Michael Wilson, Senator Ted Gaines and Zach Pickett (left to right) wait in Gaines' office minutes before each went to the Senate floor Thursday at the state Capitol.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The official title was the 2014 NFHS National Spirit of Sport Recognition and CIF/Farmers Scholar-Athlete Day.
But CIF Executive Director Roger Blake cut right to the chase Thursday morning: "Today is probably the most fun thing we do all year. Today reminds us why we do what we do."
Close to 40 family members, CIF dignitaries and sponsors converged at the state Capitol to honor three very special senior student-athletes.
Hanford water polo player and swimmer Jenna Van Fossen and
Colfax three-sport standout
Michael Wilson are the CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year, while
Ponderosa (Shingle Springs) water polo player and swimmer Zach Pickett is the NFHS' National Spirit of Sport recipient.
The Fresno State-bound Van Fossen and UCLA-bound Wilson are considered the top two of more than 750,000 high school student athletes from 1,540 California schools to claim the state's top two prizes, which include a $5,000 scholarship from Farmers Insurance. They beat out 426 other finalists.
Hanford senior Jenna Van Fossen (left) and
Colfax senior Michael Wilson pose in front
of the state Capitol.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Pickett, believed to the only paraplegic water polo player in the country, played just 14 months after his seventh vertebra was crushed and compressed into his spinal cord during a diving accident at Cameron Park Lake before his junior season.
See Zach Pickett's storyAll were honored at the state Capitol Thursday morning on the floors of the Senate and the Assembly. Assembly member Brian Dahle first introduced Wilson, then Assembly member Rudy Salas introduced Van Fossen. On the Senate floor, Senator Ted Gaines recognized Wilson and Pickett and Senator Andy Vidak recognized Van Fossen.
"Being introduced on the floors of the Senate and Assembly was a little surreal," Wilson said.
Said Van Fossen: "To just have the privilege of playing the sports we love is good enough. To be honored in this way is just a little overwhelming."
Said Pickett: "It's just a great day."
It didn't end there. The trio was honored at a lunch at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel. Blake, Farmers Northern California Head of Sales Jonathan Paul and CIF President Rick Spears helped present the awards.
Pickett, who will be honored later this month in Boston by the NFHS, thanked Farmers, the CIF and mostly his family. Besides overcoming the physical and emotional setbacks of his injury, Pickett also maintained a 4.17 GPA. He's headed to USC.
He acknowledged his father Tod, mom Judy and brothers Kyle and Ryan, who were all in attendance.
"My family has helped get me through this long journey," he said.
See Pickett's miraculous walk at graduationWilson was a football, basketball and baseball standout while maintaining a 4.38 GPA. He said he's considering walking on to UCLA's football team, but it will likely not be at quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior probably is too small to call signals in the Pac-12 Conference even though he threw for 3,560 yards and 46 touchdowns as a senior.
He thanked his parents Dan and Debbie Wilson, brother Adam Wilson and grandmother Wendy Eddy, all in attendance.
"Simply put, Michael is an intelligent, talented, hard-working, ethical and personable young man," said Spears, who is also retiring as principal at Colfax. "In addition to his intellectual achievements, he is a true gentleman of quiet tenacity and integrity."
Van Fossen competed all four years in both sports at Hanford, where she boasted a 4.48 overall GPA and a No. 1 class ranking. Besides being an all-league goalie and scholar juggernaut, Van Fossen also gave back in the community through the drama club, CSF and MESA.
She thanked her mom Marta Hendrickson, dad Carl Van Fossen and sister Emma Van Fossen. Five other family and friends made the 200-mile drive from Hanford.
"I feel crazy lucky to be here today," Jenna Van Fossen said.
Her school's Athletic Director, Beau Hill, said Hanford was lucky to have a student-athlete like Van Fossen.
"In my 24 years of being involved in high school athletics, Jenna is one of the hardest working athletes I have been around," he said. "The determination and will to succeed this young lady possesses will guarantee success in all aspects of her life."
