Cedar Rapids Jefferson junior Alyssa Olson is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Olson is an all-state pitcher for the Jefferson softball team, which is ranked No.5 in Class 5A this season. She pitched a one-hitter with 19 strikeouts in a victory over Waterloo West last week for the J-Hawks, who are off to a 6-0 start.

Olson has a 3-0 record and 0.31 ERA, with 39 strikeouts in 22.1 innings. She has allowed only one earned run and six hits.

Olson compiled a 21-4 record and 1.03 ERA last year when Jefferson finished fifth at the Class 5A state tournament. She struck out 237 batters in 163.1 innings.

Olson pitched a shutout and struck out 13 batters when Jefferson upset top-ranked Muscatine in the regional finals at Muscatine last year to reach the state tournament.

Here is our Question-&-Answer session with Alyssa Olson:

MSR: What has been your favorite individual highlight in sports?

ALYSSA: One of my favorite individual highlights in my high school career would be the Muscatine game and the Waterloo West game with 19 strikeouts. Both mean so much to me because they show myself that all of my hard work and perseverance have paid off.

MSR: What has been your favorite team highlight in sports?

ALYSSA: My favorite team highlight would be winning the Muscatine game and celebrating with my teammates after. I still watch the video of the last strikeout of the game and still get goosebumps just watching it and seeing the team's reaction.

MSR: What are your favorite classes in school?

ALYSSA: My favorite classes in school would be biology and chemistry. I love science and hope to one day have a career that works in the medical field.

MSR: What has been your favorite community service project?

ALYSSA: My favorite community service project would be serving meals at the Salvation Army with my entire team during the holidays. We get to learn so much as a team and get to appreciate what we have so much more.