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Scholars and Athletes 2014: Class A
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 18, 2014
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 25th 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 number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at halftime ceremonies of the Class C Boys Basketball Final game March 22 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: Paige Blakeslee, Gibraltar Carlson; Kirsten Avery Chambers, Riverview; Elizabeth Cowger, Fenton; Caroline Ann Hagan, East Lansing; Anna Haritos, Auburn Hills Avondale; Grace Kao, Okemos; Elianna Shwayder, Saline; Ryan S. Fischer, Grandville; Rami Kadouh, Dearborn; Cody James McKay, Utica Ford; Samuel A. Mousigian, Dearborn; Vikram Shanker, Midland Dow; Jalal Taleb, Dearborn Heights Crestwood; and Tanner Vincent, Novi.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class A Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Paige Blakeslee, Gibraltar Carlson
Will play her fourth season of varsity soccer this spring to go with three varsity seasons of basketball and two of volleyball. Has served as captain of five teams, including all three of her varsity squads, and helped the volleyball team to a District title in 2012. Earned all-District honors in soccer last spring. Serves as leader of the trumpet section of her marching band and earned its Maestro Performance Award; has played in marching band and symphonic band each for four years and jazz band for three years. Serves on executive board of school’s Marauder Captains Mentoring Program, and also founded and serves as president of her school’s Earth Club. Participates in National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Will attend Central Michigan University and study graphic design and illustration.
Essay Quote: “When I graduate, I will head off to college where I will be working with upwards of 20,000 other students. Just like my team, we will come from different backgrounds ... but we all have the same goal in mind. Good sportsmanship has taught me to accept people for who they are and to move past their differences. We are all on the same team; we need to focus on the same goal.”Â
Kirsten Avery Chambers, Riverview
Playing her fourth season of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity soccer this spring; also ran three seasons of varsity cross country and one of track and field. Earned all-league honors her first three seasons of soccer and all-state honorable mention in 2013, when she set her school single-season record for assists. Qualified for the MHSAA Finals in cross country in 2010. Serves as captain of the girls basketball team and has been named captain for soccer. Maintains a grade-point average higher than 4.0 and is in her third year in National Honor Society. Participated four years in student government including as class treasurer, four years in Diversity Club including as vice president and three years in Key Club including as secretary. Attended the Huron League Leadership Conference and Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Regional Youth Consortium. Volunteered for American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for four years. Will attend Adrian College and study microbiology.
Essay Quote: “Just one negative experience with poor sportsmanship can have a lasting impact in the lives of those exposed to the poor sportsmanship. Completely opposite of that, the same lasting impact can be obtained in situations in which there was positive sportsmanship displayed in educational athletics.”
Elizabeth Cowger, Fenton
Playing her third season of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of softball this spring; also ran three seasons of varsity cross country after playing freshman volleyball. Served as captain of cross country and basketball teams and will serve as softball captain. Earned softball all-state honorable mention as a junior and has earned all-league recognition in both basketball and cross country. Helped basketball team to a District championship in 2013. Served four years on student council including this year as all-school president, and also is serving for the second year as editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, Fenton InPrint, a 2012-13 winner of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association Spartan Award (its highest honor). Carries a 4.0 grade-point average and is participating in National Honor Society for the second year, serving as chair of the Teacher Appreciation Committee. Named Miss Fenton by her local Chamber of Commerce. Also participated on school’s LifeSmarts student business competition team that finished state runner-up. Will attend the University of Minnesota and study supply chain and operations management and finance.
Essay Quote: “(Sportsmanship’s) value encompasses much more than just a handshake at the end of a contest. It includes stepping up in a pressure situation, making individual sacrifices for your teammates and setting the best examples to those who look up to you.”
