05/15/2007

Treece state's top athlete

She has won 7 state titles in track and cross country

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Record-Eagle/
Jan-Michael Stump
Glen Lake's Marissa Treece is a 3.95 student and is bound for Notre Dame. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Detroit Athletic Club.

DETROIT — For the second year in a row, Leelanau County is home to the state's Female Athlete of the Year.

Glen Lake senior Marissa Treece received the honor from the Detroit Athletic Club on Monday night, one year after Leland's Alisha Glass earned the award.

There were six finalists.

"I think it's pretty exciting,” said Treece, who has won four state titles in track and three in cross country. "All six of us are qualified. It's just exciting that I got something like that.”

Treece stopped short of predicting which Leelanau athlete would win next season to make it a three-peat.

"I'm not sure, we'll just have to wait and see,” Treece joked.

Whitehall's Ryan VanBergen was selected the Male Athlete of the Year.

Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton and Calvin College swim star Becky Weima were picked as the College Athletes of the Year. The lifetime achievement award was presented to former Major League and University of Michigan pitcher Jim Abbott.

"What a neat, neat thing,” Glen Lake track coach and athletic director Paul Christiansen said. "It was a great opportunity and they put on a great ceremony.”

The athletes were recognized not only for their athletic ability, but also for their academic and humanitarian efforts.

In addition to her state titles, Treece is a record holder in cross country and track. She is ranked second in her class and has received academic all-state honors in both sports.

The 13-year 4-H member is also the school's national honor society secretary and maintains a 3.95 grade point average. Treece has committed to Notre Dame and plans to study business management and marketing.

Still, Treece said she was surprised to hear her name called.

"I was,” she said. "You always have that little hope that it's you. There's a real good soccer player down here. She's traveled all over playing soccer and she's an All-American. I thought for sure that she'd win it.”

Van Bergen is an all-state football, basketball and track star. He is an honor roll student maintaining a 3.7 grade point average and national honor society member. He has been recognized on numerous occasions as a scholar athlete by various organizations. Van Bergen signed a letter of intent to play football for the University of Michigan this fall.

Winners of the 2007 Michigan High School Athlete of the Year Awards were announced during the annual Dodge National Athletic Awards, which were held at the DAC and benefit the March of Dimes.