MJ Fryberger, Kennedy Hinkle and Gabby Yancura are Livonia Stevenson student-athletes who are exceptions to the rule.

“It is very rare to have three student-athletes who do three sports for four years and excel at all three sports and also excel in the classroom,” said Stevenson Athletic Director Arnold Muscat. “Gabby, Kennedy and MJ are special people and an example to all Stevenson student athletes. They are a big part of the success our athletic program has had over the past four years.”

All three helped lead Stevenson to great success this past season on the volleyball court. The Spartans were Livonia city champs, KLAA East Division champs and lost in the district final to eventual state champion Farmington Hills Mercy.

Fryberger, a senior, said sports are her “getaway” from the real world.

“Having so many different people to support me throughout my four years made sticking with multiple sports so much easier,” she said. “I was able to meet so many people that I would’ve never got to know if it wasn’t for athletics.”

Fryberger was the libero on the volleyball team and leaves as the career leader in digs at just under 1,000. She was also a two-time all-region, all-conference and all-state academic selection.

“What made us successful was our connection,” she said. “We were there for each other’s best and worst days, which to me was the most successful part of this season.”

Fryberger also is a member of the Stevenson swimming and lacrosse teams.

“I’ve been swimming since I was 3, and it has been such an important part of my life that I couldn’t give it up,” she said. “As for lacrosse, I genuinely enjoy the sport and it’s a great way to stay in shape.”

Hinkle, another senior, was a standout outside hitter on the Stevenson volleyball team.

“I started playing volleyball in fourth grade and I immediately fell in love with it,” she said.

Hinkle played three years on varsity and earned all-conference, all-region and all-state third team honors in 2025.

“We were successful because we all shared the same goals,” she said. “Regardless of our future plans we all wanted to win and had the drive to show up to practice every day wanting to get better.”

A three-sport athlete, Hinkle also plays basketball and soccer for the Spartans.

“I choose to play more than one sport at Stevenson because playing sports is so much more than just a game,” she said. “I’ve met some of my best friends along the way, and I’m a firm believer that I get better mentally and physically playing with new teammates and new coaches.”

Hinkle will meet new teammates next year, when she plays volleyball at Northwood University.

Yancura, also a senior at Stevenson, played middle in volleyball, where she earned all-region honors this past season. She also plays basketball and center back in soccer for the Spartans.

Yancura started playing volleyball in the sixth grade.

“When I was a sophomore I got moved up at the end of the season and got to play in districts,” she said. Yancura, who plans on playing college basketball next year, started playing basketball and soccer when she was very little.

“I started in kindergarten and loved the idea of getting to play multiple different sports,” she said. “I don’t ever get tired of just playing one sport all year long. I get to play with a bunch of different girls.”