Press Box Player of the Week: Abby Valdes

Abby Valdes, a senior at Hartford High School, and a member of the Hartford Lady Husky basketball team this winter, is the Tri-City Record Press Box Player of the Week for Feb. 8, 2024.

Abby was nominated by members of her current coaching staff, including head coach, Kaitelyn Arreola, as she finished last week with one of the best games of her high school basketball career. She played a vital role in the Lady Huskies road win against rival, Lawrence, on Friday, Feb. 2. In that game, she scored a career-high 16 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. Among her biggest shots from the field included a game-tying three in the final minute of regulation, a critical three-pointer in the first overtime and another make from beyond the arc in the deciding second overtime.

Coach Arreola said, “She’s always a key player for us, getting double digit boards every game. This game [Lawrence], she really stepped up and came in clutch with her shooting. I’m really proud of her.”

In addition to basketball, Abby also competed on the volleyball court in the fall and will be a member of the softball team in the spring; when she concludes her high school career after spring sports, she will have participated in those sports for all four years. In volleyball, she received honorable mention all-conference in ‘23. In softball, she will be a returning honorable mention all-conference player, who has been utilizing weekly private pitching lessons to improve her mound craft.

In the classroom, Abby carries roughly a 3.0 grade point average. Outside of academics and athletics, she volunteers her time by helping with middle school games. After high school, she plans to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College to become a dental hygienist.

Congratulations Abby!