Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro recently honored Natalia Surdej, a junior at Lancaster High School, who has been selected as this year’s Female Athlete of the Year by the Lancaster Depew Bee Newspaper.

Surdej has a long list of accomplishments during her shot put career including: winning the 2020 indoor state championship, finishing this season ranked second in the state, ranking first in Section IV, and having the chance to participate in the 113^th Millrose Games, an invitation only event, where she finished third overall against some of the top competitors in the nation.

Legislator Todaro said, “Surdej is an excellent role model for our community and the younger generation of athletes who look up to her. Natalia’s family has done an amazing job in raising such a well-rounded young woman. She is living proof that hard work and dedication really does indeed pay off.”