T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY PICTURED IS the 2021 Ohio OVAC All-Star Softball Team. Front row, from left, are Liz Roderick (Monroe Central), Danyell Beadling (Harrison), Olivia Starr (Barnesville), Casey Kildow (Union Local), Riley Kinsey (Toronto), Jenna Jaskowiak (St. Clairsville) and Adriana Lefever (Steubenville CC). Middle row, from left, are Sarah Schaar (Conotton Valley), Jayden Lowe (Bellaire), Katie Lively (River), Raegan Wheeler (Caldwell), Harley Nalley (Beallsville) and Lakyn Blackburn (Steubenville). Back row, from left, are Coach Darrin Young (Harrison Central), Coach Jeremy Bleininger (Conotton Valley), Katie Rufener (River), Riley Magnani (Union Local), Shelby Thomas (Martins Ferry), Ava Doyle (Martins Ferry) and Coach Jerry Magistro (Martins Ferry). Absent were Hannah Christoff (Edison) and Kylie Jo Baker (Shadyside).

ELM GROVE — Casey Kildow defines the term ‘student-athlete.’

The recent Union Local graduate has seemingly received a different scholarship almost daily for her work in the classroom and her work in athletics has yielded nearly as many accolades.

Kildow will officially close the book on her prep sports career Monday evening when she takes part in the OVAC All-Star Softball Game, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Chambers I-470 Complex.

“I am really looking forward to the game and the chance to play one more (softball) game with Riley (Magnani) and all of these girls,” Kildow said during media day festivities Thursday afternoon.

Kildow has been a common name in 2020-21 OVAC All-Star Games this school year. Actually, she’s the only Ohio player on the softball roster to have been chosen for three of the games this school year.

She was named to the all-star volleyball roster in November, but that game was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was named to the basketball roster and sat on the Ohio bench, but couldn’t play due to a softball injury in May.

However, she will be in the lineup on Monday.

“It’s definitely an honor to have been chosen for three all-star games in one school year,” Kildow said. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to play in this (softball) game after missing out on the other two for different reasons.”

In serving as the unquestioned leader of the Jets volleyball, basketball and softball teams, Kildow helped her squad to a spot in the Division III District Championship game in all three sports, an OVAC title in girls basketball and OVAC tourney berths in the other two sports.

“It’s hard to believe it’s over,” Kildow said. “I still wish we had gone farther (in the playoffs) in all three of those sports.”

While the high-school portion of her athletic career is finished, Kildow’s overall career is not.

After a lengthy college-selection process, Kildow recently decided to continue her volleyball career at Mount Union in Alliance.

“I took part in a tryout, open gym type thing up there and the coach called me and said I had a spot on the roster, so I am excited about that,” Kildow said.

Kildow will be a setter for the Purple Raiders, which is a position she logged some action at for the Jets, too.

“I did some setting along with hitting (as a senior),” Kildow recalled.

Kildow, though she played in the brief scrimmage on Thursday and will play on Monday, has already shifted basically all of her attention back to volleyball.

“Mount Union’s coach had given me the workouts leading up to the workout I had, so I’ve been doing those and just working on my setting to be prepared to help their team any way I can,” Kildow said.