Helton, Tonya (Young)

She lettered in volleyball, basketball, and softball for Central High School 1990-1994. In volleyball her teams won back-to-back Area Championships. In basketball she made All-County, All-Area teams her junior year. She made All-County, All-Area, All-Regional, All-State, and Times Daily 1A-3A All-Area Teams while helping lead her team to the school’s first State Championship in any sport at Central High School. She averaged 16.6 ppg, 6 rpg, and 4apg. She received the Bryant-Jordan Award, was selected to play in the Alabama / Mississippi All Star Basketball game and was named Lauderdale County Female Athlete of the Year. Softball was slow pitch throughout her high school career. Her softball teams won back-to-back 3A Sectional Championships. She made All-County, All-Area, and Times Daily All-Area teams. She received a scholarship to play softball at UNA. She played first base and outfield. She was awarded UNA’s Golden Glove Award her sophomore year, All-Gulf South Conference her junior year and All-Gulf South Conference Tournament Team her senior year. Her career stats include 183 games played with 136 hits, .253 batting average, and 15 total errors committed. After college she returned to her alma mater to coach softball. Her career coaching stats include 343 wins, four-time recipient of Times Daily Coach of the Year, 4A State Coach of the Year, 5 Area Championships in a row, 4 State Appearances, and most wins in school history with 44.