Caroline Ann Hagan, East Lansing
Ran four years of varsity cross country and will play her third season of varsity soccer this spring, also played varsity basketball as a junior and competes at a statewide level in figure skating. Qualified for the MHSAA Finals in cross country as both a freshman and sophomore and earned all-District recognition in soccer. Served as captain multiple seasons in soccer and basketball. Serving as student body president after two years as her class president as a sophomore and junior. Participating in National Honor Society for the third year and earned school’s Distinguished Scholar Award all four years. Participated in Young Life youth group four years and as a volunteer for the LINKS autism program, the Sparrow Foundation’s Women Working Wonders group and as a youth soccer coach. Will attend Michigan State University and study business and broadcast journalism.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship to me is not the amount of medals you win or state championships you bring home. It is about being with your teammates, knowing how to help them when they are down. Sportsmanship is about picking your friends up, giving hugs and high fives, so you both succeed.”
Anna Haritos, Auburn Hills Avondale
Ran three years of varsity cross country and will run her fourth with the varsity track and field team this spring, when she will serve as team captain. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in cross country twice; also twice finished among top eight in 300-meter hurdles at MHSAA Track and Field Finals and qualified twice as part of 3,200 relay teams. Participating in National Honor Society for the third year. Ranked as a top-10 member of the school’s Class Board all four years and also is a member of the French Honor Society. Participated four years in Greek School Club, including as class board president, and has served as a junior camp counselor at the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center and as an event organizer for Kids Against Hunger. Will attend the University of Michigan and study pre-medical with a major in chemistry and minor in classical studies-Modern Greek.
Essay Quote: “The athletes who respect the event create a contagious positive attitude because their love of the spirit of the game and pure drive illuminate the true nature of the sport. (Sportsmanship) lessons are about friendly competition: learning how to rely on opponents as a tool for self-improvement and not as a source that fuels negative emotions.”
Grace Kao, Okemos
Participated in her fourth season of varsity swimming and diving and holds one team, three league and four pool records. Helped team to four league meet championships and served as captain this fall. Earned all-state as part of two relays during career, and this fall also finished 10th in the 100-yard backstroke at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals. Earned academic all-state honors and a National AP Scholar award, also is a two-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as secretary. Participated on Science Olympiad team that qualified for the state tournament. Earned highest or superior performance ratings playing the viola and piano, respectively. Served as captain of ACTION Volunteer Club and started Chieftain Champs mentoring program to assist elementary students. Taught culture class for Lansing Chinese School and earned first place in Michigan Chinese Schools speech competition. Will attend Carnegie Mellon University and study computer science.
Essay Quote: “Sometimes we forget that everything is just a game. We get so buried in our thoughts of winning that we forget that at the end of the game, we are all just peers, and even friends. ... Everyone is playing for the fun of the sport and the feeling of accomplishment after all of the time and work put in.”
Elianna Miriam Johanna Shwayder, Saline
Ran four years of varsity cross country and will run her fourth with the track and field team this spring. Finished sixth and then fourth, respectively, the last two seasons in the Lower Peninsula Division 1 Cross Country Final after winning three Regional championships and two league titles. Earned individual league championships multiple years in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter track runs and was part of a 3,200 relay that placed among the top seven at the last three MHSAA LP Division 1 Finals. Ranks number one academically in her class and earned an AP Scholar with Distinction award while being named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award state female winner. Earned “Best Delegate” acknowledgements as part of her school’s Model United Nations club and represented her school as a delegate to the American Legion Auxiliary Michigan Girls State conference. Will attend Harvard University to study pre-medical while majoring in cultural anthropology or religious studies.
Essay Quote: “My team understands that sportsmanship is fundamental to our success as we compete for ourselves, for our team, but most of all, for each other. This attitude has been integral in holding us together in times of victory and defeat. We have learned to win with confident poise and lose with humble acknowledgement.”
Ryan S. Fischer, Grandville
Playing his third season of varsity hockey and also lettered in baseball and two seasons in football. Serving as captain of the hockey team and served as captain of his football team. Named to his hockey team’s leadership council and earned all-league honors as a junior, and earned academic all-league in baseball last spring. Served four years on the student government executive board and is a member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council. Carries a 4.0 grade-point average and is in his second year of National Honor Society. Serves on the Grandville High School Leadership Team and also serves on his church’s youth leadership council and mission trip and youth group retreat planning teams. Selected to attend the U.S. Military Academy Summer Leadership Experience and the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and intends to study aerospace engineering.
