Scholars and Athletes 2013: Class A
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 19, 2013
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 13 student-athletes from Class A member schools to receive scholarships through its Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 24th year of sponsoring the award, will give a $1,000 college scholarship to 32 individuals who represent their member school in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees which can come from any classification. Of Class A honorees, seven are girls and six are boys – with the seventh girl an at-large selection.
Each scholarship recipient will be honored during a halftime ceremony at the Class C Boys Basketball Final game March 23 at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to other finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.
The Class A Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Lara Fawaz, Dearborn; Kayla Giese, Macomb Dakota; Kristin Nicole Green, Saline; Kelly Hall, Saline; Brooke Kovacic, Oxford; Teresa LaForest, St. Joseph; Reinie Thomas, Portage Central; Marcus Barnett, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; Connor James Bos, Holland; Bryan Condra, Hartland; Kalvis Hornburg, Traverse City Central; Jeremy Simon, Richland Gull Lake; and Adam Whitener, Saline.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class A Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Lara Fawaz, Dearborn. Four-year letterwinner in Basketball and Tennis, served at team captain and captured all-league and academic all-league honors in both sports. Has played doubles on Dearborn tennis team which has qualified for MHSAA Finals the past three years. Four-year participant in Key Club, Arabic Club and Sadr Foundation USA. Has served as student government vice president for two years, and as an officer for National Honor Society and Arabic Club. Helped launch a book drive for Oakwood Center for Exception Families, which garnered over 500 books. Has also been a tutor. Plans neuroscience studies at the University of Michigan.
Essay Quote – “Those who lose and start to cause trouble with their opponents, do not only lose, but also undermine the respectable system of the game. Sometimes you lose and others you win, but how you react to a certain loss or win is what will define you as an athlete.”
Kayla Giese, Macomb Dakota. In four years on swimming team, was team captain, most valuable, all-county and league all-academic. Helped lead squad to back-to-back conference championships. Also lettered twice in track, earning all-county and league all-academic on teams which won league and county championships. Served as vice president of student government and National Honor Society, and was class secretary. Delegate to Michigan Association of Student Councils & Honor Societies. Active in Key Club and Be The Change at Dakota High School, and has performed numerous hours of community service. Will attend Michigan State University, studying cellular and molecular biology.
Essay Quote – “I have evolved as a sportsman, as well as a leader. I have flourished and succeeded through this development of sportsmanship. It has allowed me to expand my leadership skills as my teammates admire the encouragement and support I provide for them.”
Kristin Nicole Green, Saline. Will letter for four seasons in both cross country in track. Earned all-conference, academic all-conference and league sportsmanship awards. Captain of both cross country and track teams as a senior. Medaled at MHSAA Lower Peninsula Track & Field Finals twice as part of relay teams. Also earned all-conference and academic all-conference honors in track. Organized effort by cross country team to provide Christmas for local family. Youth soccer referee and a certified swimming lifeguard. Part of Link Crew at Saline, which helps freshmen transition into high school. Plans to major in marketing and psychology at the University of Michigan.
Essay Quote – “When there is no sportsmanship in an athletic event, whether it is a recreational soccer match or the football state championships there is a gaping hole for bitterness, frustration, and even hatred to fill.”
Kelly Hall, Saline. A four-time letterwinner in cross country, and also earned three letters in track. Received hardest worker award as a senior. Received league all-academic award each year in cross country and track. Recipient of school’s Coach Mike Smith Scholarship for sportsmanship, leadership and character. Has been an officer with National Honor Society, Saline Youth Council and Interact Club. Has played violin in school symphony orchestra. Selected Homecoming Queen in 2012. Received INTERACT Award three times. Volunteer work ranges from food bank to youth membership. Will attend either the University of Michigan or Yale University to study informatics and epidemiology and eventually pursue an MBA degree.
Essay Quote – “It may sound like a cliché, but I truly believe that the lessons learned every day in practice are as important as those learned in the classroom. One of the most important of these lessons is sportsmanship, and I’m blessed to have a coach who recognizes this. He has instilled in us values and respect and modesty, reminding us often ‘Humble when you win, gracious when you lose.’”
