Jan 18, 2011
Sponsored by Peoples National Bank
Beginning this month, SISC will be shining a spotlight on area athletes who have risen to the occasion in the classroom, in their communities, and on their teams or in their sports. Titled “SISC Trifecta,” we hope you’ll enjoy reading about some of the feel-good stories of young people who are contributors in the game of life.
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Macie Wheeler – Carbondale
Macie Wheeler
Macie is a sophomore at Carbondale Community High School and was All-South last year as a freshman on the CCHS softball team. Macie is class president and is also a member of Lifesavers, a group that serves as mentors for other students. Macie has a 4.0 GPA and her goal is to become a lawyer. Last year she worked as an assistant softball coach at Giant City, where her mother Kim is head coach, and the team had an undefeated season and won the Class S state championship. She is also the Giant City cheerleading coach.
“Macie is a great athlete but she is also an excellent student that works really hard to be successful in everything she does,” said CCHS guidance counselor Lori Koester. “She is just an all-around great student but the thing that stands out the most is she just has tremendous character.”
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Maggie O’Neill – Marion
Maggie O'Neill
Maggie is a senior at Marion where she is involved in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities that include National Honor Society, Drama Club, president of the Spanish Club, Illinois State Scholar, Math Honor Society-Mu Alpha, Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Jazz Choir, Madrigals-Queen, ArtStarts, Alpha Peer Leader and the IHSA All-State Academic team. Maggie has played three years of varsity tennis and even with her many activities has maintained a 3.88 GPA.
Marion tennis coach Carrie Watson said Maggie has had a great career as a three-year varsity player but said that it pales in comparison to the mark she has left on MHS through her other extra-curricular activities.
“Maggie just has a great outlook on life,” said Watson. “She works very hard at everything she does and she’s just a good person, very well-liked by everybody. Maggie is very bright and has a great sense of humor … I think that’s what I’ll miss most when she graduates, her sense of humor.”
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Levi Kabat – Waltonville
Levi Kabat
Levi is a senior at Waltonville High School where he competes in basketball and baseball. Levi started at the junior varsity level last year and now is the starting point guard for the varsity team. The Spartans recently competed in the
DuQuoin Tip-Off and Levi received the Sportsmanship Award for his efforts during the week. Levi has a 3.54 GPA, is an active member in the FFA and SHIELD (Students Helping Individuals Evaluate Life Decisions). SHIELD members including Levi assist other students with problems they may have encountered by providing a peer mentor to students. This makes the other students feel at ease to discuss items/situations that otherwise may not be discussed with a teacher or counselor. SHIELD, with the help of Levi, is making a positive influence within the Waltonville school system. As an FFA member Levi has attended state and national conventions, participated in horse and livestock judging and volunteered his time to the labor auction.
Waltonville athletic director Eric Witges said Levi’s contributions to his high school go far beyond sports.
“There is no question that Levi is a difference-maker on the court for Waltonville, but is even more of a difference-maker off the court,” Witges said.
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Dylan Arvai – Zeigler-Royalton
Dylan Arvai
Dylan is a starter and captain on the Z-R basketball team and the leading scorer averaging 18.5 ppg. He is also active in his local church in Zeigler where he is a leader in a youth group that recently participated in a remodeling project of a church in poverty-stricken Washington Park, near East St. Louis. An avid outdoorsman, Dylan enjoys hunting and fishing. He also maintains a 3.67 GPA and is a standout on the ZR baseball team. Last summer Dylan played for the Southern Illinois Hustlers traveling baseball team and also played in the Wooden Bat League for Murphysboro. He was named All-Conference for the Black Diamond in baseball in 2009 as a sophomore and again in 2010 as a junior. He tied the record for most hits in a season (39) and set a new record for stolen bases in a season (26).
Z-R head basketball coach Jamie Moyers said Dylan is a “leader off the court as well as on the court.”
“Dylan is just a well-rounded young man with a great attitude,” said Moyers. “He does a great job for our team but he also does a great job in everything else he does. He’s a leader on the court but he is also a leader at school. He’s just the type of kid that everybody likes to be around.