Essay Quote: “In almost any venture they choose to pursue after high school, students will find themselves in some form of competition. The manner in which they conduct themselves in these situations will have a direct impact on achieving their goals. By applying the principles of sportsmanship ... student athletes will find the success they seek, one handshake at a time.”
Rami Kadouh, Dearborn
Played three years of varsity football, will play his fourth this spring of varsity golf and also played two seasons of subvarsity basketball. Served as captain of both the varsity football and his subvarsity basketball teams, and earned all-league honorable mention and academic all-state in football. Served as his class president all four years of high school, and founded and served as president of his school’s Aspiring Medical Professionals club. Participated in Key Club four years and National Honor Society for two, and also on the city of Dearborn Youth Commission and as president of the Dearborn Rotary Youth Board. Earned national school and individual certification in school-based Enterprise Operations while participating in Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). Participated two years on the Center for Arab American Philanthropy Teen Grantmaking Initiative and earned a Sparky Anderson Youth in Philanthropy Award. Will attend the University of Michigan and study cell and molecular biology.
Essay Quote: “When in life it is up to the individual to choose between right and wrong, when it is necessary to tell the truth even if it brings about harsh ramifications, when in every occurrence we must respect and work with one another, it is in these moments essential to life that sportsmanship should and does find its place.”
Cody James McKay, Utica Ford
Played four years of varsity tennis and will play his second season of varsity golf this spring. Served as tennis team captain in the fall and earned all-league honors after being named team Most Valuable Player as a junior. Earned scholar-athlete honors all four years of tennis and anticipates the same for golf as he ranks second in his graduating class with a 4.13 grade-point average. Earned an AP Scholar award and is in his second year in National Honor Society. Participated four years in his school’s Interact Club community service group, including the last two years as president. Served as a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference representative in Ontario last spring and ranked among the top 10 students at the Utica Center for Math Science and Technology; also was selected to attend the University of Michigan Engineering Camp. Will attend the University of Michigan and study mechanical engineering.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship defines one’s character. Putting others’ feelings before your own selfish interests is the epitome of sportsmanship. ... Throughout my high school athletic career, I worked diligently to show that same respect toward my opponents; playing with integrity and humility, always winning or losing with a positive demeanor. Thankful for the competition, it was my goal to prove to my opponent I was a true gentleman, win or lose.”
Samuel A. Mousigian, Dearborn
Participating in his fourth varsity season of swimming and diving, to go with three varsity cross country seasons, one on the varsity soccer team, and an expected fourth on the track and field team this spring. Served as captain of both the swimming and diving and cross country teams. Qualified for the MHSAA Finals in swimming and cross country, earning all-area honors in both in 2013. Earned all-league honors in cross country three years and was named his team’s Most Valuable Player after both of the last two. Participated in National Honor Society the last two years, including as his chapter’s president, and also is editor of the yearbook that won the Walsworth Award of Excellence in 2012-13. Participated in both student council and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Earned a second place in the Science and Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit. Will attend the University of Michigan and study computer engineering.
Essay Quote: “My disposition and how I treat those around me will be the determining factor of my life’s overall success. For that reason, I’m grateful my athletic experiences have educated me in the value of sportsmanship. Our decisions reflect our character and can always have a lasting impact on those around us.”
Vikram Shanker, Midland Dow
Played four years of varsity tennis, earned all-state honors all four years with four Regional individual championships, two individual MHSAA Finals championships and as part of four MHSAA team champions. Served as team captain the last two seasons. Finished a combined 73-1 the last two seasons and ranks in the MHSAA record book for career and single-season doubles wins and consecutive doubles wins. Named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and earned an AP Scholar with Distinction award. Participated in Dow’s student union government four years and as a Mentor Center tutor the last two. Also participated two years on the varsity debate team, including as captain, and four on the school’s DECA team including as treasurer and then president. Expects to complete the highest Student Achievement Testing ranking for piano this year. Participated on regional champion Science Olympiad teams. Undecided on where he will attend college, but will study electrical engineering and computer science.