Brooke Kovacic, Oxford. Served as team captain of cross country squad for the past three seasons, as well as the past two seasons in track. Will win four varsity letters in each sport. Medaled at MHSAA Division 1 Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals all four years, finishing fourth as a junior, sixth as a senior. Team most valuable and all-league four times. Academic all-state honoree. On the track, also earned all-state, all league and all-country awards. Played clarinet in concert band four years. Helps mentor and tutor younger students through Captain’s Club and Link Crew. Member of National Honor Society, and captain of Adventure Club. Plans to study Kinesiology at Michigan State University.
Essay Quote – “These acts and manners that we learn through sports effortlessly carry into our everyday behaviors and transform us into well rounded, caring citizens. Sportsmanship is contagious, and the leadership, discipline, and determination that we learn from competing against others who share these qualities make the experiences all the more beneficial and applicable to life.”
Teresa LaForest, St. Joseph. Performs in cross country in the fall and tennis in the spring, winning seven varsity letters to date. A team captain in cross country, and a Regional Singles champion and all-conference honoree in tennis. Has participated in student government all four years, and served as class treasurer and vice president. Also a member of Key Club, Latin Club and Math Club, and is as an officer in all three groups. Has been a youth tennis instructor and a volunteer with a local soup kitchen and Habitat for Humanity. Engineering will be her course of study at the University of Michigan.
Essay Quote – “The strength of the human spirit will always be tested by challenges, but making choices based on the values of respect, integrity and fairness – the essentials of sportsmanship – brings out the best in all people, athletes and non-athletes alike.”
Reinie Thomas, Portage Central. Will finish high school playing days with 10 varsity letters – four each in basketball and track; and two in volleyball. A team captain in hoops and on the track. Most valuable and most improved in basketball; and also won all-conference honors. Helped organize Pink Out games for American Cancer Society. All-conference performer in the 200-meter dash in track. Elected to leadership positions with National Honor Society and youth councils for Portage and Kalamazoo. Plays the saxophone and piano. Also attends Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center and competes on computer science team. Active in numerous community volunteer roles. Will continue education at the University of Chicago and study pre-med.
Essay Quote – “Though many times good sportsmanship is overlooked, it is a very valuable piece to every game. The fact that someone is still able to care about someone other than themselves during a contest almost means more than the game itself. After all, it is only a game. I love to win, but what’s a win with a bad attitude and reputation?”
Marcus Barnett, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore. Three-sport athlete, winning four letters in soccer and track and field, and three in basketball. All-state and academic all-state in soccer, and was team captain as a senior. Won all-academic awards three straight years in basketball and track and field. Was team captain in track and field, and a qualifier for the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals first three years in school. Involved for four years in Principals & Leadership. Treasurer in National Honor Society. Took part in Chinese Foreign Cultural Exchange Program and Lake Shore Chinese/American Student Summit. Member of Goodfellows of Madison Heights, and active in church activities. Plans to study engineering at Lawrence Technological University or the University of Michigan.
Essay Quote - “My mother always taught me to treat people the way you would like to be treated. This life lesson is the very same principle I use on the soccer field, basketball court, and the track. I know that in other areas of my life, such as college or my career, I will encounter people who will try to advance themselves by putting others down. In these situations I can fall back on the sportsmanship lessons that I have practices through high school athletics.”
Connor James Bos, Holland. Four-year standout in swimming, qualifying for MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals each year. Finished sixth in 100-yard backstroke as a junior, and also was part of two relay teams that medaled. Also earned all-conference honors, and was part of winning 400-yard relay team. Spent four years on Student Council, and was class president three times. Member of choir and Fellowship of Christian Athletes throughout high school. Worked for three years on Holland Youth Advisory Council and West Michigan Airport Authority Board. Took part in Boy’s State and Boy’s Nation. Member of church praise band. Will study business and political science in college; considering Hope College, the University of Kentucky, Auburn University and Gardner-Webb University.
Essay Quote – “Too often, our eyes are only on the prize of winning and not the process it takes to really be a ‘winning’ team in all aspects. When I interview for a job, is a first place medal going to define who I am, or will it be my character? You be the judge.”
