FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --February 17, 1999
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Feb. 17 -- The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award program has selected its nine scholarship recipients for the 1999 winter sports season.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 10th year of sponsoring the award, will give a $1,000 college scholarship to each of the nine winter sport winners. Farm Bureau will present a total of 24 scholarships, one for each sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament.

Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at halftime ceremonies of the Class C Boys Basketball final game at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing on March 27. Commemorative plaques will be given to other finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.

The nine Scholar-Athlete Award honorees for the 1999 winter sports season are: Joe Bagierek, Saugatuck, boys basketball; Megan Leigh Glazier, Merrill, girls competitive cheer; Lyndsey B. Vitek, St. Johns, girls gymnastics; Justin Barnes, Midland, ice hockey; Alexander Theodore Carroll, Roscommon, boys skiing; Jennifer R. Steele, Clare, girls skiing; Justin C. Bosley, Grosse Pointe South, boys swimming & diving; Erin A. Jury, Houghton Lake, girls volleyball; Adam Baske, St. Joseph, wrestling.

Overviews of the nine scholarship recipients of the winter Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay is also included:

Boys Basketball -- Joe Bagierek, Saugatuck. Captain of the boys basketball team … earned six varsity letters, two in basketball, football and baseball … academic all-district and region in baseball … baseball MVP … captain of the football team as a senior … member of the Holland Sentinel all-area team … all-conference honorable mention in football … class president as a sophomore, junior and senior … student council president as a senior … chairman of Homecoming and Prom committees … four-year member of National Honor Society … president of band council as a senior … band council vice president first three years of high school … participated in marching band and pep band throughout high school … volunteers with the Saugatuck Douglas Educational Foundation, Christian Neighbors and at Harbors Health Care Facility … plans to attend the University of Miami (Fla.) to study music business management.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship should carry on into the stands where the spectators should cheer positively their own team to victory and not cut down the opponents or officials. Good sportsmanship from fans affects everyone. If fans are good sports the players are more likely to respect their local elders and alumni."

Girls Competitive Cheer -- Megan Leigh Glazier, Merrill. Two-year member of the competitive cheer team … earned first place at the New Year Cheer Classic at Central Montcalm High School as a junior … served as class treasurer as a sophomore, junior and senior … participated in marching band, concert band and pep band during her first three years of high school … active in National Honor Society, serving as treasurer and vice president … part of the Merrill Community Spirit Committee … plans on attending Michigan State University to study engineering.

Essay Quote -- "I believe that treating both teammates and competitors justly and with respect is a part of sportsmanship. Athletes who are taught these abilities will apply them to life outside sports and later in their lives. Sportsmanship in educational athletics develops leadership, humanity and people skills in young athletes."

Girls Gymnastics -- Lyndsey B. Vitek, St. Johns. Two-sport athlete who has earned letters in both girls gymnastics and girls tennis … regional qualifier in gymnastics as a junior … honorable mention all-area dream team in gymnastics … active in student council throughout high school, serving as president as a senior … two-year member of band council … served as class president for three years … color guard captain as a senior … member of symphonic band and marching band for the past three years … member of National Honor Society … participated in Youth Liturgical Ensemble at church … has been an instructor for community swimming lessons for three years … plans to attend Grand Valley State University to study elementary education.

Essay Quote -- "In my opinion, sportsmanship is one of the greatest lessons to be learned from athletics. An athlete learns that treating the opponent with respect is the only way to be successful, on or off the playing field."

Ice Hockey -- Justin Barnes, Midland. Has played varsity hockey for three years … vice president of National Honor Society … served on student council … appeared in a school production of "The Mouse That Roared" … member of Chemic Friends for Life … assistant coach of a senior women's hockey team … assists a deaf and blind young man in attending sporting events … works as a Midland Amateur Hockey League referee … would like to study veterinary medicine at Michigan State University.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship demonstrated through educational athletics is the building block from which attitudes of successful participants are created. The emphasis placed on sportsmanship in school-related athletics not only enhances the tools vital to a successful team, but also in the workplace."

Boys Skiing -- Alexander Theodore Carroll, Roscommon. Three-sport athlete … has earned 10 varsity letters, two in boys skiing, four in track and field and four in boys soccer … named honorable mention all-conference in skiing … second-team all-conference in soccer and honorable mention all-conference in track and field … senior class president … three-year member of student council … earned the Student Council Service Award in 1997 … member of National Honor Society … active in school chamber choir throughout high school … participated in men's vocal ensemble the past three years … acted in Roscommon High School musicals all four years of high school … active in the community with St. Michael's Youth Group and as a Special Olympics volunteer … would like to attend either Albion College or Georgetown University to study chemistry/biology and vocal music/drama.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship is respect. It is respect for your coach and teammates, respect for your opponents and most of all, respect for the game itself. Anyone can play a sport, but a true sportsman has a certain integrity and self pride."

Girls Skiing -- Jennifer R. Steele, Clare. First-team all-conference selection in girls skiing the past three years … played on the girls basketball team two years and softball team two years … has earned seven varsity letters … captured Coach's Award in skiing twice and in softball once … member of National Honor Society for three years … president of National Honor Society … senior class secretary and freshman class treasurer … elected precinct delegate at the Youth People's Citizenship Seminar as a junior … has played in the marching band and symphonic band all four years … member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is currently the FCA Advisory Board president … active in the Spanish Club and serves as the public relations officer … worked as a Red Cross Blood Drive volunteer for four years … participated in Walk America … wants to attend the West Point to study biomedical engineering or physical therapy.