Essay Quote: “In both life and athletics, we encounter thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses, engage with all types of personalities and persevere through obstacles with hard work, determination and the support of those who are close to us. Sportsmanship provides a moral compass by which to guide our behavior and our demeanor on and off-court.”Â
Jalal Taleb, Dearborn Heights Crestwood
Played four seasons of varsity soccer and will play his second of varsity golf this spring; also ran two seasons of varsity track and field. Served as soccer captain the last two seasons as the team won District championships to cap both. Ran as part of league champion 3,200-meter relay teams as a freshman and sophomore and medaled at his golf league tournament as a junior; he will serve as captain of the golf team for the second season this spring. Served four years on his school’s student congress including this year as student body president. Participated in National Honor Society for three years and also buildOn for two years. Captained the quiz bowl team the last two years and serves as president of the Spanish Club. Also participates in Students Against Destructive Decisions and his school’s Link Crew board of directors, and was the senate majority leader during his American Legion Boys State conference. Will attend the University of Michigan and study biopsychology, cognition and neuroscience, and Spanish.
Essay Quote: “Honesty, respect, fairness, integrity and openness of the heart are important traits that a sportsman must portray. One who aspires to call himself a sportsman would never perform deception upon others; he should never cheat others and the game he loves.”
Tanner Vincent, Novi
Participating in his fourth season of swimming and diving and is serving as captain for the second season. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in three events in 2013 and four events in 2012, and finished eighth last season in Lower Peninsula Division 1 in the 200-yard individual medley. Holds school record in 100 butterfly. Participating in National Honor Society for the third year including this year as president, and participating in fourth year of Quiz Bowl and also as president this season. Also serves as class vice president. Named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and earned an AP Scholar with Distinction award. Volunteered as part of Novi’s city youth soccer program and as leader of his church’s middle school group. Attended the U.S. Air Force summer seminar and will attend the Air Force Academy. Intends to study history with a minor in philosophy before applying to medical schools after finishing his undergraduate programs.
Essay quote: “While sportsmanship is usually applied to acting decently toward an opponent, it has an even greater role within one’s own team. Sportsmanship can either bring a team together to finish the match or win the meet, or drive everyone apart. ... Sportsmanship is the glue which allows teams, especially on the high school level, to provide a place in which everyone can contribute.”
Other Class A girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Saige Tomczak, Bay City Central; Jessica Hacker, Bay City Western; Tatyanna Dadabbo, Bloomfield Hills Marian; Clare Nienstedt, Bloomfield Hills Marian; Tala Taleb, Dearborn Heights Crestwood; Mallory Beswick, Grand Haven; Claire Elise Borchers, Grand Haven; Joslyn Mae TenBrink, Jenison; Jessica Graves, Lowell; Gabrielle Gencheff, Marquette; Fiona B. Shea, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg; Kallisse R. Dent, Midland Dow; Rachel Barrett, Milford; Meghan Datema, Rockford; Molly Peregrine, Traverse City Central; Sarah O'Connor, Waterford Kettering; and Jenna Ciennik, Waterford Mott.
Other Class A boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Stone Manczak, Bay City Central; Zachary Segall, Berkley; Andrew Barton, Birmingham Seaholm; Jared Hagan, Dearborn Heights Crestwood; Brad King, Garden City; Kenneth Elkin, Grosse Pointe North; Chris Kruger, Holt; David Doyle, Linden; Craig Ekstrum, Marquette; David Walter III, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg; Nate Fisher, Midland; Trevor Denoyer, Petoskey; Kellen Scott Michael, South Lyon; Kyle Dotterrer, Traverse City Central; Devin Kimberlin, Walled Lake Northern; Mitchell Dennis, Walled Lake Western; and David J. Walczyk, Walled Lake Western.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 4, and the Class B honorees were announced Feb. 11.