Bryan Condra, Hartland. Eleven varsity letters – four each in swimming and diving, and track and field; and three in soccer – were earned in prep career. A team captain in swimming and soccer. Three-time academic all-state in the pool, and qualified for MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals first three years in school. Led soccer team in scoring as junior and garnered most valuable and most improved honors that year. Holds school record in 3,200-meter run in track. Four-year involvement in student government, three as class president. Helped create Be The Change program in school, and anti-bullying campaign. Participated in Bible Club and teaches youngsters at a local church. Has served for two years in program that mentors freshmen students. Plans to attend Grand Valley State University and study business management/finance.
Essay Quote – “I led my team to the understanding that there is more to what we do on the field any given day. The way in which we present ourselves reflects directly on our community and how people from other districts view Hartland. I led them to believe that sportsmanship was the single most important aspect of the game.”
Kalvis Hornburg, Traverse City Central. Skiing, soccer and track and field are his sports. Captured all-state honors in skiing as a junior, finishing second in the slalom. Will earn fourth varsity letter this season. Helped ski team to MHSAA titles as a freshman and sophomore. Team most valuable as a junior and team captain this year. Won all-conference honors three times. Was also a team captain in soccer, and won all-academic honors on three occasions. Chapter officer in National Honor Society. Participated for four years in school choir and advanced Science, Math and Technology Program. Played lead role in two school musicals. Active in local church choir. Plans neuroscience/pre-med studies in college.
Essay Quote – “True sportsmanship lies in building mutual respect, in the cooperative aspects of competition, in finding friendship and camaraderie in shared dedication to something you love. Consequently, sportsmanship transcends the athletic boundary, and has a resounding influence on the way we deal with others in school and the workplace.”
Jeremy Simon, Richland Gull Lake. A standout in cross country and track and field; will finish with four letters in each sport. Two-time team captain in both sports. Won academic all-state in all –conference honors in each. Was team most valuable in cross country as a junior. Won all-state honors as part of medaling relay team at MHSAA Lower Peninsula Track & Field Finals as a sophomore. Four-year member of Student Senate and served as class president three years. Participant in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Volunteens. Also serves on Superintendents Advisory Committee, as a tutor to other students and as a youth Deacon at his church. Plans to pursue studies in finance or pre-medicine at either Hope College or the University of Michigan.
Essay Quote – “After my experience with Scottie, I grew immensely as a sportsman because I realized the kind of impact my leadership and moral discipline could have on people, and I recognized the evident significance of sportsmanship. I learned to stand firmly for what I believe and for what is right.”
Adam Whitener, Saline. Captained Saline’s swimming and diving team, and will win four letter in the sport this winter. MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion in the 100 and 200-Yard Freestyle as sophomore and junior, and swam on winning 400 Free Relay teams both years. Part of winning 200 Freestyle Relay quintet as a freshman and junior. All-conference performer on multiple occasions. Member of Boys Scouts throughout high school, attaining rank of Eagle Scout. Participated in band each year, playing the saxophone, and winning top competition ratings three times. Community service includes Special Olympics, food drives and work with local historical society. Plays with church praise band. Will attend the University of Virginia and study computer science.
Essay Quote – “Jake Englemeier, the captain of the high school team my freshman year is the embodiment of what sportsmanship should be in educational athletics. Jake was most admired by the team for his patience and positive approach as a captain. He never resorted to belittling us lower classmen in practice. Instead, he would use humor and wit to motivate and encourage us.”
Other Class A girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Kristy Allen, East Grand Rapids; Casie Ammerman, Ann Arbor Huron; Jacqueline Burke, Troy; Francesca Ciaramitaro, Grosse Pointe North; Morgan Alexandria Gilliam, North Farmington; Sarah Gutknecht, Farmington; Hailey Hrynewich, Muskegon Mona Shores; Jessica Kalbfleisch, Traverse City West; Jillian Klein, Muskegon Mona Shores; Elizabeth Michno, Macomb L'Anse Creuse North; Kelly Raterink, Zeeland East; Roxanne Raven, Okemos; Kerigan Riley, Livonia Churchill; Haley Schaafsma, Riverview; Carley Serowoky, Waterford Kettering; Kendall Tamler, Birmingham Seaholm; and Lindsay Walter, Saline.
