Brooklyn Birkenfeld, Nazareth basketball, Sr.
On the court: Behind Birkenfeld and a hard-working Nazareth squad, the Swiftettes kept the tradition alive taking home the program’s state record 26th UIL state championship after handling Saltillo 53-31 last Thursday. Birkenfeld was incredible like she has been all year earning state MVP honors going 7-of-11 from the floor to finish with 22 points. To help get Nazareth to the state championship game, Birkenfeld also delivered in last week’s semifinal where Nazareth thumped Jayton 41-15. Birkenfeld ended that outing 14 points and six boards.
Birkenfeld ends the year as the District 4-1A MVP averaging 18.5 points a game and five rebounds a contest. She shot 65 percent from the field and over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Coach Eric Schilling: “Every state championship is different because it’s a different team. I’ve stated all year this was such a fun group to coach, and it was amazing to see this team get to finish with a state championship. Brooklyn and all the seniors are leaders, but Brooklyn was the go-to player and leading scorer. She brought the energy, and it spread to everyone else. She is so unselfish and a tremendous person as well as a player.”
Birkenfeld: “Winning a state championship was a great moment. It was special to do it with my teammates. We all play for each other, and I owe everything to them. It was bitter-sweet that this was the last game together, but the feeling was incredible. We’ve said we wanted to for one another all year and that pushed us. It was such an amazing season.”
About Birkenfeld
Favorite band or musician: Country music
Favorite social media platform: Instagram
Favorite athlete: Paige Bueckers
Bet you didn’t know: She sings and plays guitar.
Parents: Jason and Britney Birkenfeld.