Blanchard, Bartsokas named John Maher Scholar Athlete recipients

By TOM CHEREDAR
tched@williamsonherald.com

Centennial baseball player Austin Blanchard and Independence Lady Eagle Jenna Bartsokas have been selected as the March recipients of the John Maher Scholar Athlete Award.

“Austin has been a member of the baseball team since he was a freshman and in that time I have seen him grow into a very respectful young man,” said Centennial baseball coach Rob Baughman. “He has been a leader on and off the field where our younger guys look up to him and want to be that leader when they are seniors.”

Blanchard, son of Jerry and Lisa Blanchard, is the Cougar’s No. 1 starting pitcher, according to Baughman, who added that the young athlete plays the role of leader on the team.

Baughman nominated Blanchard for the award because he said he would make the perfect representative since he cares about the sport and also his teammates.

“Austin is willing to do what ever it takes to help out a teammate, whether it is talking to them or giving them a ride home, he will do it with no questions asks,” Baughman said of Blanchard.

Blanchard has a cumulative GPA of 3.479 and will attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville after graduation.
“I think Austin deserves this award because he represents what high school athletics is all about,” he said.

Outside of the classroom, Blanchard belongs to Habitat for Humanity, his church’s youth group and is also an assisting minister.

The recipient for the girls’ award went to Independence basketball player Jenna Bartsokas, who is currently running track.
In addition to being the Lady Eagles team captain, Bartsokas led the team in scoring, assists, steals and field goal percentage, according to girls basketball coach Hillary Maxwell. 

Bartsokas, daughter of Tom and Becky Bartsokas, also received the MVP award for the team’s district, the all region tournament, and all Region, said Maxwell, who nominated her.

“Jenna is one of the hardest workers I have ever been around, “Maxwell said. “She works on her skills in basketball each and every day on her own.

“Each day I would have to literally run her out of the gym to make her leave,” she said.  “She makes everyone around her a better player and a better person. Her attitude, enthusiasm, and just plan goodness, is amazing.”

Bartsokas sacrificed playing basketball during her junior year after transferring to Independence, which is something she understood prior to changing schools, Maxwell said.

“Instead of Jenna the player she was Jenna the coach,” she added.

After graduation, Bartsokas, who has a cumulative GPA of 4.25, will continue her basketball career by playing for Lipscomb University.

Off the court, Bartsokas is a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is also active in the Oak Valley Baptist Youth Group.

“IHS will not be the same without Jenna Bartsokas leading the floor,” Maxwell said.




Jenna Bartsokas signs with David Lipscomb to play basketball From left: Becky Bartsokas (mom), Jenna Bartsokas, Tom Bartsokas (dad); Back row: IHS Head Coach Hillary Maxwell, Assistant Clint Jezierny, Principal Dr. Marilyn Webb, Athletic Director Darren Henrie 

Posted on: 3/22/2007