When Nicole Steiner received an email from the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame two weeks ago notifying her that she had been named the Female High School Athlete of the Year for Santa Clara County, she didn’t know what to make of it.
After all, Steiner had no idea she had even been nominated for the honor. After looking into the history of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, Steiner was humbled to be one of this year’s honorees. The 2025 Los Gatos High School graduate has started her freshman year at Cal State University Fullerton, where she is on a basketball scholarship.
However, it’s only fitting that Steiner was recognized once again for her achievements in high school, which saw her star in volleyball, basketball and track and field. The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame will honor its 2025 class in an induction ceremony on Nov. 6 at SAP Center.
Former Earthquakes star Landon Donovan headlines the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee class, which includes Ed Buller, Todd Clever, Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston and Mark Wilson. The honorees include Steiner and Quinten Marsh for the High School Athletes of the Year; Nick Nash and Emilia Sjostrand as the Amateur Athletes of the Year; and Michael Aguilar as the Special Olympian of the Year.
“I’m definitely excited for the honor,” Steiner said. “I loved my time in high school and I’ve loved everything about college so far.”
In her senior year at LGHS, Steiner was a tour-de-force in three sports. In the fall, she helped lead the Wildcats’ girls volleyball team to the CIF Northern California playoffs. In the winter, she spearheaded the girls basketball team to a second consecutive undefeated league season and a Central Coast Section Division I championship.
In the spring, Steiner advanced to the CIF State Track and Field Championships in the shot put. Incredible achievements aside, Steiner knows her current task of contributing to a Division I basketball program will require even greater tenacity and determination.
Steiner is laser-focused on her academics, basketball practices and strength training program. Everything revolves around those three things, with little time for anything else. However, the 6-foot-2 Steiner wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I love everyone on the team, I’m loving practice, lifting weights, the whole routine has been very fun,” she said. “All of my classes are great and I have friends in every one of them, so that has been good.”
In high school, Steiner was the strongest player on the court, able to move aside opponents off their position. In college, it’ll be a different story.
“It’s obviously harder going against stronger people, but it’s good because we all push each other,” she said. “I would say the competitiveness in our practices are so much more than high school, and we were super competitive in high school. But college practices get so physical and testy, in the best way possible.”
Steiner is projected to play the power forward and center position for CSU Fullerton, where she’ll be going up against taller players on a semi-regular basis. However, Steiner has become noticeably more explosive and stronger since she’s been able to start a serious strength and conditioning program.
“I never got into weights in high school because I never had an off-season to do it,” she said. “But we have a weight coach in college and he’s always pushing us. I can feel and see the improvement in strength and how it helps my game.”
Having made deep connections while in high school, Steiner still keeps up with her friends at LGHS, especially the girls volleyball team.
“I’ve been texting my volleyball friends and I try to watch their games,” she said. “I message them to see how they’re doing because I love keeping up with my high school teammates.”
