Since the day that she took her first steps, Maya Bonde has not been shy about pursuing various athletic endeavors.
In elementary school, Bonde spent recesses traversing the monkey bars, and by middle school, she had expanded her athletic arenas to include volleyball courts, basketball courts and tracks.
Since reaching high school four years ago, Bonde has lettered in four varsity sports, including volleyball, which she played during her freshman and senior seasons.
As a freshman, Bonde helped Mancos qualify for the state tournament, and as a senior, she recorded 76 kills, 72 digs and 10 aces.
"High school volleyball was a lot different than middle school," said Bonde. "I didn't realize how hard you have to work to get to state until we made it my freshman year. Senior year, my three best friends and I decided to go back and play together one last year."
During her sophomore and junior years, Bonde competed as a member of the Mancos High School cross country team, which qualified for state during her junior year.
"During the first week of cross country, you realize you're really out of shape because it's a lot of running, but it's really good because you feel so healthy," said Bonde.
Also a talented basketball player, Bonde suited up for Mancos during her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons and averaged 4.3 points per game as a junior.
"I enjoyed the aggressiveness of basketball and how much you get to know other players," Bonde said. "It was a really good bonding experience."
Now in her final season of high school athletics, Bonde joined the Mancos High School track team and has been competing in the 200-meter dash, discus and shot put.
"I want to be a state qualifier," said Bonde. "I'm close in the shot put and discus and I actually had state qualifying throws when I was in middle school."
Asked about her plans after high school, Bonde said that she will attend the University of Northern Arizona and pursue a degree in nursing. She said that she hopes to become a flight nurse.
"I got interested in (flight nursing) and I researched it," said Bonde, who is a volunteer member of the Mancos Fire Department. "I love the adrenaline rush."
