Spring Sports Award Winners Announced at Oak Lawn

The spring sports season has come to a close, and student-athletes at Oak Lawn Community High School did their best to represent their teams, their school and their community. Last month, these athletes were honored at the Spring Sports Awards Night.

Badminton is a great place to start with the heart-warming story of senior Tara Hill qualifying for the Illinois High School Association State Finals. Hill was also named team Most Valuable Player. Nayfah Thnaibat earned a conference championship and got the Sportsmanship Award for her team.

Girls Track saw Victoria Jones advance to the State Finals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. She was also named as the team’s MVP, while Bailey Kean earned the Sportsmanship Award. Jessica Sciaky was the conference champion on the frosh/soph level in the 3,200 run. As a team, the Spartans earned the South Suburban Conference Red Sportsmanship Award.

Boys Track saw David Michaels win the conference championship in shot put, and he was named as the team’s MVP. Vincent Olejniczak got the Sportsmanship Award.

Boys Tennis had Rami Arabi advance to the State Finals at first singles. Arabi was also a conference champion and he was honored as the team’s MVP. Gustavo Giron won the Sportsmanship Award.

Baseball had Brandon Quillen and Matt Dunne honored as All-Conference selections. Quillen was named the team’s MVP and Ryne Melnik earned the Sportsmanship Award. Dunne and Mitch Swatek each earned a Baseball Scholarship from the program.

Softball had three girls elected as All-Conference selections with Reily McTeague, Hayden Landingham and Mia Loya. McTeague was the team MVP, while Morgan Jozsa earned the Sportsmanship Award.

Girls Soccer had Marlene Martinez and Megan Pacetti selected to the All-Conference team. Martinez was the team’s MVP, and Pacetti earned the honor of the Sportsmanship Award. Martinez was also chosen as an All-Sectional Honorable Mention. As a team, the Spartans won the South Suburban Conference Red Sportsmanship Award.

Boys Volleyball saw Jeremy Lencki selected to the All-Conference team. Lencki and Blake Novak shared team MVP honors, while Moe Shatat earned the Sportsmanship Award.

Spartan Fishing Club honored John Neubauer as the team MVP, and Andrew Jensen got the Sportsmanship Award. Fishing Scholarships went to Neubauer, Jensen and Lauren Cappel

As for the individual specialty awards, LaTondra Brooks was chosen as the Geri Vandekreke Most Valuable Female Athlete, and Swatek won the Bill Godby Most Valuable Male Athlete Award. Girls varsity volleyball coach Dennis McNamara was chosen as the Fred Parks Coach of the Year. Joe Pajac Scholarship winners were Dunne, Pacetti and Swatek. Steven Boetscher won the Tim Nickos Memorial Scholarship.