Farm Bureau Insurance, one of Michigan's major insurers, has a statewide force of more than 400 agents serving more than 380,000 Michigan policyholders. Besides providing life, home, auto, farm, business and retirement insurance, the company also sponsors life-saving, real-time Doppler weather tracking systems in several Michigan communities.           Â
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 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.
![2023 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class C & D](/sites/default/files/2023-02/230207_SAA_2H.jpg)
2023 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class C & D
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 7, 2023
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.Â
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 34th year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 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 who can come from any classification.
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 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 25 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Saylar Cuthrell, Cass City; Laina Harger, St. Charles; Quinn Watts, Fowler; Brennan Cannaday, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic; Noah Etnyre, Plymouth Christian Academy; and Ethan Green, Kingston.
The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are Megan Roberts, Hillsdale Academy; Makennah Uotila, Ontonagon; Ryan McDonell, Bay City All Saints; and Amos Norland, Dollar Bay.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class C Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
(NOTE: If an athlete intended to play and was part of a spring sports team in 2020, that sport is counted among the athlete’s total although the season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
Saylar Cuthrell, Cass City
Played three seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her fourth of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of softball and compete in her third of track & field this spring. Led volleyball team to Division 3 Semifinals this past fall and helped basketball team to District title in 2021. Named all-state first team in softball, all-area in basketball and all-region in volleyball, and won Regional title in track to make MHSAA Finals in that sport. Earned academic all-state in volleyball and will graduate a three or four-year captain in three sports. Participating in second year as dual enrollment student. Served in various leadership positions including as student body president and president of Tuscola County Future Youth Involvement advisory council, and also participated in National Honor Society. Will attend Northwood University and study supply chain management.
Essay Quote: “Our (Semifinal) battle against Pewamo-Westphalia was soon to begin, and when the first whistle blew our student section cheered. What was so chilling about the student section was that it not only had Cass City kids but also the North Branch volleyball team as well. It wasn’t that we knew each other personally but simply because we both live in the thumb of Michigan and share that thumb pride. It was a feel-good statement and was heartfelt. What an amazing teaching moment for all in attendance.”
Laina Harger, St. Charles
Played two seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her third of varsity basketball and will play her third of varsity softball this spring. Led basketball teams to league and District championships, earning all-area honors in that sport and all-league recognition in volleyball. Served as team captain for both volleyball and basketball. Helped all three varsities to academic all-state honors. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth years of class council, student council and as part of Saginaw County Youth Ambassador program. Serving as NHS chapter and class council vice president. Earned National Merit Rural/Small Town Recognition. Also participating in second year of school Link Crew and third as part of Read Across America program. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study physical therapy.
Essay Quote: “As my future plans became clear, I realized that playing in college wasn't the best fit for me. Understanding this, I struggled to figure out what I would get from playing sports if my intentions weren't to play college anymore. … It took me four years to finally see that there is so much more to high school sports than getting to the next level. Sports enhance how you treat others, your resilience in tough situations, your leadership skills, and so much more.”
Quinn Watts, Fowler
Played two seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her second of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring; also played junior varsity golf this fall. Helped basketball team to back-to-back Division 4 Finals championships and volleyball team to back-to-back District titles and a Regional championship. Served as captain of both of those teams. Serving fourth year as student council president and also has served as president during four years on school’s Student Athletic Advisory Council. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and second of National Technical Honor Society. Served as 4-H club leader and earned multiple grand champion awards for showing cattle. Participated in two years of Business Professionals of America and made regional finals. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study biology on a pre-medical track.
Essay Quote: “A state championship trophy was what my team and I had to show for this season; however, no trophy could exceed the richness of the lessons I learned. … We chose to act with respect, kindness, and generosity towards our opponents and allowed our performance on the court, rather than the voice of our words, prove our worth.”
