Vella Nave is a dual threat for Elizabethton High School. Sometimes on the same day.
Nave is a standout for the Lady Cyclones in both cross country and soccer, two sports whose seasons overlap. After winning the Traiblazer Invitational on Oct. 9, and then went on to win MVP honors in the district soccer tournament, scoring two goals in the championship match on Oct. 15 as Elizabethton defeated Sullivan East 7-2.
That’s why Nave is the I-81 Sports and Tricitiessports Prep Athlete of the Week for the week of October 12-18.
Since those seasons overlap, sometimes Nave competes in both sports on the same day. That was the case on October 20, as Nave won the individual title in the small schools division at the Northeast Tennessee Cross Country championship meet. Then, that night, she scored the first goal as Elizabethton defeated Volunteer 3-0 in the region soccer semifinals.
Nave is also a former state runner-up in cross country, a feat she achieved in 2025.
Here’s our full video presentation with Vella:
I-81 Sports & Tricitiessports Prep Athlete of the Week
- Brenna Overbay, Science Hill soccer (8/17-23)
- Kiantai Harris, Science Hill football (8/24/30)
- Blaze Rice, Unicoi County football (8/31-9/6)
- Claire Marshall, Daniel Boone soccer (9/7-13)
- Justice Hilton, West Ridge football (9/14-20)
- Kiantai Harris, Science Hill football (9/21-27)
- Ruben Ibarra-Flores, David Crockett football (9/28-10/4)
- Elsie Smith, Providence Academy volleyball (10/5-11)
- Vella Nave, Elizabethton soccer (10/12-18)