grader, she has been a staple in the lineup and the outfield.

Flattery has over 50 steals, 50 RBI and 100-plus hits, including 24 extra-base hits during her run. She had 30 hits and 20 steals as a sophomore, while recording 11 extra-base hits as a freshman.

“I’ve had some amazing moments on the softball field,” she said. “This year, I’ve really been able to use my experience to help lead the team and make the young players feel more at ease on the varsity stage. This has been really fun for me.

“Coach (Nick) Clark has been such a positive coach and really resonate with the players. I’m so glad that this is the group of girls that I am able to spend my last season as a Gael with.”

Flattery will attend Iowa State University in the fall and plans to major in marketing. Along with volleyball, basketball, track and softball, she was also involved in choir, musical, vice president of the 2017 class, National Honor Society, National Council on Youth Leadership and a Respect Life member.

“A word of advice I would like to leave with any younger athlete out there is to always do the little things,” Flattery said. “It’s the little things that will turn into big plays that will set you apart from others.

“Always hustle, always work hard and success will come.”

The criteria for the Donnelly Award is a varsity letter in two sports by the winter season of their senior year, academic excellence, good citizenship in school and community, and participation and service in activities for the school and community.

Named for Carol Donnelly, the first girls physical education instructor at St. Edmond, the award has been handed out every year since 1997.

Along with Flattery, Rachel Blair, Madi Engels, Joeli Koenig and Jaci Taylor were nominated.

“I would like to thank all of my friends, teammates, coaches, family, and everyone else in the St. Edmond and Fort Dodge community for supporting me along this journey. I’m so proud of where I come from and I’m so humbled to receive this award,” she said. “Finally, I’d like to thank my parents. I have had the most supportive, loving, caring parents I could have ever asked for. They gave me the greatest gift that I could have ever received, and that’s the gift of my Catholic education.

“At St. Edmond, I learned so much more than how to read or write or throw a ball around. I learned how to have strong Christian values and what is truly important in this life. For that, I am so blessed and eternally grateful for the opportunity to attend St. Edmond.”