Kimi, who signed with the Huskies during the early signing period, will play softball for the University of Washington in the 2009 season.

After considering opportunities to play softball at NCAA Division I programs across the country, Kimi Pohlman, a senior at The Bear Creek School in Redmond, decided simply to jump across Lake Washington, signing a National Letter of Intent to play for the Huskies and coach Heather Tarr.

"Kimi's got a lot of raw talent and she is very competitive," said Tarr in a press release. "Being a four-sport athlete who has not played softball yet year-round, her potential and ability are limitless."

Playing on the national stage with the ASA Washington Ladyhawks Gold team, Pohlman, a slap-hitting outfielder, chose the UW over a host of Pac-10 and other major conference suitors.

"I've wanted to be a Husky since I was a little kid," said Pohlman. "When you're going through this process, it's easy to get excited about ‘the new school' that comes on board and shows interest. But the U was the only one that stuck with me the whole time and I really felt like they wanted me."

Pohlman's talents have been driving girls sports at Bear Creek since the fall of 2004, when she entered high school. The Grizzlies, who compete at the WIAA 2B level, have benefited from her ability in soccer, basketball and track. In each sport, Pohlman has earned multiple honors, including all-state selections in soccer and as the two-time defending 100 meter champion in track.

"An athlete of Kimi's ability creates a unique situation for our school - or for any high school, for that matter," said Blake DeYoung, girls basketball coach at Bear Creek. "How do you assimilate an athlete of that caliber with a wide variety of ability levels? Fortunately, Kimi makes it easy because she's not in it for herself - she wants to compete and she wants to be part of a team."

Attending Bear Creek since second grade, Pohlman sees a small-school environment as an advantage to her development as an athlete and a person.

"Being at a small school has allowed me to play everything, which I love. I don't have to choose. My coaches here work with me so that I can balance my Ladyhawks team, homework, different sport seasons, whatever. I don't feel pulled here to choose one sport," said Pohlman.

After a lifetime of competing and succeeding in all sports, Pohlman now prepares to settle into a life focused on softball and earning her degree. Fortunately, those talents are staying right at home.