Multi-talented Madelyn Magee loves to mix it up when it comes to playing sports.

The three-sport star who graduated from The Bear Creek School earlier this month enjoys playing a variety of sports, along with the challenges — and triumphs — that come with them.

“Doing multiple sports, you get a chance to hang out with a lot of different people,” said Magee, who competed for the Bear Creek volleyball, basketball and track and field teams. “I hung out with a lot of people who I didn’t really hang out with before. That camaraderie was a really big part of it. I really enjoyed that.”

She began the school year playing volleyball for the first time in her life before earning all-league and all-state honors in basketball. She capped her career with a third straight Class 2B state title in the high jump with a personal-best mark of 5 feet, nine inches. Magee, who graduated with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.89, will attend Columbia University in New York, where she will also compete for the track and field team.

Whether it was the classroom, the gym or in the field, Magee was a force to be reckoned with.

“Madelyn has a high competitive motor and she demonstrates this competitiveness through gracefulness, determination and greatness,” said Bear Creek girls’ basketball coach Greg Cheever.

For that greatness in the sports arena and classroom, Magee is the Redmond Reporter’s 2011-12 Female Athlete of the Year.

Magee grew up playing basketball, but decided to take up volleyball when her friends encouraged her.

“I picked up volleyball this year because I have a leaping ability,” she said. “A lot of my friends said, ‘you should come out for volleyball. You would be really good at it.’”

And they were right.

Magee, a high-flying 5-foot-11 outside hitter, was an instant impact for the Grizzly volleyball team, which placed fifth at the Class 2B state tournament — the third straight year the Grizzlies placed at state.

After volleyball, Magee helped lead the Grizzly basketball back to the state tournament for the second straight year. Magee was an all-around talent on the basketball court, always guarding — and shutting down — the opponent’s best offensive player, according to Cheever. Magee, a first-team all-Sea-Tac League selection, averaged 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She earned a spot on the Class 2B Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) All-State team and also was a nominee for the Class 2B Washington/North Idaho All-State Girls Basketball game. Because of her busy schedule, Magee was unable to play in the all-state games.

Magee said she relished her role of defensive stopper for Bear Creek, especially when it led to easy baskets at the offensive end.

“I love getting steals and starting the fast break,” she said.

Besides being a solid contributor to the basketball team, Magee also played clarinet for the Bear Creek band. A couple of times during the basketball season, she did double duty, first playing in a basketball game and then playing in the band during the boys’ basketball game.

While volleyball, basketball and band were fun activities for Magee, her true passion will always be with track and field.

And Magee saved her best high school performance for last as she cleared a career-best 5-9 on her final attempt at the Class 2B state meet, tying a meet record and setting a new school record.

But there was more. Magee did the long jump for the first time as a senior and placed fifth at the state meet. She also ran a leg on the 800 relay team, which placed third at state.

Magee started track and field as middle-school student and at first “tried everything but shot put.” Magee, whose younger brother, Jonathan, also high jumped for the Bear Creek track and field team, gravitated to the high jump pit and showed great improvement throughout high school.

“Maddie took all that you had to teach her and put it into practice and improved so much over the years,” said Bear Creek track and field coach Scott Wright. “She was always striving to be the best and she accomplished that.”

Now Magee’s attention turn to college as she will do some training and workouts during the summer to prepare for the track and field team at Columbia.

Magee said she will miss her family when she heads to the East Coast and she will always cherish the friendships she made while at Bear Creek.

“I’ve made some good friendships here and I will definitely keep them,” she said. “I will come back, visit and hang out with all my friends.”