Essay Quote -- "Sportsmanship is playing fair and being able to lose without complaint, or win without gloating. To be a sportsman, the athlete must possess both character and leadership qualities. While a participant strives to become well-tuned physically, moral strength and leadership skills should also be a priority."

Boys Swimming & Diving -- Justin C. Bosley, Grosse Pointe South. Member of the varsity swim team all four years … named all-conference three times … MHSAA finals qualifier … selected all-region and an MHSAA finals qualifier in cross country … participated on the rowing squad for three years … part of the Homecoming planning committee and community service committees through student senate throughout high school … played trombone in the pep band, jazz band and symphonic band and orchestra … active with Sierra Club, Grosse Pointe Farms Foundation and has been part of the church youth group and an altar server … plans to attend Harvard University to study pre-med.

Essay Quote -- "Good sportsmanship ensures that every benefit will be accrued from the activity, both physically in strength and stamina and mentally in discipline. However, if one does not invest much into the sport, in terms of effort and commitment, then little progress is made. It is imperative that negative emotions, such as jealousy and resentment, do not interfere with competition."

Girls Volleyball -- Erin A. Jury, Houghton Lake. Plays on the girls volleyball, girls basketball and girls soccer teams … earned six varsity letters … named honorable mention all-conference in girls basketball … will be team captain in girls soccer as a senior … has been selected academic all-conference in all three sports … member of student senate and Rotary Interact all four years … treasurer of student senate … featured speaker at the Rotary International Conference in WaWa, Ontario, Canada … selected as vice president and president of Rotary Interact … member of National Honor Society … featured speaker at the 1998 MHSAA Sportsmanship Summit … played in the District IX All-Star Band for three years … played in the symphonic, marching and jazz band throughout high school … Hospice of Michigan teen volunteer as a junior and senior … volunteers at Mapleview Adult Foster Care … named the 1999 Houghton Lake Junior Miss … would like to attend either the University of Notre Dame or Michigan State University to study pre-med.

Essay Quote -- "Teachers, coaches, athletes and parents have a responsibility to educate students on the value of sportsmanship by helping them develop a sense of pride and dignity and teaching them to refrain from displaying disrespectful behavior."

Wrestling -- Adam Baske, St. Joseph. Wrestling team captain as a junior and senior … named wrestling team MVP as a junior … football team captain as a senior …set two tackling records as a junior … only player to be on boys tennis team all four years … earned four varsity letters in boys tennis, three in wrestling and two in football … class vice president as a junior and senior … member of St. Joseph High School Athletic Advisory Committee … representative in Student Senate for two years … won "I Dare You" Leadership award from school administration for superior leadership skills … member of National Honor Society … active in Young Life … certified scuba diver and member of the Professional Association of Diving Instruction … tutors at the elementary and middle school levels … volunteers at Curious Kids Museum … will attend Duke University to study marine biology.

Essay Quote -- "I can now say that I know what a good sport is, and I wish all high school athletes would take the time once in awhile to reflect on their early days as sportsmen. I'm sure all would recall a time filled of laughter and high spirits. Maybe then, we all could see why we continued to play sports throughout high school: to have fun. And the only way to accomplish this is through being a good sport."

Other winter finalists by sport for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Boys Basketball -- Steven Mark Anderson, Iron Mountain North Dickinson; Nathaniel A. Sowa, Marlette; Benjamin K. Chelovich, Bloomfield Hills Lahser; Robert J. Shusteric, Riverview; Joshua James Crumley, Monroe St. Mary; Daniel Robert Lanning, Manton. Competitive Cheer -- Erica Marie Czaja, Temperance Bedford. Girls Gymnastics -- Andrea O'Boyle, Grosse Pointe North. Ice Hockey -- Jay Desai, Bloomfield Hills Andover. Boys Skiing -- Ryan Christopher Withrow, Highland Milford. Girls Skiing -- Michaele Nye, Howell. Boys Swimming & Diving -- Jason Peter Wagenmaker, Hudsonville Unity Christian; Matthew B. Watson, Bloomfield Hills Andover. Girls Volleyball -- Emily E. Engel, Bay City Central; Jocelyn Frank, Bloomfield Hills Andover; Katherine Ruth, Dearborn Divine Child; Amber Simon, Pewamo-Westphalia; Abby N. Baker, Mendon; Andrea Fox, Muskegon Mona Shores. Wrestling -- Peter J. Hrodey, Traverse City Central; Nicholas Lee Atwood, Leslie; Gerald Kozak, Utica Eisenhower; Richard C. Rank, Algonac.

Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average, and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

Spring sports scholarship recipients will be announced on Feb. 24.

Fall honorees were: Laura Winkel, Manistique, girls basketball; James Michael Shehadi, Sterling Heights, boys cross country; Melissa Renee Gritter, Elk Rapids, girls cross country; D'Juan O'Donald, Detroit Renaissance, football; John D. Sivey, Merrill, boys golf; Stosh Randall Mintek, Allegan, boys soccer; Katharine Sophiea, Ferndale, girls swimming & diving; and Bomy Hong, Jenison, girls tennis.