Brennan Cannaday, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
Played four seasons of varsity soccer, will play his third of varsity lacrosse this spring and also played junior varsity basketball as a sophomore. Earned multiple all-state honorable mentions for soccer in helping that team to league and District titles, and earned all-league in helping lacrosse team to multiple league titles and Regional Finals appearance. Served as soccer captain and will serve as lacrosse captain in the spring. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and previously served two years in student government including as class president. Participated in DECA throughout high school, earning multiple state championships, and posted top scores across all district and state competitions multiple times. Served as DECA vice president of membership and vice president of career development. Will attend Michigan State University and study psychology.
Essay Quote: “There is no truer form of sportsmanship than to be praised by your opponent. … I have made an active effort to acknowledge the successes of not only my teammates but also the other teams as well because of the effect that one comment had on me. My favorite thing to do after games is to walk over to the other team’s bench and meet the coach and players.”
Noah Etnyre, Plymouth Christian Academy
Played four seasons of varsity football and is wrestling fourth varsity season, both as part of cooperatives with Lutheran Westland, and will play fourth varsity season of baseball this spring. Qualified for MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals first three seasons and finished runner-up as junior. Earned all-state in football and helped that team to league title, and earned multiple all-state honors in baseball helping that team to multiple District championships. Set program records in football and wrestling and served as captain of all three teams; also earned academic all-state honors in all three. Named National Wrestling Coaches Association/U.S. Marine Corps Character and Leadership All-American. Took classes from Schoolcraft College as dual-enrolled student for two years. Participating in third years of National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society. Represented school on league leadership council. Will attend Calvin University and study biology.
Essay Quote: “(My Westland teammate) Jack and I share an intense affinity for competition and success, and this common desire presented itself in a garage gym, a local football field, and the 2021-22 athletic season. However, unlike most high school teammates, we never attended class in the same school building. … The importance of sportsmanship is understanding that a sport is so much more than a game. The game is simply there to bring people who need to be together, together.”
Ethan Green, Kingston
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, playing second season of varsity basketball and will play second season of varsity baseball and compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state and academic all-state in cross country, and all-league in track. Ran in three MHSAA Cross Country Finals and won two Regional titles in that sport, and won Regional title as part of track relay to make those Finals as well. Also helped baseball team to District title. Served or will serve as captain of all four teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth of student council and school leadership committee. Serving as class and NHS chapter president and will graduate as class valedictorian. Played four years in marching band and orchestra. Will attend Ferris State University and study optometry.
Essay Quote: “As good as it is to be competitive, character and respect towards others is so much more vital in life than having too big of an ego to show an act of sportsmanship. … Now when it's my turn on the court, I always thank our officials that are taking time away from their home and families, tell opposing coaches and players "good game," even after a loss. Another important thing I took away from this experience is that people are always watching, especially the youth.”
Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Alaina Andrews, Ottawa Lake Whiteford; Aziza Burgoon, Iron Mountain; Samantha Dietz, Watervliet; Kylie McGrath, Cass City; Abigail Meyer, Marlette; Tailor Onstott, Beal City; Claire Scholten, Charlevoix; Ruby Sierer, Clinton; and Danni Swihart, Hanover-Horton.
Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Riley DeSarbo, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central; Ty Kohlmann, New Lothrop; Grant Mason, Manistique; Andrew Mleczko, Madison Heights Bishop Foley; Brock Murphy, Menominee; Blake O'Connor, Maple City Glen Lake; Logan Pflug, Cassopolis; Dirk Rierson, Unionville-Sebewaing; and Seth Vanderwest, Kent City.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class D Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
(NOTE: If an athlete intended to play and was part of a spring sports team in 2020, that sport is counted among the athlete’s total although the season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
Megan Roberts, Hillsdale Academy
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country and played four seasons of varsity volleyball, playing fourth season of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned multiple all-state honors in track & field and cross country and all-state honorable mention in basketball, and academic all-state in cross country, volleyball and track. Helped 3,200 relay to Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals championship and owns school records in two events. Served as team captain of all four teams and twice represented school at league leadership conference. Earned National Merit Rural/Small Town Recognition. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and fourth of student council, serving as vice president of the latter as a senior. Participating in service club for fourth year, and second as president. Will attend Hillsdale College and study biology.
