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 2024 will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony and banquet Saturday, June 8, 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 2024:
AWARD WINNER
ELLA ANDREE, SPRING LAKE
Sports: Soccer (4), Basketball (4), Volleyball (3)
GPA: 3.919
Athletic honors/awards:
Basketball: Three-time all-conference selection, two-time MLive all-area selection (first-team as a senior), two-time Detroit Free Press honorable mention all-state selection, Associated Press honorable mention all-state selection as a senior, Detroit News honorable mention all-state selection, BCAM’s Best Division 2 honorable mention, BCAM’s Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.
Soccer: Three-time all-district selection, three-time all-conference selection, three-time all-region selection, MIHSSCA second-team all-state selection (2023).
Academic honors/awards: 3.92 GPA; Graduated Summa Cum Laude; two-time BCAM Academic all-state; AP Spanish, AP English and AP Art and Design; Honor Roll selection all four years of high school.
Extracurricular activities: Volunteer work with No More Sidelines; server at Grand Haven’s Winterfest; volunteered for numerous youth intramural and sports camps most notably volleyball and basketball.
Future plans: Attending St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind., to continue soccer (and possibly basketball) career and will be majoring in Business and minoring in Spanish.
FINALISTS
MADELYN GEERS, KENT CITY
Sports: Basketball (4), Volleyball (4), Soccer (2), Track (1)
GPA: 3.99
Athletic honors/awards: All-state in basketball, All-state in volleyball, All-conference in basketball, volleyball, soccer, and track. Earned 10 varsity letters
Academic honors/awards: Scholar-athlete award, highest honors, academic all-state
Future plans: Attending Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne University to continue basketball career.
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KYANN HELLMAN, MONA SHORES
Sports: Volleyball (4), Tennis (4)
GPA: 4.297
Athletic honors/awards:
Volleyball: All-State honorable mention, three-time all-conference selection, two-time all-region selection, two-time all-area selection, all-area up-and-coming selection as a sophomore.
Tennis: Four-time all-conference selection, all-area selection as a junior
Academic honors/awards: Gold Graduation Cord recipient; National Honor Society; Student of the Trimester; AP Scholar Award; Individual Academic All-State for volleyball, Individual Academic All-State for tennis
Future plans: Attending Grand Valley State University and plans to pursue a degree in accounting.
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Hart senior Abby Hicks poses for a portrait during a CatchMark SportsNet media day prior to the 2023-24 basketball season. (Courtney Jimison | CatchMark)
ABBY HICKS, HART
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (4)
GPA: 3.86
Athletic honors/awards: All-conference in volleyball, basketball, and softball; honorable mention All-State in basketball; holds school record for home runs (softball).
Extracurricular activities: Nine years participating in the Oceana County Fair through 4H; played saxaphone in concert band and jazz band; received high awards for solo ensemble; Freshman Focus leader for two years; coached youth sports clinics; wrote and directed HeartBeat News video broadcast.
Future plans: Attending Alma College to continue basketball career and pursue a degree in nursing.
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RYANN ROBINS, HOLTON
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (4)
GPA: 3.966
Athletic honors/awards:
Volleyball: Three-time all-conference selection
Basketball: Four-time all-conference selection, two-time all-region selection, academic all-state, three-time MLive Muskegon all-area selection; set school-record for carer points scored (1,098), and career rebounds (1,003).
Softball: Three-time all-conference selection, three-time all-district selection, three-time all-region selection, three-time all-state selection; set school record for career home runs.
Academic honors/awards: National Honors Society member, four years on student council (one as student council president), Superintendent advisory board member (two years), College ambassador (one year).
Future plans: Attending Ferris State University to pursue a degree in nursing.
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NOMINEES
Naeonna Agnew, Muskegon Heights Academy
Sports: Volleyball (4), Sideline Cheer (4), Track (4)
GPA: 3.0
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Megan Barmes, Reeths-Puffer
Sports: Soccer (1), Softball (4), Volleyball (4), Basketball (4)
GPA: 4.206
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Jessica Bennett, Fremont
Sports: Basketball (4), Volleyball (2)
GPA: 3.59
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Payten Bleich, Orchard View
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Soccer (4)
GPA: 3.783
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Catherine Cone, Muskegon Catholic Central
Sports: Track (1), Cross Country (4), Volleyball (2), Soccer (4)
GPA: 3.671
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Kendra Denhof, Ravenna
Sports: Volleyball (1), Cross Country (1) Bowling (4), Softball (4)
GPA: 4.0
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Ella Dykman, Fruitport Calvary Christian
Sports: Volletball (4), Basketball (4)
GPA: 3.566
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Andrea Feldpausch, White Cloud
Sports: Cross Country (4), Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Track (4)
GPA: 4.438
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Ashley Folkema, Western Michigan Christian
Sports: Basketball (4), Volleyball (4)
GPA: 3.847
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Ava Garcia, Whitehall
Sports: Golf (4), Bowling (4), Soccer (4)
GPA: 4.088
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Jayda Johnson, Muskegon
Sports: Sideline Cheer (4), Competitive Cheer (4), Track (2)
GPA: 4.0
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Kennedy Johnson, Montague
Sports: Volleyball (2), Golf (2), Basketball (4), Softball (4)
GPA: 3.984
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Sophia Lindsay, North Muskegon
Sports: Tennis (4), Volleyball (4)
GPA: 4.0
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Merceydez Patton, Oakridge
Sports: Track (4), Cross Country (3), Cheer (1)
GPA: 4.040
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Maria Riddering, Newaygo
Sports: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Track (4)
GPA: 4.118
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Molli Schultz, Shelby
Sports: Volleyball (3), Cross Country (1), Basketball (4), Soccer (3), Track (1)
GPA: 2.87
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Rosalee Springer, Grand Haven
Sports: Swimming (4), Soccer (4)
GPA: 4.2
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Grace Sweet, Fruitport
Sports: Basketball (4), Tennis (4)
GPA: 3.91
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Nadia Zerlaut, Grant
Sports: Tennis (4), Golf (4)
GPA: 3.86
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Note: Hesperia did not submit male or female nominees for the 2024 award.
