Ferndale's Tinnley Pidgeon honored as NCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year

After an lengthy application process, Ferndale High's Tinnley Pidgeon has been selected as the 2026 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the California Interscholastic Federation's North Coast Section. Pidgeon played soccer, basketball, and softball for the Wildcats during her four-year high school career, earning all-league honors in 10 of her 11 seasons while standing out in both academics and community service. In addition to a certificate and award, Pidgeon earned a $1,500 scholarship.

Reached while doing volunteer work for Ag Day at Ferndale Elementary School, Pidgeon said, "You had to apply, and it was sent to me by a couple local parents and moms who know me. They texted it to me and said I should apply, so I did, but I didn't really expect anything because I know how many schools are in the section and the state… I honestly forgot about it because I applied months ago, but was pulled into the principal's office at school the other day and he informed me that I'd won at the section level."

"This award, for me, is honestly going to be one of my biggest honors, because my entire high school career I have been dedicating my time and effort into sports and academics and extra-curriculars, community service. I feel like this is the kind of award that reflects all of that. It's definitely going to be an award I remember and am extremely proud of."

The process required all the classes Pidgeon had taken, her grade point average, all the sports played and team awards won, such as NCS championships in soccer and basketball. Humboldt-Del Norte League all-league and MVP selections were also considered, as well as what community service was done and how many hours were put in. Associated Student Body offices and FFA activities were also part of Pidgeon's resume.

Pidgeon helps put flags out on Main Street in Ferndale for holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July. She's helped coach youth basketball and youth soccer, including goalies for traveling teams. Recently, she took part in the "Every 15 Minutes" campaign to curb youth drinking and driving.

She finds time to do these things while serving as District 1 Dairy Princess, local and regional FFA officer, and ASB officer.

She gave a big shout-out to her grandmother Mary Pidgeon, saying, "It's hard to do all the things I do all the time. I have events overlap, and sometimes I try to be in two places at once. She's the person who's picking me up, driving me, I forget something and she runs it to me, she feeds me." She recently had to go from an FFA competition in Arcata to walking into the gym 10 minutes before game time to play Hoopa. "She was the one driving me, and gave me food. She has been there for me through my mental breakdowns in academics and stressful moments; she talks me down and she's allowed me to be able to do all the things I do."

Jeremy Griffith, principal at Ferndale High, has been Pidgeon's teacher at times and softball coach over her career.

"It's a fitting way to acknowledge the hard work she's put in," he said. "She's a student who puts in extra work in the classroom and in whatever sport she's taking on at the time… she's been our student body president twice, she's been a part of ASB every year, she is always taking the most rigorous classes that we have available. And she puts in the work and time in all those classes to obviously succeed."

As a coach, he said, "She's just a competitor. She likes to compete at what she does, so she's putting in extra time and work, whether it be free throws or batting practice or working as a goalkeeper, it's something that in her life she has goals for herself to be the best she can be. And to compete, whether it's academically or athletically, so she's putting in the work to achieve those goals."

"She's a very coachable young lady," he continued, "and appreciates the time and energy that people give her to help her succeed in her goals, whether it be her teachers or coaches. I'm just extremely proud of her, she's worked hard during her four years here and it's an honor that's well-deserved." Griffith echoed widely shared sentiments about Pidgeon that lend credence to her reputation as a kind and appreciative individual.

"I think it's absolutely an incredible award and especially something for small-town Ferndale," said Pidgeon's soccer coach Bailey Davy. "And I think something people don't realize, including me, is how prestigious it is. It's not something that's just given out, and that's really incredible. I probably sound biased, but I cannot think of a better athlete, student, and person to be the recipient of this award. I'm super-proud and super-excited for her."

The soccer team, with Pidgeon in goal, won NCS championships in 2023 and 2025.

"I think something that's appreciated all the way around with Tinnley is that when she commits to something," said Davy, "she commits 110%, and that shows with her academics, extra-curriculars, or sports. There's nothing that is half-effort given from her, and this shows with the scholastic part of her journey in her high school career, on and off the field. What's really admirable about her is her commitment level and her dedication to things she puts her heart and mind to."

"I was just proud and excited (to hear)," said Pidgeon's basketball coach Chris Ardrey. "Hard work pays off… man, she's just a leader inside and outside the gym. She's someone who works hard no matter what sport she's in, she was a great teammate and a great role model for the younger girls."

He said she helped him embrace the community en route to a section-championship-winning run.

"When I took over the Ferndale job, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into," he said. "But it's been the best thing in my life, the community and the way Tinnley and the other athletes were part of a special group. I'm glad I was a part of her ride… I knew how smart she was. It's pretty impressive to be that talented inside and outside the gym, and she's a prime example of how hard work pays off, and she's going to succeed at the next level."

Next for Pidgeon is Texas Tech University, where she is going to major in kinesiology, having chosen that school because they have an athletic internship opportunity for undergrads. After a few prerequisites, she hopes to be able to get into that, which she said would be "an extreme honor. I'm excited for that and getting my feet wet, getting every opportunity I can in the medical field and athletic training specifically."

She also credited Ferndale Athletic Director and trainer Jodi McDonald for influencing her future (McDonald is a Texas Tech alum) and community member Meaghan Langer for publicizing her news.

Ken McCanless can be reached at 707-441-0526.

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