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Basketball, Cheer Standouts Honored as Sports Medicine Student-Athletes of the 2019-20 Winter Season

  • Category: In The News
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Melanie Lanaux Zaffuto
Basketball, Cheer Standouts Honored as Sports Medicine Student-Athletes of the 2019-20 Winter Season

North Oaks Sports Medicine certified athletic trainers have joined North Oaks Orthopaedic Specialty Center to select Madison Gill, Ryan Elzy, Abrielle Ochsner and Caleb Puma as 2019-20 “Student-Athletes of the Winter Season” in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes.

Female and male students were chosen from both parishes, representing the months of November-December 2019 and January 2020.

Madison Gill Award Presentation

Senior Madison Gill plays point guard for the Ponchatoula High School Lady Greenwave Basketball team and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She is pictured third from left with Ponchatoula High School Assistant Girls Basketball coaches Lauren Long and Kristi Gill, North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Nicholas Owens, Ponchatoula High School Head Girls Basketball Coach Patricia Landaiche and Principal Danny Strickland.

Gill, who has played basketball for four years, averages 8.5 points, 4.3 screen-the-screener plays and 5.5 rebounds per game.

In her senior season, Gill has earned the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Basketball Classic David F. Michel Jr. Scholarship Award and a full scholarship to play basketball at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. In past years, she received 2017-18 and 2018-19 Second Team All-District honors and 2016-17 Honorable Mention All-District honors.

An active member of National Honor Society, Interact Club, Spanish Club and the Care Club, Gill also volunteers with Special Olympics Louisiana at the local and state level and with the Brittany Landaiche Memorial Foundation parking cars at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. She spends her summers as a counselor for Camp Kateri at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, also in Ponchatoula.

Ryan Elzy Award Presentation

With a 4.0 GPA, Ponchatoula High School Junior Ryan Elzy has played basketball for the Green Wave for three years. He is pictured third from left with Ponchatoula High School Principal Danny Strickland and Head Boys Basketball Coach Tom Taylor, and North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Nicholas Owens.

As a guard, Elzy has had no shortage of success when it comes to scoring. He averages 16 points and 7 rebounds per game and achieved the milestone of topping the 1,000-point-threshold for his high school career this season. He’s also earned Tangipahoa Parish All-Tournament Team and Newman Invitation Championship Most Valuable Player honors.

Off the court, Elzy volunteers year-round with camps and activities for children.

Abrielle Ochsner Award Presentation

Albany High School sophomore Abrielle Ochsner has cheered for the Hornets for two years. She is pictured at center with North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Mandy Serpas and Albany High School Cheer Sponsor Deloy Duhon.

Albany High School Cheer Sponsor Deloy Duhon shares that Ochsner, who is a 4.2 honor student, is known for her kindness.

On top of taking high school algebra, biology, English and human geography advanced placement and honors classes, she is a student of Southeastern Louisiana University’s dual enrollment program and is recognized on the President’s List.

Ochsner is active in Beta Club and the Student Government Association, serving as sophomore representative.

Caleb Puma Award Presentation

Albany High School senior Caleb Puma has a 3.5 GPA and has played basketball for four years. As a guard, he averages 18 points per game. He is pictured at center with North Oaks Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Mandy Serpas, honoree Abrielle Ochsner and Albany High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Chris Carter.

Albany High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Chris Carter notes that Puma shares his love of the game by offering lessons to younger players.

“In his spare time, Caleb likes to mentor elementary and middle school student-athletes. He imparts the importance of hard work and a positive attitude to achieving their goals and becoming a role model to their peers,” Carter explains.

Puma also participates in community outreach and fundraising activities through the Legacy Youth Group of his church, New Beginnings Outreach in Holden.

Principals, coaches and athletic directors from high schools in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes nominate student-athletes. Candidates must: have a 3.0 GPA or higher, excel in athletic competition, participate in school and community organizations and have earned the respect of coaches, teammates, officials, teachers and their peers.

In May 2020, the North Oaks Sports Medicine team will choose a “Student-Athlete of the Year” from all season honorees.

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