Other Class A boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Andrew Camp, Midland Dow; Jarrod Eaton, St. Johns; Tristan Eggenberger, Okemos; Alex Fauer, Macomb Dakota; Thomas Greidanus, Grand Rapids Christian; Reed Hrynewich, Muskegon Mona Shores; Austin Jones, Bay City Central; Tyler Scott Kemerer, Saginaw Heritage; Anthony Lamus, Saline; Jacob J. Presto, Orchard Lake St. Mary's; Charles Robert Proctor, Bay City Western; David Read, Midland Dow; Harrison Schurr, Jenison; Jonathan Sollish, Berkley; Thomas Spicuzza, Oxford; Jason Vander Horst, Milford; Kevin W. Walsh, Detroit Catholic Central; and Pierce Watson, Lowell.
Previously announced were the scholarship award recipients in Classes B, C and D. The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Ashley M. Carney, Jackson Northwest; Amanda Ciancio, Comstock Park; Mary Emington, Cadillac; Nicole L. Green, Portland; Alec Robert Fisher, Battle Creek Harper Creek; Patrick Gifford, Haslett; Scott Parkinson, Grayling; and Keeton Thayer Ross, Grosse Ile. The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Kylei Ratkowski, Bronson; Grace Smith, Kalamazoo Hackett; Nicole Winter, Watervliet; Jesse Anderson, Union City; Ashwin Fujii, Ann Arbor Greenhills; and Connor Lockman, Royal Oak Shrine. The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award scholarship recipients are: Elyse Kathleen Lisznyai, Hillsdale Academy; Elena Victoria Luce, Mason County Eastern; Charles Barchett, Watervliet Grace Christian; Chip A. Blood, Hillsdale Academy; and Francisco Jay Noyola, Lansing Christian
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Scholars and Athletes 2015: Class A
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 13, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half Editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 14 student-athletes from Class A member schools to receive scholarships through its Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 26th year of sponsoring the award, will give $1,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees which can come from any classification.
Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored during a ceremony at halftime of the Class C Boys Basketball Final game March 28 at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.
The Class A Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Sara Condra, Hartland; Emily Diehl, Saline; Ashley Ko, Traverse City Central; Diane Reed, Bloomfield Hills; Alex Sorgi, Utica Ford; Caycee Turczyn, Lapeer; Allison Utting, Grandville; Kyler Beal, Holland; Andrew Bennett, Linden; Matthew Carter, Ypsilanti Lincoln; Collin DeShaw, Holland West Ottawa; Andrew James Fox, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central; Michael Kenney, Detroit U-D Jesuit; and Matthew J. Orringer, Ann Arbor Skyline.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class A Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Sara Condra, Hartland
Participated three seasons on her varsity swimming and diving team and will play her third season of varsity soccer this spring. Served as captain of both teams; earned all-state recognition all three of her swimming and diving seasons and all-league honors in soccer. Also earned all-league academic awards in both sports. Serving fourth year in student government, with tenures as president and secretary and also is in her fourth year on her school’s Student Advisory Board. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and was on a state finalist for her school’s DECA business club. Serves as director of a youth water ski team, trainer for a recreational youth soccer team and teaches Sunday school. Also participated on the Livingston County Diversity Council as a junior. Will attend Michigan State University and study sports marketing and dietetics.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is easy to preach, yet it’s a little more difficult to carry out. It is easy to get caught up in personal demands and forget what the competition is really about. Sportsmanship constitutes teamwork, self-discipline and appreciation of others. Sportsmanship does not only show one’s character, it also shows pride: pride in oneself and pride in one’s competition.”
Emily Diehl, Saline
Ran three seasons of varsity cross country and will participate in her third of varsity track and field this spring. Served as cross country team’s captain in the fall and earned league scholar-athlete awards all four years of high school. Serves as vice president of student council and previously served as committee chair during her four-year tenure. Also serves as president of her school’s Key Club after three years as vice president. Participating in National Honor Society for the second year and has volunteered more than 1,100 hours for a variety of services. Earned AP Scholar with Distinction recognition for her scores on College Board Advanced Placement exams. Will attend either Brown University or Northwestern University to study psychology and neuroscience in pursuit of a career in the medical field.
