By Nancy Edwards
Taya Reimer, a Hamilton Southeastern high school senior, was recently rewarded with a celebration for being chosen as part of the McDonald’s All American team and receiving the Morgan Wooten Player of the Year award – the first female to do so.
Reimer was one of two athletes from Central Indiana to be selected out of 814 nominees to play with the All-American Games. Athletes were chosen by high school coaches, principals, athletic directors and members of the All American Games Selection Committee.
Coincidentally, her father, Ben Davis, a former NBA player, was also part of the All American team in 1991. Reimer and Davis are the first father/daughter duo to share this opportunity.
On March 28, Reimer celebrated her victories at McDonald’s in Hamilton Town Center, Noblesville, with her parents, friends and school officials, including Hamilton Southeastern High School Athletic Director Jim Self and guidance counselor William Zoeller. Self and Zoeller praised Reimer for her grades, accomplishments and down-to-earth personality.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with the way she’s handled herself, and more importantly, the type of young lady she is,” Self said. “There’s no choice to be a role model. There’s only the choice to be a good or bad role model for children.”
Zoeller added that he is impressed with Reimer’s 3.42 GPA with honors advanced placement courses, which helped her get into the University of Notre Dame.
“To see her progress is exciting,” he said. “No matter how many good opportunities she’s had, she hasn’t changed; she’s always treated me with the most respect.”
Reimer thanked those who have helped her reach her goals and stated that, “this is a dream come true.”
“It’s just really exciting and a blessing,” she said. “It’s been a dream of mine to be in this position.”
Although Reimer acknowledged that her father helped influenced her passion with his love of basketball, she said he never put too much pressure on her to succeed.
Reimer, who is 6-foot-2-inches tall, plans to study sports broadcasting at Notre Dame.