Scholars & Athletes 2019: Class C & D
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 4, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 11 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 30th 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 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.
Each of the scholarship recipients will be honored at a halftime ceremony during the Class C Boys Basketball Final, March 16, at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing. Commemorative medallions will be given to the finalists in recognition of their accomplishments.
The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Rachel Allen, Mason County Central; Precious Delos Santos, Indian River Inland Lakes; Lauren Freeland, Kent City; Riley Poupore, Iron Mountain; Trey Feldeisen, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Dane Smitz, Roscommon; and Alexander VanDeWeghe, Ithaca.
The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are: Abbey Bullis, Peck; Samantha Somers, Mackinaw City; Brendan LeClaire, Dollar Bay; and Ryan Yahner, McBain Northern Michigan Christian.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class C Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Rachel Allen, Mason County Central
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state recognition in basketball and track and all-league in cross country, in addition to academic all-state or all-league honors in all three sports. Served as basketball captain three years and helped team to District title in 2018. Participating in fourth year of National Honor Society and served as class and student council vice president both for three years. Earned MCC’s HG Bacon Award for high academic success through all three trimesters her first three years of high school and was invited to leadership summit at Grand Valley State University as a junior. Has participated in a number of volunteer service projects throughout high school and this year is taking part in in-the-field clinical rotations as part of Allied Health Technology course. Will attend Calvin College and study speech/language pathology.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is frequently thought to be how you present yourself outwardly on the court or the field. I believe sportsmanship is much more. It is the person who puts the team first, yet constantly strives to better themselves. Sportsmanship truly shines in the person you are behind the scenes.”
Precious Delos Santos, Indian River Inland Lakes
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will play her fourth season of varsity softball and run fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-league honors in cross country, track and softball. Started for MHSAA Finals Division 4 champion softball team in 2017 and runner-up in 2016, helped cross country teams advance to MHSAA Finals twice and served as captain of basketball and softball teams. Participating in fourth year of student council and has served as president, and participated in three years of band including as drum major. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and robotics and serves as a peer tutoring mentor. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study neuroscience.
Essay Quote: “I believe sportsmanship is more than just lifting an opponent from the ground or giving respect when the opponent becomes injured – or maybe even respecting the game and being willing to shake the opposing teams’ hands after. … In (my) case, I believed helping another person gave me a greater feeling that finishing the race. I felt (that) if I was in the same situation as the girl (I helped), she would’ve done the same for me.”
Lauren Freeland, Kent City
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of varsity cross country and will run her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state all four years of cross country and five times in track, and earned individual league and Regional championships in both. Helped all three teams to league championships and basketball team to Regional title in 2018 and District title in 2016. Served as captain in basketball and cross country and holds school records in cross country and track. Earned academic all-state honors in cross country and track. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and has assisted in a number of youth athletics activities as a coach, administrator and official; also served as a teacher’s assistant in summer reading program. Participating in fourth year of youth group. Will attend Michigan State University and study business.
Essay Quote: “The most amazing thing about high school sports are the friendships you can make and the impact you can have on someone else. There are very few other places in life (where) you can have a strong bond with someone through pain. … How true it is that we all, as runners, are able to come together as friends because we understand the work one another has put in.”
Riley Poupore, Iron Mountain
Playing fourth year of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity soccer and run her second of track & field this spring; also played two seasons of varsity volleyball. Served as team captain of volleyball, basketball and soccer teams multiple seasons and earned all-league honors in basketball and soccer. Ran on MHSAA Finals championship track relay team and owns school and league records for single-season soccer goals. Participating in second year of Iron Mountain Honor Society and fourth on Iron Mountain/Kingsford Youth Advisory Committee, and serving as president of latter this school year. Also participating in fourth years of key club and varsity club (as president of both) and served two years as student council representative. Served as group or team building leader for North Dickinson Schools Leadership Conference for two years and as youth leader for youth summit conference for three years. Will attend Central Michigan University and study pre-medicine.
Essay Quote: “How could a player from the other team, a team that my team was trying to beat, say something so kind, so moving, in such a tense situation? How could this girl from the other team know what I needed at that moment? … That small gesture has instilled in me the true definition of sportsmanship.”
