In learning to balance the commitments between being a top athlete and an elite student, Taylor Arends didn’t need to look very far for an example.
Her former doubles partner in tennis and one of her best friends, 2014 Oak Park-River Forest graduate Tess Trinka, provided all the inspiration Arends needed.
Trinka was named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team last year and is currently a freshman tennis player at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. One year later, Trinka’s Huskies’ partner earned the same honor when Arends was one of 26 senior athletes named Feb. 17 to the IHSA All-State Academic Team for 2015.
Among area athletes, she was joined by Fenwick’s Michael Hill and Lyons’ Kelly Ryser. Hinsdale Central’s Gabrielle Rush, who plays tennis and basketball, was named to the All-State Academic honorable mention team.
“We are similar people, so it made some sense (for both us to be honored),” Arends said of Trinka. “She gave me the drive to do better. She was a good role model. She worked hard off the court and on.”
Each IHSA member school can nominate one male and one female athlete. Students must own a 3.50 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, participate in two IHSA activities during their last two years of high school and demonstrate outstanding citizenship. Each candidate must submit an essay.
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As doubles partners, Arends and Trinka placed sixth in the state meet in 2012 and second in 2013. Arends also is starting shortstop for the Huskies softball team, which opens the season March 19 at home against Fenwick.
She plans to play softball at Division III Washington in St. Louis following graduation and study psychology.
Fenwick’s decorated swimmer
Last month, Hill capped his swimming career by collecting his sixth and seventh medals from the state swimming and diving meet. He placed 10th in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth with the 200 medley relay. He won three medals in 2014 and two medals in 2013.
Last spring, Hill led the Friars to second place in the boys water polo state tournament and is set to be the team’s starting goalie in the season opener Monday against Brother Rice.
Hill wants to compete in swimming in college and is considering Washington University, where he would study engineering.
“I’m really excited (to be honored),” Hill said. “To be the only pick (from Fenwick) among the 26 for the rest of the state is a culmination of all the work I’ve done in high school.”
“Michael works very hard and thinks out concepts very well … both in class and as a member of Fenwick’s state math team,” Fenwick teacher Roger Finnell said. “It has been very enjoyable teaching such a gifted student.”
Three sports all four years
Ryser is a rare athlete who competed in three sports throughout her career at Lyons.
She has participated in gymnastics for 15 years; as a diver for eight years; and has played lacrosse for six years. The defender will join the lacrosse team for its season opener March 16 against Lincoln-Way co-op.
At last month’s state gymnastics meet, she competed in three events and placed 30th in the all-around. During the fall, Ryser took 10th at the state diving meet.
Ryser learned she made the IHSA All-State Academic Team Feb. 20 on the first night of the state gymnastics meet.
“The biggest thing I learned was it’s OK to rely on your teammates (for help),” Ryser said. “And, of course, having time-management skills.”
She will graduate having played three sports all four years. She’s looking to study architecture in college.
Ryser is an avid student of art and will be joining her advanced placement art history class next week on a field trip to the Art Institute and Millennium Park.
“Kelly always comes (to our review sessions), is always cheerful and is always ready to participate,” Lyons art teacher Patrick Page said. “She’s really someone who lightens up the room with her attitude and her upbeat nature.”
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