Poway two-sport standout Mya McGowan is SBLive's San Diego Section Athlete of the Year
Welcome to a continuing tradition at SBLive California – honoring the male and female athletes of the year in every CIF Section.
Because the SBLive crew gets so immersed in specific sports seasons, it is nice to take a step back to pick a Section honor on a broader scale.
The criteria isn’t too expansive: The starting point is finding athletes who are all-league/all-state performers. Totality of career is also a factor as is winning. Administrator/coach/fan recommendation plays a role as well.
Enjoy as we honor some of California's top athletes!
In 2021, the Poway High softball team wrapped up the season with a 5-24 record. Two seasons later, the Titans finished at 29-3, ending the season on a 17-game winning streak that saw them capture both the San Diego Section Open Division championship and the Southern California Division 1 regional championship.
Leading the charge for this season’s team was two-way sophomore standout Mya McGowan. The right-hander went 19-1 with a 1.01 ERA and hit .310 with nine home runs despite missing nearly the first month of the season while finishing up duties with the basketball team.
“The transition going from basketball is tough but fun,” McGowan said. “I miss the beginning of the softball season and I have to get back into full focus on softball.”
On the hardwood, McGowan helped Poway to a 24-5 season, an undefeated Avocado League title and a berth in the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs while averaging nine points, five rebounds and three assists per game.
“Basketball helps my athleticism in softball,” McGowan said. “Softball helps with basketball because I know that I’m playing the sport for fun and there isn’t too much to worry about.”
The Titans began building for this season by capturing the San Diego Section Division 2 championship in 2022, a year after winning just five games.
“The offseason was good for all of our returners to develop and mature on and off the field. Everyone worked hard with their own travel teams, and it really benefitted us along with the addition of four stud freshmen,” McGowan said.
McGowan closed out her second season by shutting out Oaks Christian in the Southern California Division 1 regional final, a team that entered with a state record 68 home runs.
Despite that victory, Poway’s win in the San Diego Section Open Division championship game a week prior will be the game that is remembered from the 2023 season. McGowan pitched all eight innings in that game against archrival Rancho Bernardo before Alexis Huey delivered a bases-loaded walk-off single in front of a packed house at UC-San Diego’s softball field to give the Titans a 3-2 win.
“My favorite memory was winning the CIF championship against Rancho Bernardo,” McGowan said.
McGowan finished her sophomore season with seven shutouts and 125 strikeouts during her 131.1 innings in the circle and has two more seasons to make her mark among the section’s all-time best softball players.
“For my final two years, I plan to have just as much success or more and work harder to get better,” McGowan said. “It will be tough to be as successful as this past year, but I know my team and I can do it.”
MYA MCGOWAN BIO
School: Poway
Sports: Softball, basketball
Next step: Currently uncommitted with two high school seasons left to play
Season highlights: 19-1 record, 1.01 ERA, 125 strikeouts, .310 batting average, 9 home runs; Nine points, five rebounds and three assists per game.
Career accomplishments: 2023 San Diego Section Pitcher of the Year, 2022 CIF San Diego Section Division 2 softball champion, 2023 CIF San Diego Section Open Division softball champion, 2022-23 Avocado League basketball champion, 2023 Palomar North County softball champion.
