Senior Standouts: Maya Eddie

Maya Eddie always had to play bigger, not just because she’s listed at 5-foot 3-inches playing basketball and volleyball — sports designed for taller athletes — but because as a sophomore she was selected as team captain on both squads.

“I couldn’t believe they did it,” Eddie said. “There were still seniors on the team. I don’t know what they saw in me, but I took it and ran with it.”

There were plenty of hard times, at least on the basketball court. During her sophomore and junior years the Bison went 3-39 and many of those losses were decided by double digits.

“When things weren’t going well, I couldn’t get down because I had to motivate my team to stay up,” Eddie said. “I couldn’t just play, I had to lead.”

Things turned around with the addition of Coach Melvin Burke and other transfer students. In Eddie’s senior campaign, the team transformed into Chagrin Valley Conference co-champions at 18-5 and lost in the district semifinals to Gilmour Academy.

Despite fusing in new talent with the existing Lady Bison, Eddie said the team played without drama.

“We were all on the same page, the better girls were always willing to help the less-talented,” Eddie said. “The year was amazing.”

Eddie is also willing to help those less fortunate off the court as a member of Beachwood’s American Sign Language Club. She and the rest of the club sent cards with a bear signing, “I love you” to hospitalized deaf children.

“It’s very scary to be in the hospital by yourself,” Eddie said. “We want to make them feel welcome.”

While Eddie’s varsity athletic career ends in Beachwood, she will continue pursuing her dream of working with children as a speech pathology major and an ASL minor at Ohio University.

“I find the language beautiful,” Eddie said. “I think it’s interesting to communicate with deaf people and learn about their culture.”

She won’t stop playing sports, though, as she also plans on pursuing the many intramural and club opportunities that college has to offer.