Trey Feldeisen, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and will play his fourth of varsity lacrosse this spring. Served as captain of both teams. Earned two MHSAA Finals individual flight championships and contributed to two team tennis championships and two runner-up finishes. Earned all-state recognition in both tennis and lacrosse. Participating in fourth year of forensics and has helped team to two state championships and one runner-up finish. Earned multiple letters for service from the United Way of Washtenaw County and participated in medical service trips to Peru, Haiti and Kenya. Participating in third year of Model United Nations club and as secretary of training, and participating on inaugural leadership committee for school’s STEM society. Serving as youth representative to church’s staff-parish committee and as a cabinet member on Regional Youth Council. Participated in brain cancer research through University of Michigan. Will attend Washington University in Missouri and is still considering what he will study.
Essay Quote: “There are many opponents we face who have not played tennis since they were in preschool, and who (do) not have the skill that we as a team do. These matches are the ones that are most important to us and our coaches. We always push ourselves to win the ‘right’ way. This first and foremost means to show our opponents respect on and off the court.”
Dane Smitz, Roscommon
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played three of varsity football; will play fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-league honors in all three sports and all-state in football, and helped baseball team to District championships as a sophomore and junior. Served as captain of all three teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as chapter vice president, and serving third year on Youth Advisory Council. Participating in fourth year of quiz bowl and this year as captain, and also participating in second year of interact club and fourth with church youth group. Earned a number of school academic honors and honorable mention for wood shop from Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society. Served as student leader of autism awareness group. Will attend Aquinas College and study pre-dental.
Essay Quote: “Always looking up to the older kids, I dreamed about being as good as they were at sports and representing their families as well as our community. As a captain, I know that even more focus is put on me as a student-athlete in our community. Whether it be handing over the ball to a referee after a touchdown or holding a door open for an elderly couple at a restaurant, small acts like these are what dictate the way future students and athletes will act at my school.”
Alexander VanDeWeghe, Ithaca
Will run his fourth season of varsity track & field this spring, and is a two-time all-stater and three-time MHSAA Finals qualifier. Served as team captain as a junior. Serving second year as student council president, fourth as Model United Nations team captain and third as quiz bowl team captain, and also as an executive board member for National Honor Society in his second year participating in the chapter. Earned all-league honors for quiz bowl and Model UN and recognition for the latter at competitions in Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis. Named Michigan Council for the Social Studies “Student of the Year.” Playing second year in school jazz band and played three as part of marching band. Participating in church youth group for fourth year. Will attend University of Michigan and study environmental engineering.
Essay Quote: “Every action I take during a competition, or even practice, is being observed and absorbed by those around, especially younger children who are easily impacted. Ultimately, the sphere of influence as an athlete is often significantly larger than we realize, and it is vital to be conscious of our actions in sports to ensure that the impact we leave on those around us is a positive one.”
Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Sarah Barnes, Houghton Lake; Megan Dopheide, Lawton; Elizabeth O'Hotzke, Manchester; Joslyn Muth, Manistique; Jordan Cooper, Saranac; Thea Johnson, Saugatuck; Lillian Bambacht, Union City; and Jordan Craven, Whitmore Lake.
Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Brian Goetz, Blissfield; Timothy Marvin, Byron; Noah Waldron, Concord; Jared Swiontek, East Jackson; Jack Sumners, Marcellus; Logan Marshall, Marlette; Logan Solgat, Marlette; Drew Ward, Saranac; and Nathan Huizar, Vassar.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class D Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Abbey Bullis, Peck
Playing her third season of varsity basketball and finished her second of varsity volleyball in the fall; will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring. Earned all-league honors in all three and helped basketball and softball teams to league titles. Served as captain of all three teams at least two seasons. Will graduate having completed nine college classes through dual enrollment and is participating in her third year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth years on math academic games and quiz bowl teams and serving her fourth as her class vice president and as part of Sanilac County Youth Advisory Council. Participates in various volunteer efforts and earned President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award. Graduated from Hugh O’Brian (HOBY) leadership program and earned HOBY Leadership Certificate of Recognition. Will attend Oakland University and study mathematics.
Essay Quote: “I try to be a positive role model for the underclassmen at my school. When they are watching in the stands, I would like them to understand that sports are important, but how you carry yourself and treat others on the court is just as important. … Someone told me that people know me for my athletic ability and accomplishments, but that people remember me for the way I play the game and my positive attitude – win or lose. If this is true, I feel this is the best compliment I could be given.”
