Fifty-two athletes from Oxford High School’s winter sports program were recognized at the April 10 board of education meeting for being ‘Scholar Athletes? named to the All-Oakland Activities Association Academic Team.
A student becomes a scholar athlete by attaining a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.5 or higher as well as earning a varsity letter in the sport they participated in.
For boys basketball, Sophomore Griffin Ray, Juniors Bryce Clark, Alexander Hesse, Tyler Scott, and Senior Jacob Wysocki were all named scholar athletes.
Other highlights on the season included Junior Devote Bandoo and Senior Michael Censullo being named OAA All-league.
Scholar athletes for girls basketball includes sophomores Cherilyn Banas, Jaynee Butkiewicz, Skye Donaldson and Jessica Murphy; Juniors, Darien Bandel, Victoria Bearse, Samantha Medici, Alicia Vasquez and Seniors Shelby Davis, Kelsey Harrison, Riley Hayes, Miranda Murphy and Kimberly Sellers.
‘I was very fortunate to work with a group of young ladies that were outstanding this year. We were 16-6 overall,? said Girls Head Coach Steve Emert. ‘We lost the district championship to Clarkston, which still bothers me and we were 13-3 in the White Division which has a lot to do with these three girls we have here (Shelby Davis, Jessica and Miranda Murphy.)?
Davis was named All-league OAA for two years straight and MVP (Most Valuable Player) team award for the past two years. Miranda Murphy and her sister Jessica were also named All League-OAA and given the MVP team award. Jessica was also selected to the ‘Reaching Higher? program by Basketball Coaches of Michigan, which places her in the top 125 players in the state.
‘Our team ended up for Team Academic All State, sixth (in the state) with a team GPA of 3.7,? noted Emert.
Scholars athletes for Boys Bowling was Sophmore Andrew Pappas. For Girls Bowling, Sophomore Alyssa Hurlburt; Junior Ashley Miller; and Seniors, Brooke Harris and Caitlyn Wroblewski.
While neither team made it to states the Boys Bowling won the majority of their matches, and the girls only lost four matches throughout the year to Clarkston, Lake Orion and Farmington. Wroblewski was also the top 11 bowler in her district and nominated All-State.
‘One thing I thought was remarkable was we have the Collier Lanes which Oxford and Lake Orion share and both teams did senior night together,? Watson said. ‘I thought (that) was a really remarkable thing and a really good show of sportsmanship.?
Sophomores Marissa Biggie, Ashlynn Calka, Emilia Paese; Juniors, Marissa Reuehl, Kiersten Walleman and Seniors, Ashton Hulbert and De’Andrea McDonald-Cole were all scholar athletes.
Courtney Clavet and Taylor Barrett were named OAA All-League as well as First Team All-District along with Peyton Colling and Melanie Cappell. Second Team All-District included Kelsey Seawright, Halie Byron and Brijana Jackson. All District Honorable Mention were Ale Lozano and Emily Springstube. Clavet also made All-Region Honorable Mention.
‘We had a really great season this year and we’re district runner up, regional qualifier. We got moved up to the OAA Red the highest, hardest division and they did really well,? said Cheer Coach Melissa McClain. ‘The OAA Red had four of the top state teams in Division 1, so it was very competitive for our team that finished district runner up.?
For Boys Ice Hockey, Junior Alexander Schlueter and Senior Adam Pardonoff made the scholar athlete list and Seniors Brennen Orr and Connor Novack were named OAA All-League.
Scholar Athletes for Boys and Girls Skiing include Sophomores, Lars Joergens-Kokate and Tyler Kwapis; Juniors, Spencer Christen and Gregory Schultz and Seniors Abagail Wrobel, Alyssa Wysocki and Kirsten Zielinski.
Scholar athletes for Boys Swim & Dive were Sophmores Benjamin Hubbard, Eric Patrell, Chad Scriber and Jared Tasch; Juniors Lewis Marshall, Erick Vandecar and Seniors Jarred Butler and Michael Tuski.
Butler and Tuski were named All-State Academic. Butler was also Senior Captain and state qualifier in the 200 Free, the 100 Free, the 200 Free Relay, and the 400 Free Relay, as well as 12 in the state in the state in the 100 free and 13 in the state in the 200 free.
Senior Corey Jones was Captain, state qualifier in the 200 Free Relay, first alternate in the 200 Medley Relay and first alternate in the 400 relay.
Junior Marco Campagiorni was Regional Diving Championship Qualifier. Junior Blake Hibdon was state qualifier in the 200 Medley Relay, The 200 Free Relay, and the 400 Free Relay. Vandecar was state qualifier in the 200 Medley Relay, the 200 Individual Medley, the 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay.
Sophomore Cheyne Stresky was state qualifier in the 200 Medley Relay, the 500 Freestyle, the 100 Backstroke and the 400 Free Relay. Freshmen Sean Terry was first alternate for the 200 Free Relay and second alternate for the 200 Medley Relay and third alternate for the 400 Free Relay. Freshmen Armando Vega was state qualifier in the 200 Medley Relay, second alternate in the 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay.
‘We have a lot of talent on our team,? said Swim Coach Jaclyn Rank. ‘We moved up to the white division this year and we had a winning record. I think we did a lot better than people thought we would with the bumping up. We’ll be moving three valuable boys (Butler, Jones and Tuski), but we’re ready to see what the others can do for us next year.?
Scholar Athletes for Boys Wrestling includes Sophmores Collin Campbell, John Hassenzahl and Noah Kinne and Seniors Daniel Curtis and Thomas Spicuzza.
Curtis was named All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and was an OAA Champion and All-State along with fellow Senior, Rocco Borg who was All-Oakland County First Team.
Juniors Benjamin Line was All-Oakland County Honorable Mention and state qualifier, Wesley Maskill was All-Oakland County Second Team and All-State, Edwin Schlickenmyer was All-Oakland County Second Team, OAA Champion and All-State and Zachary Wood was All-Oakland County Honorable Mention, OAA Champion and state qualifier. Freshmen Alex Hrisopoulos was All-Oakland County Second Team, OAA Champion and All-State.
The team overall was OAA Red Division Champs.
Also recognized by Oxford Bridges Principal Mike Schweig was Senior Alana Whims.
‘Alana has been on the honor roll for five semesters at Oxford Bridges and she has been volunteering at the Oxford Public Library for over two years and served on the Teen Advisory Board,? Schweig said. ‘She helped cofound ‘A Taco Central Club? and ‘We Cause Scenes Improv Club.? Alana will be graduating in June from Bridges and has also scored an impressive 27 on her ACT Test.?
Meanwhile Leonard Elementary Principal Paul McDevitt also recognized Fifth grader Evan Covert who was Leonard’s Spelling Bee Champion and represented Oxford at the Oakland County Championships.
‘He didn’t qualify for nationals this year,? McDevitt said. ‘But he was our champion.?
As far as the scholar athletes go, Watson said it’s the whole reason why they have an athletic program, ‘to encourage scholarships and athleticism.?
‘You’ll notice the common trend that many of these kids that received honors are also scholar athletes,? Watson added. ‘We do think the two go hand in hand.?