VG’s GROCERY PLAYERS OF THE MONTH Winners are selected for their athletic accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact as the Players <strong>of</strong> the Month. Not only are the players <strong>of</strong> the month featured in the magazine and recieve a Player <strong>of</strong> the Month T-Shirt, VG’s also provide’s each athlete with a $25 gift card! MADDI OSANTOWSKI REESE BASKETBALL TYLER NELSON SANDUSKY BASKETBALL LAST SEASON, THE REESE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM HAD A 19-3 RECORD, WHICH INCLUDED A PERFECT 12-0 MARK IN THE GREATER THUMB WEST CONFERENCE. For their success, the Rockets were rewarded with four firstteam all-conference selections (Taylor Findlay, Madi Thompson, Zoey Persails and Maddi Osantowski), along with a second-team selection (Savannah Comstock). With the graduations <strong>of</strong> Findlay, Thompson, and Comstock, and the transfer <strong>of</strong> Persails, Osantowski was expected to be a major part <strong>of</strong> Reese’s success this year. She has not disappointed. During the month <strong>of</strong> January, Osantowski, only a sophomore, led the Rockets to a 6-1 record, averaging 22.3 points per game. She has recorded a double-double in four <strong>of</strong> those seven games (points and rebounds) and is also distributing the ball well, as she had six assists in games against Bad Axe and Elkton-Pigeon- Bay Port. Her month started with a 48-29 non-conference victory over one <strong>of</strong> the top teams in the Greater <strong>Thumb</strong> East, Sandusky. She nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Osantowski followed that up with a 31-point, 10-rebound performance against Vassar. In four <strong>of</strong> her seven games this month, she has scored at least 20 points, and in two additional games, she scored 19 points. Osantowski is also a member <strong>of</strong> the Reese volleyball and s<strong>of</strong>tball teams. She earned second team all-conference honors this past fall on the volleyball team, and in the spring, earned honorable mention all-conference honors as an infielder. AS THE CALENDAR FLIPS FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY, THE SANDUSKY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FINDS ITSELF RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THE GREATER THUMB EAST CONFERENCE TITLE DISCUSSION. Leading that charge for the Redskins is senior center, Tyler Nelson. Averaging a double-double on the season (12.3 points, 10.4 rebounds) Nelson helped lead Sandusky to a 5-1 record in the GTC East during the month <strong>of</strong> January. “Tyler has continued his success from last year,” said his coach Tristin Pennington. “He has been a huge reason for our team success over the past few weeks. His game has improved from a year ago in the fact that he is not as fazed with physical play. He is a gym rat, so it is no coincidence that he is starting to be a stat stuffer.” To go along with his point-scoring and rebounding skills, Nelson has also contributed 2.2 blocks, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. “The other key component in our success is that Tyler is very unselfish,” Pennington said. He is seeing multiple defenses focused on stopping him and he is making the right team play constantly.” During the month <strong>of</strong> January, in seven games played, Nelson scored 98 points, including a 26-point game against Memphis, where he scored 13 in the first quarter. “He is a leader on and <strong>of</strong>f the floor, working and volunteering in the community and his teammates are enjoying making an impact as well,” Pennington said. “I am so proud <strong>of</strong> the effort and commitment he has shown not only to this team, but to making an impact in Sandusky as well.” 4 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2020</strong> CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 <strong>February</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 5