Samantha Somers, Mackinaw City
Playing third season of varsity basketball and ran her fourth of varsity cross country in the fall; will play her fourth of varsity softball this spring. Earned all-conference honors in all three sports and academic all-league in basketball and cross country. Served as captain of all three teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as president, and has served as class president all four years of high school. Also serving third year on Straits Area Youth Advisory Council. Plays in concert and jazz bands and earned multiple high ratings, and earned multiple placings as part of Science Olympiad team. Participates in yearbook and Random Acts of Kindness Club. Will attend Wayne State University and study health science.
Essay Quote: “Educational athletics has taught me to be kind to others for no other reason than to be kind. For example, you do not have to high five other runners at the end of a race or help an opponent up when they fall in basketball, but you do it without thinking of a reward for doing it. You could say it is “the right thing to do,” which is said a lot – and although it is true, this explanation is not meaningful. I enjoy being courteous towards teammates and opponents alike because it spreads positivity even in the heat of competition.”
Brendan LeClaire, Dollar Bay
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played three of varsity football, and will run his fourth of track & field and play his third of varsity golf in the spring. Also ran varsity cross country as a freshman and sophomore. Earned all-league honors in football and all-state in cross country, and served as team captain in basketball, football and track. Owns four school track records and is team’s all-time leading point scorer; also holds school record in cross country and helped basketball team to Class D Semifinals in 2018. Serving fourth year as class president and on Student Leadership Committee, and participating in second year of National Honor Society, serving as president of SLC and NHS chapter as well. Earned first place in woodworking from Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study engineering.
Essay Quote: “I attend a school in a small community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a student athlete in this setting, sportsmanship plays an important role, not only on the court or field, but also in the community. Our community is so small, I have had to compete against friends and relatives, at times. Always focusing on being a good opponent has guaranteed those friendships and family ties remain strong. How I’ve had to interact with people on the court has taught me to be the best person I can be in my community.”
Ryan Yahner, McBain Northern Michigan Christian
Played four seasons of varsity soccer and will run his fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-conference honors in both sports and served as captain of both teams; helped soccer team to District title this past fall. Participating in fourth years on student council and as part of school’s praise team, and second of National Honor Society – and serving as president of all three this school year. Also participating in fourth years of band/choir and high school musical, and earned a first-place regional finish in forensics as well as various pins for musical performances. Will attend Grand Valley State University to study general education, with the aspiration to then attend a seminary.
Essay Quote: “Now more than ever, young people need to hear that they are valuable and vital to their community, and educational athletics are a fantastic means to do so. Young people should be able to count on educational athletics to be a safe place; this is a huge part of sportsmanship. … Sportsmanship is important to educational athletics because it helps maintain a healthy and positive playing environment, and it creates a safe place for young athletes to grow and see their value through each other’s play.”
Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Keagan Fischer, Bellaire; Lyndsi Wolfe, Fulton; Natalie Woodland, Lansing Christian; Scout Nelson, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Jessie Rieth, Three Oaks River Valley; and Julia Diskin, West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy.
Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Jake Lane, Climax-Scotts; William Newbold, Frankfort; John Slivka, Manistee Catholic Central; Noah Krepostman, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Brendan Zeien, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; and Brandon Scheurer, Portland St. Patrick.
The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 12, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 19.
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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 1.4 million spectators each year.
Answers from the Athletes
By
Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
May 22, 2014
By Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
MHSAA Student Advisory Council members were asked their opinions on several of the current issues facing the MHSAA Junior High/Middle School Committee and the MHSAA JH/MS Task Force. Students also shared experiences from their junior high/middle school days and from participation with non-school teams. Following is a sampling of responses:
Length of Contests and Seasons
Based on your junior high/middle school experiences, would you favor an increase in the number of contests/events that a junior high/middle school is allowed to play? Would you favor longer game times?
Kiersten Mead, Saginaw Swan Valley: “I personally don't believe that longer seasons are necessary. In middle school, student athletes are just starting to learn how to balance sports and school, so I think that the season time is already pretty reasonable.
“I do, however, believe that longer games would be really beneficial to all ages. It would allow more students to play and participate.”
