Our annual night to honor the top student-athletes of the MAC Conference tabbed three of its best for scholarship awards – Jared Huelsman (Minster), Danielle Winner (Versailles),and Paige Thobe (Minster).
Maria Stein – On a night dedicated to the memory of Press Pros associate Stan Wilker – on a night when the annual MAC scholarships as directed by Press Pros were determined to bear his name in the future – three of 2017-18’s finest from the Midwest Athletic Conference were awarded cold hard financial benefits Wednesday for their success as student-athletes, on the court and in the classroom.
Minster three-sport standout Jared Huelsman was selected as the conference’s top male student athlete of the year, for directing the Wildcats to their second state football title since 2014 while appearing in each of the last two Division VII state titles games. Huelsman, who this website tabbed as the MAC’s best overall football player for the 2017 season, will receive a $2,000 Stan Wilker Memorial Scholarship to attend the University of Toledo in the fall to study engineering.
The top female award went to Versailles’ two-sport standout Danielle Winner, a 6’0″ post player for the past four years for the Tigers in basketball, while a pivotal figure in their Division III state title in volleyball last November. In addition, Winner played on the Tigers’ 2014 Division III title team as a freshman. A 4.0 GPA student, her immediate plans are to attend the University of Cincinnati in the fall to study architecture engineering. She, too, will receive the Wilker Scholarship for $2,000.
And…because the namesake was unavailable, the 2018 Hal McCoy Scholarship award for study in journalism was awarded Wednesday to Minster senior Paige Thobe. Thobe was a three-sport participant in volleyball, track and basketball during her four years at Minster – a member of the 2018 Division IV state champions in basketball. The McCoy Scholarship is presented annually to a graduating senior that wants to pursue a career in journalism, communications, or language arts study. Thobe will receive $2,500 as sponsored by the Unity National Bank in Piqua, Troy, and Tipp City. Unity Marketing Director Julie Monnin was on hand for the presentation.
The Press Pros Student-Athlete of The Year Award is generously sponsored by: The Keyhole (Newport), St. Henry Bank (St. Henry), VPP Industries (Versailles), Wagner’s IGA (New Bremen), 17 West Restaurant (New Bremen), Kaup Pharmacy (Ft. Recovery), Homan Equipment (Maria Stein), Minster Bank (Minster), Moeller Trucking (Maria Stein), The Bicycle Museum (New Bremen), H.A. Dorsten General Contractors (Minster), Leuger’s Insurance (Maria Stein), Moeller Brew Barn (Maria Stein), The Mr. Shoppe (Coldwater), McSobers Bar and Grill (Coldwater), Schwieterman Pharmacy (New Bremen) Securcom, Inc. (Minster), Kremer Roofing (Versailles), Knapke Kitchen and Baths (Versailles), Wilson Sports Medicine, and Phelan Insurance (Versailles).
Wednesday night’s ceremonies marked the $50,000th dollar of scholarships awarded by Press Pros through the McCoy Award, the MAC Award, and the Shelby County League Award since the site’s inception in 2010. The event was hosted by the Moeller Brew Barn, in Maria Stein.
Minster’s Paige Thobe (center) received the Hal McCoy Scholarship for studies in journalism. Sponsored by the Unity National Bank in Piqua, Unity’s Marketing Director Julie Monnin (left) was on hand for the presentation.
Top female student-athlete Danielle Winner poses with Press Pros associate editor Julie Wright (left) and publisher Sonny Fulks). (Press Pros Feature Photos)