North Oaks Sports Medicine Recognizes October Student-Athletes

North Oaks Sports Medicine athletic trainers have joined with North Oaks Physician Group orthopedic surgeons to select Morrison “Airi” Hamilton, Carly Johnson, Travis Shaw and Milan Love as Student-Athletes of the Month for October.

Morrison “Airi” Hamilton is the daughter to Theresa and Alvin Hamilton. She is a very active and involved senior at Ponchatoula High School and maintains a 3.76 GPA.

Girls Basketball Head Coach Patricia Landaiche nominated Hamilton. She has belonged to the basketball team for 3 years playing guard and forward positions. For the 2012-2013 season, she averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 steals per game. She also is actively involved in Track & Field, Girls State, Spanish Club, Talented Music and the National Honor Society. According to her close friends and peers, she is always one of the first to volunteer for community events, such as the Special Olympics and the Little League World Series, which was held at the Ponchatoula Recreational Park last summer.

From left: North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt, Ponchatoula High Assistant Basketball Coaches Kristi Gill and Lauren Long, Morrison "Airi" Hamilton and North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Jonathan Gantt.

Carly Johnson is the daughter to Tracy and Scot Johnson and a senior at Walker High School with a 4.0 GPA.

Johnson has been a part of the Walker High School Volleyball Team for 4 years. She averages 25 assists, 15 digs, 5 aces and 3 kills per game. In her nomination of Johnson, Volleyball Head Coach Nicole Dufour noted that she was regarded as a leader long before her senior year. “She promotes a positive attitude that encourages her teammates to strive for success,” Dufour explains. “Her definition of team lives far beyond the game of volleyball. Her peers see her as someone who always takes the time to help others with no expectation of accolades or recognition.”

Johnson is a National Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-American and has received All-District honors for Volleyball and Softball the past 2 years.

From left: Walker High Principal Jason St. Pierre, North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt, Carly Johnson, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Nate Borget.

Travis Shaw is the son of Vickie and Dean Shaw and an Oak Forest Academy senior with a 3.4 GPA. He is 4-year member of the Fighting Yellow Jackets football team and plays both offensive and defensive lineman. The honor student also throws shot put for the track team. He was nominated by Oak Forest Principal and Head Football Coach Jason Brabham.

“Travis is a leader on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. He is always focused on offense and very disruptive to the opposing team’s offense when he plays defense,” explains Brabham. “He constantly encourages his teammates to give their all whether on the field or in the weight room. He is respectful of his team, the coaching staff and the coaching strategy of leading by example.”

From left: North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Josh Dawsey, Oak Forest Academy Principal and Head Football Coach Jason Brabham, Travis Shaw and North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt.

Milan Love is the son to Mariem Love-White and Bret White and a senior at Springfield High School with a 3.7 GPA.

Love was nominated by his Head Football Coach Ryan Serpas for leadership in all aspects of life. He is a 4-year veteran of the school’s football team and plays quarterback. He averages 11 carries for 85 yards, 2 passes for 40 yards and 1 sack per game. Coach Serpas shares that Love is a hard-working player who sets a great example for students to follow.

Love also tutors other students, plays basketball and baseball and belongs to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Beta Club.

From left: North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Mandy Trepagnier, Milan Love and Springfield High Head Football Coach Ryan Serpas.

From August to April, North Oaks Sports Medicine staff and North Oaks Physician Group of orthopedic physicians will choose a male and a female student athlete from both Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes as “Student-Athletes of the Month.” Nominations are accepted from coaches, athletic directors and principals. Athletes must:

• Excel in athletic competition
• Have a 3.0 grade point average or higher
• Participate in school/community organizations
• Respect coaches, teammates, officials, teachers and their peers.

In May, North Oaks Sports Medicine staff will select a “Student of the Year” from all monthly honorees.

Nomination forms are available online here or can be requested by calling North Oak Sports Medicine at (985) 230-5248.