FREEPORT — Anna Christy sat in the principal's office at Freeport High School.

Usually such a visit is met with doom and dread. No one likes to sit in the office of the principal.

But not this time. This time Christy was told her school had nominated her for one of four WPIAL Scholar-Athlete awards.

Christy was honored, but said she figured she wouldn't win one of the $5,000 scholarships.

Everyone who knew Christy knew better, though.

“There's not a more deserving young lady,” said Freeport volleyball coach Tom Phillips, who has coached Christy since the junior high.

Christy usually wins in whatever she does, whether it is volleyball, basketball, softball or anything that can be done outdoors.

And, once again, the Freeport senior won, claiming the WPIAL Scholar-Athlete Award and one of the $5,000 scholarships.

“Honestly,” Christy said. “I was completely shocked.”

Christy, though, has built an academic resume as impressive as her athletic one.

She carries a 4.0 GPA while taking honors English, chemistry and biology classes.

Christy will attend St. Vincent College next year and major in environmental science. She will also play volleyball and may give basketball at the college a whirl.

She's certainly had plenty of practice juggling sports with academics.

Christy has played volleyball, basketball and softball for four years. This season, as a senior, she has been a team captain on all three teams.

As a setter this fall, she helped guide the Yellowjackets to a WPIAL volleyball championship and made the all-state team.

“That was awesome,” Christy said of making all-state. “When I heard all the other girls who were on the team with me, I was like. ‘Wow. Wow. I can't believe I'm up there with them.'”

She averaged nine points per game for the Freeport basketball team this winter and is the starting shortstop this spring for the school's softball team.

“I have such a love for sports,” Christy said. “Every season runs into the next one, and you'd think that would get old. It doesn't.”

Christy has to have great love for all three sports to weave them into her challenging academic schedule.

Christy said her schedule is a real test to her time-management skills.

“You just really have to use your time productively,” Christy said. “If you have a study hall, you can't waste it and goof around.”

Christy rarely goofs around in anything she does.

“She is one of the hardest workers I've ever had in the volleyball program,” Phillips said. “Everyone looks up to Anna. Come crunch time, everyone looks to Anna.”

That is a role Christy gladly accepts.

“I like to be able to help other people, help teammates and be that person people come to for advice,” Christy said. “I've always loved being that kind of person.”

Christy also enjoys pressure.

“I've always liked being the person who gets the big set, who takes the big shot, who gets the big hit,” she said.

As her high school days come to an end, she has a simple message:

“It's all about the ride,” Christy said. “Our journey has just begun. We have so much bigger things that we will accomplish in our lives. You have to enjoy the ride.”

Did Christy?

“Yes,” she says. “I did.”