Editor’s note: Josh VanDyke of MLive and the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board of directors, contributed to this story.
MUSKEGON – Each year, a Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame subcommittee selects Scholar-Athlete Award finalists and winners from a list of nominees submitted by area schools.
One senior female and one senior male from each Muskegon-area school is nominated for the award.
Scholar-Athlete Award winners for 2023 will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony and banquet Saturday, June 10, at VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center in downtown Muskegon.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are available to the public and cost $50. You may purchase tickets by CLICKING HERE.
Here are the female Scholar-Athlete Award nominees, finalists and award winner for 2023:
Notes:
- The numbers next to sports listed denote years of high school participation in that sport, not varsity letters.
- Muskegon-area schools not represented below did not submit nominations.
AWARD WINNER
SOPHIA HEKKEMA, REETHS-PUFFER
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Soccer (3, plus COVID year), Track and Field (1)
GPA: 3.861
Athletic honors/awards: Set school record for goals scored in a season (23), finished with 67 career goals scored, was named team MVP three times, won the Golden Boot Award (most goals scored) three times, won the Winger Award (most assists) three times, three-time all-conference selection, three-time all-district selection, two-time all-region selection, two-time MHSSCA all-state selection, and was a first-team selection in the 2022 MLive Muskegon Dream Team in soccer; two-time all-conference selection, two-time all-area selection in volleyball; two-time All-State selection, four-time all-conference selection, four-time member of the MLive Muskegon Dream Team and surpassed 1,000 career points scored in basketball.
Academic honors/awards: Gold Cord Recipient (Summa cum laude), National Honor Society Member (Montieth-Richard Chapter), Honor Roll, academic All-State in basketball (2022, 2023) and volleyball (2022).
Extracurricular activities: Student council trustee, three-time member of IMPACT Club, peer tutor, RPHS Student Leadership (2023), organized, fundraised and led a team of students to honor local veterans during a girls and boys varsity basketball game; participated in community outreach to a local defense business by presenting need for service dogs for a veteran’s organization; Feeding America Food Truck Volunteer (7 years); volunteer at youth basketball camps; volunteer at youth soccer camps.
Future plans: Attending Michigan State University with plans to pursue a degree in psychology.
FINALISTS
LEXIE BOWERS, KENT CITY
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (3).
GPA: 3.89.
Athletic honors/awards: All-area, all-conference, all-district, all-region (volleyball); all-area (three-times), all-conference (two-times), first team All-State by Associated Press (twice), BCAM Best of the Best, team captain, 1,000-point scorer, third all-time leader scorer at Kent City (1,324), holds record for most points in a season (507), 225 three-pointers made in career (Top 16 in Michigan) in basketball; all-area, all-conference, all-district and team captain (softball).
Academic honors/awards: National Honor Society, Academic All State (Volleyball), Team Academic All State (basketball), BCAM Outstanding Senior Student Athlete Award (Basketball).
Extracurricular activities: Volunteered at youth basketball camps, youth volleyball camps, field day events for elementary kids, reads to elementry kids.
Future plans: Attending Northwood University to continue basketball career and pursue degree in Sports Business and Management.
***
EMMA GILLARD, RAVENNA
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (3, plus COVID year).
GPA: 4.04.
Athletic honors/awards: All-Conference in basketball and softball; all-area in basketball and softball, all-district and all-region in softball; first team MLive Muskegon Dream Team selection in softball.
Extracurricular activities: Class President, Sentinel of FFA Chapter, National Honor Society- Secretary, Unified Strength (PE) Lifter of the week, Volunteered at Church in the Operation Christmas Child Program.
Future plans: Attending Ferris State to pursue a degree in nursing and continue softball career.
***
NATALIE PANNUCCI, NORTH MUSKEGON
Sports: Volleyball (4), Soccer (4), Basketball (2).
GPA: 4.0.
Athletic honors/awards: Two-time all-area, two-time all-district, all-conference, all-region, first team all-state, 2022 CatchMark SportsNet Player of the Year in soccer; two-time third team All-State, honorable mention All-State, three-time all-region, three-time all-area, three-time all-conference, senior captain, 2021 CatchMark SportsNet Player of the Year runner-up in volleyball; North Muskegon’s Athletic West Michigan Showcase Representative.
Academic honors/awards: National Honor Society; academic all-conference in soccer (4), volleyball (4) and basketball (2); academic all-state in soccer and volleyball.
Extracurricular activities: Two years in Environmental Club as committee leader, three years in Youth Mentoring (two years on leadership council), youth soccer coach, youth basketball coach, Prom Committe, Leadership Council Club, Kids Food Basket volunteer, and Red Cross Blood Drive volunteer.
Future plans: Attending Hope College to continue volleyball career and plans to major in either biology or chemistry and hopefully start a career in pharmacy.
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EMMA PETERSON, MONTAGUE
Sports: Basketball (4), Soccer (4), Volleyball (3).
GPA: 3.96.
Athletic honors/awards: All-conference, all-region, honorable mention all-state in basketball, all-conference in soccer.
Academic honors/awards: Academic all-state in basketball, WMC Scholar-Athlete winner, Salutatorian, National Honor Society member.
Extracurricular activities: FFA Officer, youth basketball and soccer camp volunteer
Future plans: Attending Muskegon Community College on the Promise Scholarship and plans to major in nursing and continue her soccer and basketball careers.
OTHER NOMINEES
Mikayla Bellasco, Fruitport
Sports: Basketball (4), Soccer (4), Golf (2).
GPA: 3.846.
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Aspen Boutell, Hart
Sports: Basketball (4), Track and Field (4).
GPA: 3.913.
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Onnyka Dempsey, Whitehall
Sports: Basketball (4), Softball (4), Volleyball (2).
GPA: 3.27.
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Elizabeth Estelle, Orchard View
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (3), Soccer (4), Cheer (2).
GPA: 3.874.
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Margot Frendt, Grand Haven
Sports: Cross Country (4), Soccer (4).
GPA: 4.191.
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Claire Gowell, Shelby
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (4).
GPA: 3.7.
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Robyn Hunt, Mona Shores
Sports: Swimming (4), Cross Country (4), Track and Field (4).
GPA: 4.453.
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Claire LaVigne, Muskegon Catholic Central
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Soccer (4), Tennis (4).
GPA: 3.926.
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Paige Nash, Muskegon
Sports: Competitive Cheer (2), Basketball (2), Softball (3), Volleyball (3), Sideline Cheer (1).
GPA: 3.83.
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Emma Nicles, Spring Lake
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Soccer (4).
GPA: 4.0.
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Andrea Romero-Serrano, Oakridge
Sports: Softball (4), Volleyball (4), Basketball (4).
GPA: 3.9.
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Ali Townsend, Hesperia
Sports: Softball (4), Volleyball (2), Basketball (3).
GPA: 4.0.
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McKena Wilson, Fruitport Calvary Christian
Sports: Basketball (5), Track and Field (4), Cross Country (3).
GPA: 3.976.
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Rylee Wright, Fremont
Sports: Wrestling (4), Track and Field (1), Tennis (2).
GPA: 4.0
***
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Multi-sport standout Sophia Hekkema of Reeths-Puffer wins Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award
Meet the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame’s 2023 Scholar-Athlete Award female male nominees
