Lillian Steward

It’s not unusual for a high school athlete to play three sports. Some athletes might even play a fourth sport, but Lillian Steward is one of the rare high school athletes who competed in five different sports in the same year.

“It was kind of all over the place, if I’m being honest,” she said. “In the fall, for field hockey I’d have practice from 3:00 to 4:30 and then cheer from 4:30 to 6:00. I also had field hockey games on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I had to miss those cheer practices. But my coaches knew that going in, and we had already talked about it. In the winter, I had track every day from 3:00 to 5:00 and cheer every day from 5:00 to 7:00. So, I had practice from 3:00 to 7:00 every day.”

“As a dual-sport athlete, Lillian gave her full effort to every team she represented,” said Sophia Iwan, Steward’s cheerleading coach. “No matter the season or the demands placed on her schedule, she approached each sport with the same determination, discipline, and commitment to improving herself and supporting her teammates. It is rare to see an athlete demonstrate that level of dedication across multiple programs.”

That dedication brought about success for Steward and the teams she played on. She was named a first-team all-star after leading the team with seven assists and scoring eight goals. Her fall and winter cheer teams won sectional championships, while Steward won Foothills championships in indoor weight throw and outdoor discus.

“Beyond the medals, records, and accolades, Lillian represents the very best qualities of a student-athlete,” said Steward’s track & field coach Benjamin Tunison. “She leads through her work ethic, inspires others through her perseverance, and competes with integrity and pride.”

Despite playing five sports and posting a 3.9 GPA, Steward somehow still found time to volunteer and help her peers. She helped with a program called Power of Peace that’s through the Youth Voices Center. As an officer of the group, she helped lead a group where students could share their difficulties in a safe space.

“I usually describe it to friends as something like a therapy group, but it was really much more than that,” Steward said. “You sit in a circle, talk about what you were going through, and learn how different everyone’s experiences were. People would offer support and suggestions for how to handle problems at home or in life. It was a safe space where everyone could feel heard and feel like they belonged.”

It’s clear that Steward has a passion for helping her fellow students. She said that being part of a smaller school like Scotia-Glenville made it easier to connect with her teammates and classmates.

“I think it started when I was younger because I was one of the stronger athletes, and I learned early on that girls would look up to me,” she said. “They would come to me to learn new things or get help with technique. Part of that made me feel special because I could give back to the program while I was still part of it. I could help younger athletes, and even athletes my age or older than me. I feel like I became known as someone you could always go to for help in different sports.”

Steward will join the St. John Fisher track & field program this fall. While she’s excited about continuing her athletic career at the collegiate level, her desire to help others remains top of mind. Steward will be majoring in nursing with a goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse and, eventually, a midwife.

“I chose St. John Fisher because they have a really strong nursing program,” she said. “I know college is mainly about academics and your major, and that was important to me. But once I spoke with the coach at Fisher, Coach (Geoffrey) Grambo, I just knew it felt like home.”

When she found out she was part of the CDSWOY class of 2026, Steward said she was honored to have her work in athletics, academics, and service recognized at the same time.

“What means the most to me is that it’s not just an award for being a good athlete,” she said. “It feels like a well-rounded award. It recognizes the little things I’ve been doing since I was younger, like volunteer work, academics, and sports, all together. Usually, people get recognized separately for being a good student, a good athlete, or for their volunteer work. This felt like being recognized for all of that in one award, and that makes me really proud of myself.”