News Photo by James Andersen Posen High School senior Makayla Kamyszek (seated center) signed letters of intent on Tuesday to join both the Alpena Community College women’s basketball and softball teams while surrounded by friends, family, and her coaches. In her time with the Vikings, Kamyszek has helped her teams to several division and district championships while earning numerous individual honors.

ALPENA — It didn’t take long for Makayla Kamyszek to show she was fearless.

Called upon to pitch against Onaway – then the top-ranked team in the state — as an eighth grader, Kamyszek didn’t back down. She looked Posen softball coach Wayne Karsten in the eyes and told him she was ready.

That fearlessness paved the way for a successful varsity career at Posen High School, one that saw Kamyszek excel at both basketball and softball.

After a decorated career for the Vikings, Kamyszek hopes to shine at the next level too after she signed letters of intent on Tuesday to join Alpena Community College’s women’s basketball and softball programs.

“I’m really excited right now. I’m really happy that I’m joining such good teams and such good programs,” Kamyszek said. “I know a lot of the girls, so I’m really excited to be a part of the team with them.”

In basketball, Kamyszek was part of three consecutive district championships and teams that won four North Star League Little Dipper division titles. Kamyszek showed steady improvement for the Vikings, but really stepped up her game during her final season.

As part of a team that went 21-2 and advanced to a Division 4 regional final, Kamyszek was a standout. She averaged an area-best 21.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game and eclipsed the 1,000 career points mark in March.

At the end of the season, Kamyszek earned North Star League Little Dipper First Team honors, Associated Press Division 4 second team all-state honors, and Division 4 second team all-state honors from the Detroit Free Press.

“Makayla had a really good junior year, but she stepped it up in her senior year. She went from 14 points a game to 21 and you’ve got a girl 5-foot-7 that can rebound 13 rebounds a game is just unbelievable, and that was on the offensive end,” Posen girls basketball coach Karl Momrik said. “Alpena Community College is getting a good ball player.”

ACC women’s basketball coach Cindy DeRocher praised Kamyszek for her efforts in the classroom as well as athletics. Kamyszek, who is already enrolled in ACC’s nursing program, intends to pursue studies in that field.

On the court, she’ll join a team that’s coming off an impressive first season under DeRocher and Kamyszek’s versatility will be an asset, DeRocher said.

“She comes out of a great program in Posen. She’ll fit well into our system. She’s athletic, she plays all over the floor, she can play any position,” DeRocher said. “We look forward to having her help us right away.”

On the softball field, Kamyszek has been a model of consistency for Posen and a key asset as a pitcher and a shortstop.

Kamyszek has earned first team all-conference honors from the North Star League multiple times and all-region honors twice. Last season, she batted .551 with 49 hits, 19 extra-base hits, 46 RBI and scored 38 times. On the mound, she pitched 85 â…” innings with an 8-10 record while striking out 100 batters to just 34 walks. She also had a team-best fielding percentage of 94.6.

“Nothing phases her,” Karsten said. “Just the way she works, the other kids see it. When I have kids come in, I say ‘I can tell you, (but) ‘watch her.'”