Jonathan Perry, McBain Northern Michigan Christian: “When I was playing, I wish my season would have been longer, but it is at a reasonable length. It would be harder on parents having a middle school player and a high school player, but it would get you more ready for a high school-length schedule.
“The games are at a reasonable length also. The one benefit of having more games and longer games is that more kids get to play who otherwise might not if they had a shorter game or season.”
Connor Thomas, Marlette: “As a player, I would be totally in favor. If I were an adult, I would say no because of the traveling. As for the lengths of games, again, I’d favor it as a player. But with schools that have A and B teams for both grades, that could be a late night.”
Kristen Law, Bloomfield Hills Andover: “I really enjoyed playing in middle school, and I would have loved to be able to play more. Increasing the length of games might depend on the sport. For tennis, from what I remember, the matches were a shortened version of what we play in high school, and I thought they were appropriate given the level of the majority of the players that were competing.”
Zack Nine, Pinconning: “Based on my middle school sports experience, I would favor an increase in the number of contests and a longer game time. These changes would give athletes who do not get much playing time a chance to gain more experience. I also believe that more games and a longer game length would keep our youth in better shape and better prepare them for high school athletics through an easier transition.”
Mandy Paull, Cheboygan: “I think that middle school sports should be allowed to play more games, but I do not think that the length of games should be increased.”
Coby Ryan Manistique: “I would favor an increase in the number of contests. The seasons are quite short and go by too quickly, in my opinion.
“I would also favor longer game times. With this, more kids will get the opportunity to play, and it will also make the travel and the time invested more worthwhile.”
6th-Grade Participation
Is it time to also include 6th-graders at junior high/middle schools under MHSAA guidelines? Consider enrollments, sports and participation with 7th- and 8th-graders.
Eliza Beird, Holland Black River: “I would favor the addition of 6th-graders in all sports. This would allow for the possibility of two teams in some sports and it gets the kids playing with people they might be playing with for the rest of their high school careers.
“It is definitely easier to put 6th-graders with 7th- and 8th-graders at a smaller school because one grade usually won’t out-number another grade. In a big school, a bunch of 8th-graders will try out for the team because more go to a school. In larger schools, 6th-graders would have a chance to make only a 6th-grade team.
Hayden Smith, Hamilton: “I think it’s time for 6th-graders to be included, but not in all sports; just the non-contact ones. The various sizes of schools would make it easier for some to compete and harder for others, but it shouldn’t matter overall. All schools’ 6th-graders should be able to play. I think that would be a great experience for them.”
Mandy Paull, Cheboygan: “I think that 6th-grade students should be able to play middle school sports. Sports are a good way to initiate incoming elementary students to the middle school as well as provide a fun, constructive activity that they can participate in with their friends, and a way to make new ones as well.
“The 6th-grade athletes should only be mixed with the 7th and 8th grade in cross country and track, and have their own teams for sports like volleyball and basketball, just as the 7th- and 8th- graders do. Only non-contact sports should mix all grades.”
Connor Thomas, Marlette: “Coming from a smaller community, I think the MHSAA should include 6th-graders in only the schools that need them, such as small Class D schools. They should be allowed to play with 7th- and 8th-graders as long as the schools need them, and aren't bringing them up to have a ‘dream team.’ Enrollment has to be a factor; the schools should be struggling for numbers in order to have a 6th-grader on a team.”
Zack Nine, Pinconning: “I believe that 6th- graders should not be held accountable to MHSAA regulations. My opinion largely stems from the fact that not every school includes 6th grade as part of its middle school. I know mine does not. It would be difficult to regulate the participation of 6th-graders in some schools (because they're considered middle schoolers) while other schools cannot let their 6th-grade elementary students compete.”
Jonathan Perry, McBain Northern Michigan Christian: “I think all sports should be included if 6th-graders were allowed to play. I think it’s more helpful to small schools, but wouldn’t limit it based on enrollment. I go to a small school; last year my school did not have enough kids for a 7th-grade team.”
Kiersten Mead, Saginaw Swan Valley: “I understand the monetary considerations schools may have with 6th-grade teams through the MHSAA, but I do believe that the MHSAA should start setting guidelines for the schools which see it as feasible. Middle schools don't have to go through the MHSAA, but I believe that by including 6th-graders, it may generate a positive reaction from member schools.
