North Oaks Sports Medicine Announces Student-Athletes of the Year

The North Oaks Sports Medicine team proudly recognizes Elijah Callahan of Albany High School, Marshall Graves of Hammond High Magnet School, Jenna Reno of Ponchatoula High School and Taylin Underwood of Doyle High School as 2013-14 Student-Athletes of the Year.

The North Oaks Sports Medicine team and North Oaks Physician Group orthopedic surgeons selected the top three male and female athletes in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes from monthly honorees chosen August 2013-April 2014. Honorees were chosen based on excellence in athletic competition, maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher, being active in school and community organizations and showing respect for coaches, teammates, officials, teachers and other students.

To select the Student-Athletes of the Year, North Oaks officials turned to Facebook to invite the public to vote for their choice over a 1-week timeframe at www.northoaks.org. More than 9,000 votes were cast with national and international participation, including American soldiers in Kuwait.

Marshall Graves is a sophomore at Hammond High Magnet School and plays basketball. He averages 14 points and six rebounds per game, and started the season 9-3 overall. Graves has a 3.6 Grade Point Average (GPA), belongs to the National Honor Society and is an International Baccalaureate (IB) student. He is described as a role model on the court and in the classroom. He is active in his church and extracurricular activities through the IB program. Graves will be a junior at University High in Baton Rouge next year.

From left are Hammond High Magnet School Disciplinarian/Athletic Coordinator Michael Baiamonte Jr., North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Kerrin Sitman, Marshall Graves, North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt and Hammond High Magnet School Principal Chad Troxclair.

Ponchatoula High School Senior Jenna Reno has a 4.0 GPA. She ranks as the top runner on the Green Wave's Cross Country team, having placed in the top five overall in the first four meets of the year. She also plays varsity volleyball and is a member of the track team. She has received the All-State Academic Award in all three sports. A leader on and off campus, Reno encourages her teammates and has a positive attitude. She is active in her church youth group and frequently volunteers for community service projects. She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University in the fall and pursue a career in Physical Therapy.

From left are Ponchatoula High Cross Country and Track Coach Jennifer Howes Drake, North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt, Jenna Reno, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Jonathan Gantt and Ponchatoula High School Principal Danny Strickland.

Elijah Callahan is a senior captain on the Albany High School football team and also plays basketball and track. His football coach describes him as a leader on and off the field with a 3.7 GPA. As a starting defensive end, his stats are 40 tackles, one forced fumble and two sacks. As a starting tight end, he has seven receptions for 149 yards. Outside of sports, Callahan leads a weekly Bible devotional group and will be working at Clear Camps, which offers 10-week programs in Louisiana and Texas. He will be attending Nicholls State University in the fall to study Marine Biology.

From left are Albany High School Head Football Coach Blane Westmoreland, Albany High School Principal Jill Prokop, Elijah Callahan, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Amanda Trepagnier and North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt.

Taylin Underwood, a forward on Doyle High School’s girls basketball team, recently scored her 3,000th career point, one of only eight athletes in Louisiana history to achieve this milestone. Underwood led her team to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. She also plays softball and helped her team to first place in district. She has a 4.0 GPA and was considered a leader in her senior class. Outside of school, she works with disabled children. She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University in the fall to study Kinesiology and will play for the Lady Lions basketball team.

From left are Doyle High School Basketball Coach Guy McDonald, Taylin Underwood, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Matt Stumpf and North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt.