EAST LANSING, Mich. – Jan. 19 – Whiteford senior Ryin Ruddy is among 120 finalists for the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Scholar-Athlete Awards for the 2023-24 school year, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The program, in its 35th year, has recognized student-athletes since the 1989-90 school year and again this winter will honor 32 individuals from MHSAA member schools who participate in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament.

Scholarships will be presented proportionately by school classification, with 12 scholarships to be awarded to Class A student-athletes, six female and six male; eight scholarships will be awarded to Class B student-athletes, four female and four male; six scholarships will be awarded to Class C student-athletes, three female and three male; and four scholarships will be awarded to Class D student-athletes, two female and two male. In addition, two scholarships will be awarded at-large to minority recipients, regardless of school size.

A three sport athlete at Whiteford, Ruddy is among the Class C finalists. A four-year varsity football player, Ruddy also plays basketball and runs track. Last year he was on a state championship relay for the Bobcats at the state track meet. He was named All-State in football by the coaches association, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Associated Press. He was Academic All-State in football last season as well.

He recently committed to play football at Hillsdale College.

Every MHSAA member high school could submit as many applications as there are scholarships available in its classification and could have more than one finalist. Ann Arbor Greenhills, Birmingham Seaholm, East Grand Rapids, Manistee and Midland Dow have three finalists this year. Seven schools have two finalists: Beal City, Britton Deerfield, Dearborn, Mason, Northville, Oxford, and Traverse City West.

Multiple-sport participation remains the norm among applicants. The average sport participation rate of the finalists is 2.88. There are 77 three-plus sport participants in the finalists field, and all but two of the 28 sports in which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments are represented.

This year, 1,607 applications were received. All applicants will be presented with certificates commemorating their achievement. Additional Scholar-Athlete Award information, including a complete list of scholarship nominees, can be found on the Scholar-Athlete page at https://www.mhsaa.com/about/awards/scholar-athlete-award.

The Class C and D scholarship recipients will be announced Feb. 6, All announcements will be made on the MHSAA Website.

To be eligible for the award, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) and previously have won a varsity letter in at least one sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament. Students also were asked to respond to a series of short essay questions, and submit two letters of recommendation and a 500-word essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

BOYS CLASS C

Carter Upper, Alcona

Payton Butkovich, Beal City

Jamisen Latham, Beal City

Tristan B. Harbaugh, Gobles

Niko Burgoon, Iron Mountain

Kannon Duffing, Manchester

Brad H. McNeill, Montrose

Jack Lantz, New Buffalo

Ryin Ruddy, Ottawa Lake Whiteford

Benjamin March, St. Louis

Julian Ahluwalia, Traverse City St. Francis

Landen Muska, Vassar