Essay Quote: “As students reflect on their careers as high school athletes, they will not remember the girl they passed in a race, but rather the girl that encouraged them as they fought for a new personal record. … It is all too easy to become absorbed in the times or the medals or the trophies, but that’s not what high school athletics are about.”
Ashley Ko, Traverse City Central
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of varsity track and field this spring. Served as her team’s co-captain in the fall and posted all-state finishes the last two seasons of eighth and 12th at the Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals. Earned academic all-state honors in cross country her final three seasons. Qualified for the MHSAA LP Division 1 Track and Field Finals the last two seasons in the 3,200-meter run. Participating in National Honor Society for the second year and has served as her class’ president the last two school years. Received AP Scholar with Honor award and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Award for high honors in mathematics. Volunteered for various organizations including three years with Special Olympics. Taught English to children during mission trip to Guatemala as a sophomore. Will attend Northwestern University to study psychology and pre-medicine; she also intends to sign a letter of intent to run cross country.
Essay Quote: “(Sportsmanship) is not about finishing first or setting new records. Genuine sportsmanship is about lifting one another up during difficult times and knowing that, no matter what, your teammates will be there to support and encourage you.”
Diane Reed, Bloomfield Hills
Participated four seasons on the varsity swimming and diving teams at her schools (Bloomfield Hills was formed from the former Lahser and Andover for 2013-14; Reed attended Lahser previously), and plans to play her fourth season of varsity lacrosse. Earned all-state recognition with a 10th-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly as a sophomore. Served as swimming and diving team captain in the fall and earned academic all-state honors for the second time. Will serve as captain of the lacrosse team after making first-team all-state as a junior. Earned AP Scholar with Honors recognition and is participating in National Honor Society for the second year. Served as editor of her school’s newspaper as a junior; earned multiple awards from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association during three years on staff. Volunteered as a swimming coach for Special Olympics and founded a social club for special needs students. Remains undecided where she will attend college, but will study biomedical engineering.
Essay Quote: “If you break it down, sportsmanship is being gracious whether you win or lose. The ethos of fair play and compassion for other participants is the starting point, and ideally the reason, why we all play sports.”
Alex Sorgi, Utica Ford
Played four years of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring; also played volleyball as a freshman. Served as captain of both varsities two seasons, earning all-state honors twice in softball and once in basketball. Scored her 1,000th career basketball point this season and has two school records in that sport to go with four records in softball; also helped softball team to a school-record 30 wins last season and first MHSAA Semifinal appearance. Serving on student council for fourth year and participating in National Honor Society for the second. Also participating in Students Against Destructive Decisions, her school’s DECA and Pink Girls clubs and as a mentor to middle and elementary school students encouraging school sports participation. Will attend Bowling Green State University and study health sciences in pursuit of a career in the medical field.
Essay Quote: “High school sports have easily been the most influential aspect of my high school years. I have learned life lessons like work ethic, commitment, time management and the value of hard work. More important, I have learned the value of respect and friendship through the sportsmanship displayed in sports.”
Caycee Turczyn, Lapeer
Played four seasons of varsity golf and is playing her third of varsity basketball. Served as captain of the golf team in the fall and tied for 10th at the 2013 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Final. Also serving as captain of the basketball team this winter and earned all-league honorable mention as a junior for Lapeer West before West and East merged into one school for 2014-15. Co-founded and serves as president of her school’s Business Professionals of America chapter and is in her second year of National Honor Society and as a member of the MHSAA’s Student Advisory Council. Serving on student council for third year and founded pep club at Lapeer West; played part in combining with East’s pep club when the schools merged. Also volunteers at youth sports camps and clinics. Will attend the University of Michigan and study business.
Essay Quote: “The lessons of respect, integrity and good character can be found in educational athletics. Players, coaches, officials and spectators are entrusted to promote these qualities. So respect your opponent. Play by the rules. Cheer for your team. You will find (sportsmanship) extends to your family, community and workplace.”
