April 2008:
Murray Journal
Wrestler from Murray Named Academic All-State
by Catherine Garrett
At the Juan Diego Catholic High School wrestling team
banquet held recently, signaling the official end of the
season, senior Elliott Schatten of Murray was named most
valuable wrestler. Apparently others have also taken
notice as he was named Academic All-State for his academic
and athletic excellence.
Soaring Eagle wrestling coach John Gavin said, “He won the
award at our banquet for contributing the most to our
team. To win the Academic All-State award
shows what we already know, that he really is pretty
special.”
The most valuable wrestler award is the highest honor the
Soaring Eagle program gives, because it recognizes the
athlete who provides leadership and other intangibles that
aren’t necessarily recorded on a stat sheet.
“He didn’t have the best record — he did pretty well — but
he kept the team together academically by tutoring,
driving guys home from practice, having his parents
involved and just being a huge asset to our team,” Gavin
said.
Schatten, son of Karl and Sharon Schatten, has maintained
a 3.9 GPA while competing for the Soaring Eagle wrestling
team throughout his four years of high school to achieve
the All-State recognition.
“Being honored as an Academic All-State athlete is very
exciting and rewarding,” Elliott Schatten said. “I had
been working toward that goal since I was a freshman and I
was very gratified to achieve that goal.”
His mother, Sharon, said Elliott is very “hardworking and
studious” and was proud of his achievement. “I’m just
tickled to death for how hard he worked and being rewarded
for it,” she said.
As a leader on the Juan Diego wrestling team this past
season, Elliott placed seventh in region in the 215-pound
heavyweight division. He sprained his ankle just
before the state tournament and was unable to participate.
He has also played lineman on the Soaring Eagle football
team while battling an ACL injury as a junior and only
playing part of his senior season. He is also on the track
and field squad at the school competing in the shot put.
“Balancing academics and athletics has been a challenge at
times, but our coaches instill in us that it is our
responsibility and they expect us to fulfill our
commitments to the team and school and to achieve the
highest academic level we are capable of doing,” Elliott
said. “I found that by concentrating on academics, then
sports and then homework, it helped me organize my time
and usually keeps me on track.”
A national merit finalist, he aims to continue his
schooling through college and a doctorate program hoping
to maintain scholarships along the way.
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