“I feel like as long as the coaches don't see a major physical disadvantage to it, then it would be okay for 6th-graders to participate with the 7th and 8th grade in all sports. Non-contact sports would most definitely be alright, because in high school, you compete against all ages anyways.
Coby Ryan Manistique: “I believe that it is time for 6th-graders to get the chance to participate in athletics, regardless of school size. By choice, a child should always be given the opportunity to be active, stay out of trouble, learn about teamwork and leadership, and build a foundation for fundamentals that will be used for the rest of their athletic careers. Many schools do not have locally run programs, and the MHSAA running it would give thousands more kids a chance to play.”
Kristen Law, Bloomfield Hills Andover: “When I was in 6th grade, I was competing against 7th- and 8th-graders (on community teams), and I probably would have been upset if I couldn't compete against them. Sixth-grade participation should definitely be allowed in non-contact sports, but I don't know too much about contact sports and the risk of injury to 6th-graders if it were to be allowed.
“I don't think the size of the school should determine whether or not 6th-graders can compete against 7th- and 8th-graders.”
Community and Club Sports
If you played community sports during your JH/MS years, how did the experience compare with school sports? If you could have played MHSAA-based sports in 6th grade, would you have done so?
Emileigh Ferguson, Bear Lake: “I played little league softball prior to middle school, until 5th grade. I prefer MHSAA sports over other kinds because they are more serious and organized. My school has basketball for 5th and 6th grade so we don’t play with middle school.”
Eliza Beird, Holland Black River: “I played soccer and basketball from Kindergarten through 6th grade and still play club sports. My outside-of-school sports tended to be a bit better.
“If there were MHSAA sports in 6th grade, I would have definitely played basketball. I already played with a bunch of girls from school so playing for my school would not have been much different. Plus it’s fun to play for my school. I probably would not have played soccer because the club team I was on at the time was quite a bit better than the school team.”
Hayden Smith, Hamilton: “In my experience (community sports) was somewhat similar, but still different. School sports weren't coached by parents anymore; the best players got to start. Also, it was different in that a lot of kids stopped playing; only the ones who really liked it kept playing. However, it was similar because there were always people (parents and kids) complaining about playing time. It was similar in that there was always a strong community at your back.
“If I could have played school sports earlier, I would have done so because of the aspect of representing my community and school. I think I still would have done the travel baseball stuff, but that is always in the summer.”
Mandy Paull, Cheboygan: “I played girls little league softball from 3rd to 5th grade, and house hockey from 1st grade to 9th. In middle school the sports were more serious and I enjoyed them much more. As a team we would dress up for our games, and we got to travel on a bus to away games. There was a much stronger bond and all the players were more serious. The teams were also better in middle school due to tryouts.
“I definitely would have played middle school sports in 6th grade as opposed to community teams.”
Jonathan Perry, McBain Northern Michigan Christian: “I did not notice a huge difference between community sports and school sports. The big difference in community sports is that you get a wide range of kids, not just the kids in your school. I like playing the school sports better because I knew that the kids I was playing with were who I would play high school sports with.
“I would have played school sports in 6th-grade or earlier if the option was there. A lot of community sports I played on (were) all about winning. The school team sports provide learning sessions for both sports and life. It's an extension of the classroom. I saw that more with school sports than community sports.”
Kiersten Mead, Saginaw Swan Valley: “I did not play anything prior to middle school, but in 6th grade I was a part of an AAU volleyball team since my school did not offer a 6th-grade team. I also bowled in leagues at a few different bowling alleys.
“I definitely would have played with my school versus community. We really didn't have a solid AAU program in our area so the school team was much more organized. I found that the volleyball teams through my school were much more beneficial to me. We practiced on a regular basis, and it was nice to play with girls that I was already friends with. We were able to grow more as a team and gain a greater sense of unity. I believe that my school team made me a better athlete as well.”
Kristen Law, Bloomfield Hills Andover: “I enjoyed being able to play sports with my friends in middle school, but I also liked the competitiveness of the community- based sports I participated in. The middle school sports atmosphere didn't feel as competitive.
“When I was in 6th grade, I played tennis on the middle school team, but it was not affiliated with the MHSAA.”