Allison Utting, Grandville
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will participate in her second of track and field this spring. Served as captain of the cross country team the last two seasons and ran on three straight MHSAA Finals qualifiers, earning all-area and academic all-state honors. Serving fourth year on student council and second as president and also is participating in her second year of National Honor Society. Earned AP Scholar of Distinction and National Merit Scholarship Commended Student designations while ranking third in her senior class of 455 students. Participating in fourth year of Women’s Varsity Leadership Club mentoring young athletes, and coached two years as part of the Grandville Trail Dawgs running club for elementary students. Serves on her school’s Leadership and Student Life committees. Will attend Hope College to study secondary education with a focus on history and political science.
Essay Quote: “We race like the fiercest enemies, but cross country rivalries stay amidst the hills and trails of the course where they belong. We are girls from different schools and divisions, but remain united by a common love for our sport. Good sportsmanship allows these bonds to last a lifetime, much longer than any race or any season.”
Kyler Beal, Holland
Played three full seasons of varsity soccer and is in his first of varsity basketball after joining the soccer team midway through freshman season and basketball at the end of his sophomore season. Earned all-state and academic all-state honors for soccer in the fall while serving as team captain. Contributed to a number of volunteer projects over all four years of high school, including for Young Life, as a soccer camp counselor, and for a low income housing summer program. Named Volunteer of the Year by Holland-based Community Action House and received the Wooden Shoe Award for leadership at his school. After spending this fall in Guatemala as part of Pray America, Beal will attend Liberty University and study communications.
Essay Quote: “Many times during a game, players have the chance to let their emotions get the best of them. A competitive attitude is crucial in sports, and winning is important, but there comes a point when winning cannot be the end all. Sports are just games in the grand scheme of life, and because of that, athletes must have respect for other athletes, coaches, referees and for themselves.”
Andrew Bennett, Linden
Ran two years of varsity cross country and is in his second of varsity skiing, and will run his third of track and field this spring; also played soccer as a freshman. Serving as captain of ski team after serving as captain in the fall of the cross country team that finished seventh at the LP Division 2 Final and earned an academic all-state award. Qualified as part of 3,200 relay for the LP Division 2 Track and Field Final. Participated all four years as part of the Southern Lakes Youth Advisory Committee including as chair, and also has participated throughout high school in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Participating in National Honor Society for the second year. Volunteered for Salvation Army and as part of local, national and international mission trips. Will attend Northern Michigan University to study nursing.
Essay Quote: “The general acceptance and supportiveness of every athlete struck me. This is the true meaning of sportsmanship. It isn’t following some instinctual etiquette taught from childhood; it is the acknowledgement by every individual that they are here like everyone else to make memories and build friendships.”
Matthew Carter, Ypsilanti Lincoln
Played two years of varsity football and wrestled for two seasons, and will play his third season of varsity lacrosse this spring. Earned all-league honorable mention and a league scholar-athlete award for football and helped his team to two league titles. Playing fourth year in concert/marching band and played two in the Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra. Earned solo and ensemble superior rankings all four years from the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. Participating in National Honor Society for second year and has participated in Boy Scouts throughout high school and is an Eagle Scout nominee. Named semifinalist for National Achievement Scholarship and a Young Man of Promise by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Participated in American Legion Boys State government education program. Remains undecided on where he will attend college, but intends to study biochemistry with a focus on pre-medicine.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship to me is about realizing that both your teammates and opponents aren’t just athletes, but a part of a family. Every high school athlete who has ever lived shares a bond. We all went through tough practices and even tougher games, amazing wins and bitter losses, but what mattered in the end is what we learned from it.”
Collin DeShaw, Holland West Ottawa
Placed fourth at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final in diving as a junior and 10th as a sophomore, and dove all four years of high school; also played two seasons of varsity football and varsity baseball as a junior. Served as captain of the football team in the fall. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and serving second as student representative to the Holland West Ottawa Board of Education; also participated in the Holland Area Mayor’s Round Table as a junior. Serving fourth year on student senate and as executive president after previously serving multiple terms as his class’ president. Participating in both Young Life and his church’s youth ministry for fourth years. Will attend the University of Michigan to study finance and economics and has signed a letter of intent to accept a diving scholarship.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is easy to practice when a team is winning and everything is going well. But the true test of sportsmanship is when a team is losing and everything seems to be going against them.”
