Concord’s Lehman has seen and done just about everything on the field of play
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Concord – From as soon as she can remember, she’s been right there, the little girl on the sideline, just trying to fit in, the team manager with the parent as head coach.
She’d help her mom in volleyball, her dad with the boys basketball team.
That was before she actually had the chance to shine at Concord High.
Since then, well, senior Lindsey Lehman has redefined individual success while serving as the integral part of some of the school’s best teams the past four years.
“It’s been fun,” Lehman said about her upbringing around the Concord athletic department and her time as a main component of it. “I’m always busy, but it’s been a lot of hard work. The summers and offseason include so much work to get ready for everything I’ve done. But I’ve been in the gym with my parents ever since I was a baby. I never stopped playing something growing up.”
It certainly paid off, as her athletic resume weighs heavily on the impressive end.
As a freshman, Lehman spent time on the varsity volleyball team during the winter before being part of a track team that eventually went to the state finals.
But her star began to shine during her sophomore year.
She helped guide the volleyball team to Big Eight and district titles while earning honorable-mention All-Conference honors, and then in the winter was All-Conference in basketball.
In track she was a regional champ in the 100-meter dash, the 200 dash, the 400 relay and the 800 relay.
She also earned All-State in the 100 dash, 200 dash and 400 relay.
As a junior she was part of another conference champ, district champ and regional champ on the volleyball court
She earned All-Conference, All-Region and third-team All-State honors
In basketball, she averaged 12 points and 4.1 assists per game while leading Concord to a 22-2 record. She was named All-Conference and honorable mention All-State.
In track last year, she took home MVP honors at the Stockbridge and Union City Invitationals, was All-Conference in the 100 dash, the 200 dash, the 400 relay and the 800 relay, winning all four events at the regional.
She was a state champ in the 200 dash.
Finally a senior, Lehman helped guide a young volleyball team to a conference and district title while earning All-Conference, All-Region and second-team All-State honors.
On the hardwood she’s averaging 21 points and scored a career-high 32 points, and tied the school record with 10 assists, to go with nine rebound and seven steals during an 89-44 victory against Reading on Dec. 18.
By the way, she’s maintaining a 3.86 grade-point average.
“It’s just hard to hard to believe I’m a senior,” Lehman said with a laugh. “I remember my sophomore year of volleyball and playing Mendon at regionals. I was so down when we lost, but all I could think was we have two more years. That feels like yesterday.”
As for playing four years of volleyball with mom as a coach?
“We have the same type of personality,” she said. “We don’t really but heads or anything. I think we lean from each other. She pushed me, and I welcomed that. It was fun.”
Her high school career has roughly five months remaining in it, though there’s still plenty she wants to accomplish.
“I’ve never won a district title in basketball, and I know we’re young, but I can’t wait to see how far this team can go,” she said of a group that’s still learning on the fly at 2-2.
As for track?
“I’d love to win another state title,” she boasted. “Maybe a few more.”
And why not?
Her college plans are still undecided, as to where she’ll attend and what sports she may continue to play.
But for now, with five or so months remaining to dominate at the high school level, well, that’s the plan.
From the little girl, the team manager just trying to fit in, to the star with so much success in her back pocket, and a future as bright as any.
“I’ve really enjoyed it all,” Lehman said simply. “It’s just hard to believe it’s all gone by so fast.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.