She's determined to excel: Orting's Savannah Burr is Female Athlete of the Year

Those who know Savannah Burr tend to run out of breath when talking about her personal attributes.

Responsible, perfectionist, humble, gracious, tough and even a bit obsessive – especially when it comes to homework – are all on the lengthy list.

But what best describes Burr – the recent Orting High graduate who captured back-to-back Class 1A state titles in the triple jump, a state title in the long jump and all-Nisqually League honors in volleyball and basketball while being selected valedictorian – is determination.

Burr filled her plate her senior year, competing in three sports and taking loads of Advanced Placement courses as well as being involved in other extracurricular activities. She didn’t leave herself any room for procrastination or senioritis. She was determined to do it all, and do it all well, even if it meant sacrificing her personal time.

“Basically, all I did was practice and homework,” Burr said. “Then on the weekends it was mostly homework, eat, go to sleep and shower.

“I remember I pretty much slept the entire time during spring break.”

Honoring her hard work and success, The News Tribune is recognizing Burr as its 2012 All-Area High School Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

While Burr is flattered by the many kind words of her coaches, teachers and peers, it was two ominous words – Osgood-Schlatter, uttered by her doctor before track season – that had the greatest impact.

Osgood-Schlatter is a knee condition most often found in those who compete in sports involving a lot of running, jumping, kneeling and squatting. There is swelling – and it is often painful.

Burr said she had to have surgery and that the injury nagged her throughout the season. It forced her to miss a meet, and she had physical therapy almost every day.

“It was really painful to do any kind of jumping,” Burr said.

But Burr didn’t let the injury stop her. Instead, she pushed herself through her training and physical therapy to get back to her state championship form.

“I was really disappointed,” Burr said about her injury. “But I was more determined. I had a badly sprained ankle the year before, and I thought if I could overcome that, I could overcome this, too. I just had to take a lot of ibuprofen.”

It didn’t appear to bother her at the state track and field meet in May. She ended the first day of competition with her first state trophy in the long jump after a mark of 17 feet, 7 inches. She followed that by defending her state title in the triple jump, winning with a leap of 37-11/2.

Burr’s performances helped Orting win its first team track and field championship in school history.

“The more pressure and the tougher it is, the more likely she is to perform well,” said Orting coach Lisa Sorrell. “She is a big-meet girl. That is Savannah. She is very determined and very focused.”

Sorrell said she will miss what Savannah brought to the track team, as well as to the school and her volleyball and basketball teams, with her humility and selfless attitude. Sorrell said she is hoping others at the school can learn from Burr in how hard she worked to achieve her goals.

“When you look at what she has accomplished at such a young age, it is just amazing,” Sorrell said. “But she’ll be so gracious about it at the same time. You would never know if you just met her because it is never about her. It’s about what she can do for others. She is always so solid and so dependable.”

If there is anything Burr could work on, Sorrell said, it’s taking a break.

“She is very much a perfectionist,” Sorrell said. “She is so responsible. In fact, if anything, we would have to work on her not taking on so much.”

Burr will attend the University of Washington and said she wants to study physical therapy after being inspired by her physical therapist, Brad Harvie.

Sorrell said she has been encouraging Burr to walk on with the UW track and field team, too.

If Burr continues to push herself and keep her same humble attitude, there is no reason to think her already long list of accomplishments won’t get even longer.

“I’m very honored that people recognize me for that,” Burr said. “I feel very blessed.”

SCHOOL / ATHLETE

Auburn / Katrynia Todd

Auburn Mountainview / Caitlin Carr

Auburn Riverside / Rachel Atwood

Beamer / Sydney Rogalla

Bellarmine Prep / Nakaira Petty

Bethel / Karina Farr

Bonney Lake / Adara Winder

Capital / Aviva Browning

Cascade Christian / Kadyn Coltom

Central Kitsap / Jenna Warner

Centralia / Makayla Anglin

Charles Wright Academy / Janay Davis

Clover Park / Caitlyn Johnson

Curtis / McKenzie Blackner

Decatur / Abby McFaul

Eatonville / Laccie Hill

Emerald Ridge / Jennifer Anderson Kimmie Stueckle

Enumclaw / Michelle McKinlay

Federal Way / Madison Campbell

Fife / Lateah Holmes

Foss / Bonnie Albers

Franklin Pierce / Kelly Crawford

Gig Harbor / Elyanna McCullough

Graham-Kapowsin / Kylee Geffre

Jefferson / Lindsay Dahl

Kent-Meridian / Chloe Watson

Kentlake / Nicole Kuntz

Kentridge / Molly Shiroshi

Kentwood / Tess Manthou Alyx Toeaina

Lakes / Mackenzie Allison

Life Christian / Rachel Goodman

Lincoln / D’Nara Jones

Mount Rainier / Kiana Gandy

Mount Rainier Lutheran / Chelsea Waetzig

Mount Tahoma / Yona Chambers

North Thurston / Catie Mets

Northwest Christian / Elizabeth Weber

Olympia / Lexi Fesenbek

Orting / Savannah Burr

Peninsula / Rachel Lewis

Puyallup / Makenzie Pletcher

River Ridge / Necy Wade

Rogers / Jordan Asher

Seattle Christian / Katie Collier

Shelton / Allison Hunter

South Kitsap / Brianna Smallidge

Spanaway Lake / Leanne Willingham

Stadium / Kenley O’Hanlon

Steilacoom / Cherokee Kim

Sumner / Leah DeDominces

Tacoma Baptist / Paige Narayan

Tahoma / Cassidy Richmond

Timberline / Sasha Weber

Tumwater / Annie Torfin

Vashon / Catherine Amick

W.F. West / Lauren Fisher

Washington / Sam Schubach

White River / Cassidy France

Wilson / Alexa Olague

Yelm / Jaynani Cababat

* Athletes are nominated by schools or selected by The News Tribune