Essay Quote: “I have found that one of the greatest parts of sports in educational athletics is the friendships made both inside and outside of my team. Although you could become friends with an opponent off the court, most of my friendships were formed on the playing field, often after a time that good sportsmanship was displayed. … I come from a very competitive family and being able to compete in sports with other players who I both respect and respect me makes the sports I play a lot more enjoyable. Healthy competition with good sportsmanship makes sports fun for everyone.”
Makennah Uotila, Ontonagon
Ran three years of varsity cross country and played four of varsity volleyball, playing fourth season of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Helped track & field team to last two Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championships and basketball team to District title as junior. Earned all-state honorable mention in basketball and all-Upper Peninsula in cross country; also earned all-league in volleyball and won individual Finals title in long jump multiple seasons. Served as volleyball and basketball team captain. Participating in fourth year in student government and third as National Honor Society officer, serving as president of both, and also has served as secretary of Future Farmers of America chapter. Earned FFA District award for public speaking and attended American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program. Participating in fourth year of TANGO service group. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study biology with a concentration in natural resources.
Essay Quote: “I always felt as if I was kind to those on and off the court, but I have limited time left to consciously exercise this abundance of empathy as a senior athlete. Learning from the experience firsthand, kindness can change a mindset. In a setting that teaches so many lessons, kindness is a lesson that can be learned and taken with an athlete everywhere life takes them; I'll be taking sportsmanship with me.”
Ryan McDonell, Bay City All Saints
Played four seasons of varsity football, is playing his third of varsity basketball and competing in fourth of varsity bowling. Earned all-league and all-area honors in football and served as captain of football and basketball teams. Will graduate as class valedictorian. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth on student council, serving as NHS president and student council vice president. Participated in Youth Leadership Bay County and the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw’s Youth Encounter Service, both as a junior. Participating in fourth year of Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Club, serving as president. Coached at youth football and basketball camps. Will attend Michigan State University and study biology.
Essay Quote: I tore my ACL, needed surgery, and no sports for nine months. My senior year was finished, and it barely got started. … I was a captain but couldn’t play, how could I lead? But then I thought about my football family. The parents that thanked me for teaching their sons, and my teammates: the offense, the defense, the entire team had to reconfigure their positions to adapt in my absence. … My team was willing to do whatever they needed to do to be successful, not only for the team, but for me. The empathy from my teammates, the unselfishness, and their concern for me to prevail (off the field) was the truest example of sportsmanship I’ve ever experienced.”
Amos Norland, Dollar Bay
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, is playing third season of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state cross country honors all four years, helping his team to two Finals titles and a runner-up finish and winning the Upper Peninsula Division 3 individual championship as a senior. Earned all-state in multiple track events and helped that team win a Finals title as well. Earned all-league in basketball. Served as cross country team leader and basketball captain. Serving fourth year on student council and as president, and also serving as class president for fourth year. Participating in third year of National Honor Society, serving as chapter president, and serving third year on Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw, as director of resources. Playing fourth year in band and as saxophone section leader. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “As good as it feels to beat a rival basketball team or win a race, demonstrating good sportsmanship is valuable in a deeper way. Winning gives you a victory. Sportsmanship builds character, forms relationships, and provides you with important lifelong lessons. My cross country coach teaches us how to be respectful almost as much as he teaches us how to run. As a result, we have grown as runners, but more so, we have grown to show the values of being a good sport.”
Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Monique Brisson, Munising; Emma Case, Kinde North Huron; Kylie Quist, Athens; Macey Springer, Three Oaks River Valley; Kasandra Lynn Waldi, Chesterfield Austin Catholic; and Gabriella Wenzel, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Brody Appelgren, Hillman; James Blackburn, Martin; Caleb Diener, Hillsdale Academy; Caleb Munson, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary; Luke Walker, Clarkston Everest Collegiate; and Matthew Zammit, Marine City Cardinal Mooney.
The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 14, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 21.
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The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 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 1.3 million spectators each year.Â