Merrill High School students Mason Reinhardt and Morgan Marnholtz are among 16 senior girls and 16 senior boys selected as finalists to receive the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) prestigious 2015 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award underwritten by Marshfield Clinic.
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected–based on both athletic and academic achievement– from each of four WIAA divisions.
“These student athletes’ accomplishments are incredible,” said Tom Shafranski, assistant director of the WIAA. “Eighteen of this year’s 32 WIAA Scholar Athlete finalists have a grade point average of 4.0 to date, while the average GPA is 3.90. All 32 scholar athlete finalists have already earned a total of 301 letters during their first 3-1/2 years of high school. That’s an average of 9 letters per athlete, and we have not yet completed our Spring sports season.”
Marnholtz has earned eight varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and track. She was selected all conference first team in volleyball one year and was awarded Team MVP honors in track two years and basketball one year. Academically, Morgan ranks #1 in the Merrill High School class of 230.
Reinhardt has earned eight varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball. He is a state champion in wrestling and was selected for all conference first team honors in football one year and baseball one year. Mason was awarded team MVP honors in football offense one year, wrestling one year, and baseball 1 year. He is also ranked #1 out of 230 students in the Merrill High School class of 2015.
More than 800 seniors were nominated for the 2015 WIAA Scholar Athlete Award by more than 400 high schools throughout the state. Since 1984 when the WIAA Scholar Athlete recognition began, every WIAA-member high school has been invited to nominate one boy and one girl for the WIAA Scholar Athlete award.
The 2015 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists, as well as their families and school representatives, will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May 3 at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau. Each 2015 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalist will receive a medallion and certificate, and will take with them a special plaque for display in their school’s trophy case. Keynote speaker will be Michelle McGrath, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Councils. A Webcast of the awards ceremony will be available at www.wiaawi.org during and after the ceremony beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 3.
All student athletes nominated for the award by their high school athletic directors will be presented with a medal at their school in a manner to be determined by the school administration recognizing them as their school’s top male or female scholar athlete.