2016 Male Athlete of the Year
I think the mark of a great athlete is when the coaches of our league opponents know your name and have to strategize how they are going to TRY to shut you down. I bet every football, basketball and baseball coach in the Flint Metro League knows the name Adam Tooley.
Adam earned 11 varsity letters – 4 in football, 4 in basketball and 3 in baseball – while maintaining an impressive 3.75 GPA.
In the sport of football, Adam earned all league honors and HM Oakland County each of his final three years of high school. He was HM All- State this during his senior year. He was both our captain and our team MVP since his sophomore year. This statement shows just how great an impact he made on the Holly Football program. Adam played in the 1st annual Flint Area All Star game and in the MHSFCA East-West All Star game. Adam graduated with his name in the history books …he holds four school records. They are:
• Receiving Record … Career – 1250 yards (2012-2015)
• Pass Receptions … Single Game – 11 (2013)
• Pass Receptions … Season – 44 (2013)
• Pass Receptions … Career – 102 (2012-2015)
Coach Ryan Culloty stated, “Adam was only the 2nd 4 -year starter I have had the pleasure to work with since getting into coaching 16 years ago. As an athlete, Adam demonstrates excellent ability and is able to make big plays anywhere on the field and does so in the tightest, most stressful situations. Adam is a relentless competitor and a driven young man. Each day he came to practice wanting to get better and he set the standard for our team in terms of the level of effort that was expected. Quite simply, Adam is the definition of a leader, willing to take on those duties as early as his sophomore year and continued to do so as a senior. He lead on the field as a top player, he worked with his teammates to help them get better and was a leader in the classroom maintaining an "A" average while being a 3 sport athlete. Having an Adam Tooley on your team was like having another coach on the field and in the locker room. I will not fully be able to articulate what a difference he made in our program until we have to take the field without him. I can think of no other person so deserving of this recognition.”
During the winter months, Adam was a difference maker on the basketball court. He holds our school record for Steals in a Season with 86. During his senior campaign he was our team captain, and earned all league and all tri-county honors. Adam was a member of two Flint Metro League and one district championship team. Coach Baylis stated, "I've played with and against some great athletes. I've coached and coached against All-State high school basketball players. I have NEVER EVER seen a player play harder than Adam Tooley. I have NEVER EVER seen a player embody team spirit more than Adam Tooley. I have NEVER EVER seen a player bring tears of joy to my eyes based on pure effort and sacrifice for the single cause of the team's best interest. Because of these characteristics, I have named an award after a player for the very first time in my 12 years at Holly. The "Adam Tooley Outstanding All-Around Player Award" will be given to the player each year that represents these great qualities for the team.”
I’m sure it comes as no surprise … Adam was a great baseball player too. Adam earned all Flint Metro League honors three times and was named to the All-District team in 2014. Adam was our team captain both his junior and senior years. Coach Benny Jackson wrote, “Adam is undoubtedly one of the greatest student athletes to come through Holly. It has been my pleasure to coach him for the last 3 years. He is the ultimate team player…it's always team first with Adam. He deserves every award out there. He is an outstanding young man outside the sports arena as well. He knows that academics comes first and he knows what being a real genuine young man to others means as well. I will miss him dearly next year."
Adam was a Flint Metro League scholar-athlete each of the nine trimesters he was eligible. He was a member of the National Honor Society. Adam gave back to area youth by working our FB, basketball and baseball camps. He also officiated youth basketball.