Melinda Miller

Melinda Miller, Astoria High School class of 1981, played a major role in three sports throughout her high school career; graduating with nine, count them, nine varsity letters. Melinda was a key player in the fall on the volleyball courts as a three year starter. In 1980 her teammates voted her as their Most Valuable player.

During the winter she took her prowess to the pool, yes, the old four lane pool at the now defunct YMCA where swimming was just being inaugurated as the latest OSAA sport in Astoria. Prior to high school, Miller swam club for the “Y”. And at one time in her illustrious pre-high school career she held 23 records. Naturally this level of excellence led to an exciting and successful career for the Fish swim team under the guidance of Coach John Foges. Here she displayed her versatility by competing in a variety of individual events as well as in the relays. During her high school seasons in the pool she established numerous school records only to have them be erased by future generations of AHS swimmers. Melinda was also voted by her teammates as their MVP during the 1978-79 seasons as well as during her senior season 1980-81. Her dedication and performance helped bring a fledgling program to become a dynamic, one that paved the way for the great success future AHS swim teams. She was indeed a trailblazer of sorts as she was a part of the beginning of a traditionally strong program in the state of Oregon and the Cowapa League.

Ms. Miller left the warmth and comfort of the swim pool for the outdoors during the spring seasons at Astoria High School, playing a dominate role on the softball diamond. In 1980 and ’81, where she was voted first team all-league, she and her fellow teammates made it to “state” making school history as the first softball team to advance to the State level. Again, Melinda Miler was a trailblazer in the annals of AHS athletics.

Following her outstanding career at AHS, Melinda took her varied talents to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Here, all Melinda did was play four outstanding years of volleyball; two great years of softball, where her team qualified not once, but twice for the NAIA National Tournament; and she swam one season for the Boxers where she qualified for the NAIA National Swim Championships.

She continued to play softball and volleyball and in 1998 she was selected all-tourney in the National women’s slo-pitch tourney. In 1999, she played on the World Championship Triple Crown team.