North Oaks Sports Medicine Student-Athletes of the Month for January 2016 Announced
- Category: In The News
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- Written By: Melanie Zaffuto
North Oaks Sports Medicine and North Oaks Physician Group’s orthopedic surgeons have selected Meghan Becerra of St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond, Bryant Griggs Jr. of Ponchatoula High School, Tré Lessard of Maurepas High School and Charley Shaffer of Springfield High School as “Student-Athletes of the Month” for January 2016.
Meghan Becerra is a 17-year-old junior with a 3.8 GPA at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond. For 3 years, she has belonged to the Falcon’s Cross Country Team—the current Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) State Champions. She has been named to the LHSAA All-State Class AA and All-State Composite Cross Country Teams, as well as the Northshore All-Metro Team. In addition, she was honored as the Tangipahoa All-Parish Cross Country Team Most Valuable Player.
Becerra’s athletic interests also include belonging to the Falcons’ Girls Basketball and Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field Teams.
Cross Country Coach Rosendo Vallejos shares, “Meghan works hard in and out of the classroom. Besides making her studies and sports top priorities, she is a member of the Beta Club and volunteers within her school and community.”
She is the daughter of Kristi and Miguel Becerra.
From left, St. Thomas Aquinas High School Principal Jose' Becerra, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Jonathan Ferguson, Meghan Becerra, St. Thomas Aquinas High School Head Cross Country Coach Rosendo Vallejos and North Oaks Sports Medicine Senior Athletic Trainer Jeff Schmitt.
Bryant Griggs Jr., a 17-year-old senior at Ponchatoula High School, has a 3.7 GPA and has played on the Boys Basketball Team for 4 years as a guard. He averages 10 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds per game and helped lead the Green Wave to their second consecutive Tangipahoa Parish Championship with a 9 and 5 record season.
“Bryant has stepped up his leadership by helping younger players in the classroom, socially and in life outside of school,” affirms Head Boys Basketball Coach Thomas Taylor. “He exemplifies what the Green Wave stands for, and we would not be where we are today without him.”
The son of Takisha and Bryant Griggs, he belongs to the school’s Art Club and plays the bass at Yellowwater Baptist Church in Hammond.
From left, Ponchatoula High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Thomas Taylor, Bryant Griggs, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Jonathan Gantt, Ponchatoula High School Principal Danny Strickland and North Oaks Sports Medicine Senior Athletic Trainer Jeff Schmitt.
Head Basketball Coach Brett Vampran looks to Lessard as a great role model for younger student-athletes when it comes to successfully balancing their focus between their academic and athletic skills.
Lessard also is an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Farmers of America.
From left, North Oaks Sports Medicine Senior Athletic Trainer Jeff Schmitt, Maurepas High School Head Basketball Coach Brett Vampran, Tre' Lessard, Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Jonathan Gantt and Maurepas High School Principal Kenny Kraft.
She is the daughter of Sandy and Jeff Shaffer.
“Charley exhibits tremendous work ethic and character on and off the playing field,” notes Golf Coach Ryan Serpas.
A member of the Golf Team for 3 years, Shaffer also serves as Beta Club President and Student Council Senior Class Treasurer. She is a member of Future Farmers of America and gives of her time to Southland Community Church’s homeless veterans program.
From left, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Mandy Trepagnier, Charley Shaffer, Springfield High School Golf Coach Ryan Serpas and North Oaks Sports Medicine Senior Athletic Trainer Jeff Schmitt.
From September 2015 to April 2016, North Oaks Sports Medicine staff and North Oaks Physician Group orthopedic surgeons will choose male and female Student-Athletes of the Month from both Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes. Honorees must: have a 3.0 GPA or higher; excel in athletics; participate in school and community organizations; and respect coaches, teammates, officials, teachers and their peers. In May 2016, male and female “Student-Athletes of the Year” will be selected from all the monthly honorees for both parishes.
Nominations are accepted from coaches, athletic directors, principals and North Oaks Sports Medicine athletic trainers.
Nomination forms are available online or can be requested by calling North Oaks Sports Medicine at (985) 230-5248.