2012 Male Athlete of the Year
Shawn had a tremendous high school career. Shawn’s main sport was wrestling. However, rather than quitting football to focus on wrestling, he stuck with football all four years, playing on our varsity team during his junior and senior seasons and earned 2nd team FML honors as an outside linebacker and joined the celebration when our team won the league title…our first FML championship. When I asked varsity football coach, Coach Culloty, to share a few words regarding Shawn he stated, “Shawn had a remarkable career as a football player here at Holly HS. Instead of discussing accolades and accomplishments, which were many, I would like to speak about the "other" things he brought to our program. Shawn embodies everything we look for in a player on the field…tough, intelligent, fearless. Shawn's ability to play at a high level down after down and do so with such a physical presence is quite remarkable. The Holly Football staff will always regard Shawn as someone who set the tone for us these past two seasons and helped establish our program as a top team in the Flint Metro League.”
As a freshman wrestler, Shawn earned a record of 52-12, was named to the All-Oakland County team and was a MHSAA state finals qualifier. HHS wrestling coach Don Pluta states, “what characterizes Shawn best, is his work ethic and drive to succeed.”
As a sophomore, Shawn was chosen team captain, was the Flint Metro League champion, all-Oakland county, MHSAA district champion, finished 2nd in the individual regional and qualified for the MHSAA state finals. This time, he would not come home empty handed. Shawn medaled when he finished in 4th place and was named honorable mention all-state. He earned the State Bank Athlete of the Week award and finished the season with a 52-8 record. Coach Pluta shared, “even though he finished 4th and earned all state honors, Shawn vowed to work even harder”. The summer following his sophomore year he was a member of Team Michigan and wrestled in Oklahoma City and Virginia Beach.
As a junior, Shawn was again team captain. This year his accomplishments include State Bank Athlete of the Week, Flint Metro League champion, Oakland County champion, MHSAA District and Regional champion, and MHSAA state finals qualifier. Shawn made it to the final match at The Palace…but lost a heartbreaker and ended up taking 2nd place and earned all-state honors. According to Caoch Pluta, “after his 2nd place finish and a 55-2 season he challenged himself to outwork everyone”. The summer after his junior year he was again a member of Team Michigan and wrestled in Oklahoma City, Virginia Beach and Fargo.
Senior Year…once again, team captain. He was a State Bank Athlete of the Week, Oakland County MVP, MVP at the Lake Orion invite and at the Macomb/Oakland duals (an invite where the best in both counties compete), HHS Most Valuable Wrestler and Holly HS Male Athlete of the Year. Shawn was crowned Flint Metro League, Oakland County, MHSAA District, Regional and (finally) State Champion. He finished the season 56-0…giving him 215 career victories and 3rd place in Holly’s history books and on our top ten record board. Coach Pluta stated, “throughout the wrestling season he pushed himself everyday. The hard work paid off. In the process he was a great captain and teammate. He not only earned individual honors but led our team to league, district, regional titles and back to back team state final appearances.” Shawn attended the Senior Nationals, finished impressively in 4th place and earned All-American honors. He will again represent Team Michigan, this summer at Virginia Beach and Disney World.