Student-Athlete Of The Month

Severna Park High School senior Abby Kavanagh is amazingly focused and driven.

Kavanagh is just about the closest thing to the perfect student-athlete.

She juggles her athletics (varsity basketball, lacrosse) with academics, church involvement, working at Sullivan’s Cove as a hostess, and extracurricular school activities in a way few student-athletes do.

It seems like the 17-year-old Kavanagh makes it look easy.

“To be an athlete at her level and to pull off what she does in the academic world is not easy to do,” Severna Park girls basketball coach Kristofer Dean said. “She puts in a lot of time for sports, but you have to put in almost twice as much work for academics. She is just a great all-around student-athlete.”

Kavanagh carries a 3.9 weighted grade-point average, serves as vice president of the One Love club, and belongs to the Young Life bible study class at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church.

“I am always on the go,” Cavanaugh said. “I am never home.”

She also babysits almost every weekend in addition to excelling in sports.

It all comes down to her time-management skills being top-notch.

“I just try to use any free time I have to involve myself in other activities besides sports,” said Kavanagh, who has taken five Advanced Placement classes at Severna Park. “I have been very motivated to keep my grades up, and I am pretty passionate about my sports.

“I try to put in as much time as I can to both,” she added. “It’s something I have mastered throughout the years.”

With her senior year winding down, Kavanagh has one eye on high school and another on college. She applied to Ohio State, Auburn, Penn State, Maryland and Towson.

Auburn tops her list. She expects to decide around February 1.

“Of all the schools I applied to, I just thought Auburn was the fit for me,” Kavanagh said. “I was comfortable, and I love it down south.”

When it comes to sports, the 5-foot-9 Kavanagh is having her best season in three years on the varsity team. Entering January, she led the 8-2 Falcons in points (11.7 average) and rebounding (10.1).

Kavanagh had some memorable games. She totaled 21 points and 18 rebounds in a 58-45 victory over Milford Mill on December 2 while finishing with 15 points and 18 rebounds in a 39-29 win over Annapolis two weeks later.

Kavanagh, a team co-captain, is just as important to the Falcons for her leadership skills.

Dean raves about them and Kavanagh’s tremendous work ethic.

“She teaches the younger players what needs to be done on the floor at certain times,” Dean explained. “She is a great role model for the younger girls.”

Cavanaugh also shows that intensity on the lacrosse field. This spring will mark her third year on the varsity team.

“Of all the captains I’ve had, she works harder than any of them,” Dean said. “She just works her butt off. I don’t know if I have ever seen her take a break.”

In partnership with The Matt Wyble Team of Century 21, the Voice’s Student-Athlete of the Month series recognizes the many student-athletes in our area who make an impact not necessarily by way of statistics or stardom, but by their unique contributions. Contact Zach Sparks at zach@severnaparkvoice.com to nominate a young person in our community making a positive impact through sports.