By Joseph Goral
Staff Writer
jgoral@mihomepaper.com
ORION TWP. — Eleven Lake Orion senior athletes signed letters of intent at Lake Orion High School on April 30 to compete at the collegiate level.
The athletes represent seven sports – track and field, cross country, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, soccer and football.
“We’re proud of their accomplishments, and forever, we at Lake Orion will be your biggest fans,” athletic director Chris Bell said. “I would also like to say thank you and congratulate our parents and our coaches because the student athletes know that nobody gets here alone.”
Track
Pole vaulting coach Adam Russell introduced three track athletes on April 30, including Scott Martin, Phinehas House and Nolan Rhodes.
Martin will compete in the long jump and pole vault at Trine University, House at Calvin University and Rhodes at Saginaw Valley State University.
Russell said the three are passionate about their sport, adding each is committed to pole vaulting and that he is proud of them.
“It’s a bizarre event,” Russell said. “And most of the time, kids don’t want to grab a 14-foot pole, run in 28-degree weather with snow hitting them in the face.”
Cross country
Head track and cross country coach Andrew McDonald introduced Raymond Lucero II next, who will run cross country for Northwood University. McDonald said Lucero helped him when taking over from former coach Stan Ford because of his willingness to buy into McDonald’s program.
“Right out of the gate as a sophomore he was all-league in cross country,” McDonald said, adding “this year (Lucero and Blake Peardon) led the team in the state finals.”
Lucero’s 16-minute 5k finish is the 20th best finish in school history.
Lacrosse
Bell introduced Grady Harban, who will play both football and lacrosse at the College of Wooster. Harban was an all-league defensive back on the football field last season, and “is a smart player with great instincts.”
Harban played the last two lacrosse seasons at Lake Orion. Bell said his skills developed quickly enough to earn an opportunity to play collegiality. Harban plans to study engineering.
Lacrosse coach Jason McElroy introduced Abby Lee who will compete at Saginaw Valley State University and major in business. As of April 30, Lee has 195 career points with nine games left in her high school career. She also scored 121 goals and has 74 assists, which places her as one of LOHS’s top-five all-time assist leaders.
Luke Burzynski, who will play lacrosse at Kalamazoo College, has a “terrific” shot, is one of LOHS’s most energetic players and is used on defense whenever possible, according to boys lacrosse coach Ron Hebert – who calls Burzynski “Burger.”
“Nobody puts more passion into the game than Burger does, and we wish him the best at Kalamazoo,” Herbert said.
Next, Herbert introduced Lance Little, who will also compete at Kalamazoo College.
“He just plugged away, and plugged away and plugged away, and now he’s one of our most viscous players, and I mean that in a good sense,” Herbert said, adding he cannot be prouder of Little, whose work ethic is “above the charts.”
Swimming
Drew Bronczyk will swim at Calvin University as a mid-distance and butterfly specialist. Swimming coach Ben Winn said Bronczynski as an athlete “you want on your deck, in your locker room and in the water,” due to being a positive force and influence on others.
Tennis
Sri Vaneth Senthil will play tennis at Albion College. Senthil was introduced by tennis coach Eric Bracciano, who called Senthil “one of the most influential young men I’ve encountered at Lake Orion High School.”
Bracciano said Senthil is known for his “blazing” shots on the tennis court, and is feared by many for such shots. Senthil has played on LOHS’s varsity team for three years, is a three-time OAA all-league player, a two-time OAA white division finalist, is a multiple-time champion across divisions, has mentored other players, and more.
Soccer
Evelyn Taylor will play soccer Albion College where she will study to become a nurse, according to soccer coach Amanda Hutchinson. Taylor was nominated by her teammates for the Dragon Award.
“You can always count on her to lift our spirits, sometimes even bringing us to tears in laughter,” Hutchinson said.
Each athlete signed their letters after their introductions.