Andrew James Fox, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
Played three seasons of varsity tennis and will play his second of varsity baseball in the spring. Played on tennis teams that won three Regional titles and the MHSAA LP Division 2 Final in the fall; he and his partner won the No. 2 doubles championship. Earned academic all-state recognition for baseball as a junior. Participated in Boy Scouts throughout high school and earned Eagle Scout award in 2013; selected for two summers to serve on Mackinac Island Governor’s Honor Guard. Playing fourth year in marching band and drumline and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Volunteered more than 300 hours of service during high school and serves as a board member for his church youth group. Will attend either Purdue University or the University of Michigan and study engineering.
Essay Quote: “Every sport has rules that each athlete must follow, but sportsmanship is a choice – a conscious decision an athlete makes to play the game with integrity, honor and respect. How athletes play the game, how they practice and how they treat their teammates and coaches defines their character.”
Michael Kenney, Detroit U-D Jesuit
Ran three seasons of varsity cross country and will run his fourth of track and field this spring; also played basketball two seasons and soccer as a freshman. Served as a captain of cross country and track and field varsities while earning all-District honors in the fall and all-Regional in the spring. Serving fourth year on student government and was co-chairperson and master of ceremonies for the Building Bridges to a Culture of Life conference in Royal Oak that drew more than 250 students and speakers. Volunteers for a number of projects and services including Gleaners Community Food Bank, Angela Hospice Home Care and the Special Olympics, and has served as a camp counselor at Madonna University’s basketball camp for three years. Remains undecided where he will attend college, but will study English and theology.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship allows athletes to win with grace, lose with dignity and celebrate the game with both fans and other athletes. Because no one can compete well without hours of preparing, sportsmanship is very important as it recognizes the inevitable discipline, time, endurance and pain necessary to participate in educational athletics.”
Matthew J. Orringer, Ann Arbor Skyline
Competed on the varsity swimming and diving team all four years of high school and held 10 of 11 varsity records heading into his final season. Earned multiple individual all-state honors in each of his first three seasons and is team captain this winter. Named to Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council as a sophomore and joined the foundation’s Board of Trustees this school year. Playing fourth year in concert and symphony band. Participating in second year of National Honor Society. Volunteers as a swim instructor to children fighting cancer and their siblings through Gold Group and as a Spanish language translator for the University of Michigan Migrant Outreach Clinic/Head Start program. Will attend Brown University and study either biology or neuroscience, and has committed to join the swimming and diving team.
Essay Quote: “It is very clear to me that there are many aspects of the sport that are far more important than wins and losses. Among them are the tight bonds of friendship and mutual respect that are fostered by a handshake across a lane marker after a race and that extend well beyond the pool or our time as athletes.”
Other Class A girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Kara N. Gehrke, Alpena; Rachel Menge, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Eliza Laramee, Berkley; Rachel DaDamio, Birmingham Seaholm; Sheridan Skopczynski, Gibraltar Carlson; Isabella Buck, Grandville; Allegra Lanae Berry, Greenville; Carson Vestergaard, Hartland; Kirsten Smith, Lansing Eastern; Meg Darmofal, Mason; Cydney Martell, Richland Gull Lake; Hayley Rogers, Salem; Courtney Rooker, St. Joseph; Ellie Lauren Taylor, Traverse City Central; Mikenna Ray, Traverse City West; Danielle Maxwell, Utica Ford; and Jessica Erickson, White Lake Lakeland.
Other Class A boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Stone Mathers, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Jacob W. Herbers, Battle Creek Lakeview; Eric Braun, Berkley; Justin Boogaart, Byron Center; David A. Posawatz, Clarkston; Sean Lang, East Grand Rapids; Mikey Roth, East Grand Rapids; Joseph Pummill, Garden City; Miles Kuperus, Grand Rapids Christian; Raymond Surya, Holland; Ryan Susterich, Muskegon Mona Shores; Shunhe Wang, Northville; Mark Luoma, Okemos; Ravin Randall, Port Huron; Benjamin Hill, Royal Oak; Alex Scott, Traverse City West; and Blake McComas, White Lake Lakeland.
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.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 3, and the Class B honorees were announced Feb. 10.
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The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,400 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.