Each month, the Southwestern Conference will recognize student-athletes who are excelling in the classroom as well as those who have demonstrated the highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship. For January, the SWC recognizes the following student-athletes:
Scholar Athletes of the Month
Lewis Gallagher
Senior
Avon Lake High School
Football / Wrestling / Track & Field
Lewis Gallagher carries a 3.88 grade point average into his final year. The Honor Roll and National Honor Society student is currently enrolled AP Psychology, AP English Literature, AP Biology and Honors Chorale. The Boys Soccer captain is active on the Champions 4 Life Leadership Team.
Drew DiFranco
Senior
Midview High School
Boys Golf / Basketball
Drew DiFranco carries a 4.1581 grade point average into his final school year. The High Honor Roll and National Honor Society member is currently enrolled Legal Environment of Business, Intro to Business Administration and College Composition at LCCC. He is an active member of Best Buddies and Unified Sports.
Camryn Evans
Senior
Avon High School
Cheerleading / Dance
Camryn Evans carries a 4.45 cumulative grade point average into her final school year. The National Honor Society President is currently enrolled in AP Research, AP Literature, AP Psychology and Microeconomics and Personal Finance through LCCC. Evans is President of the National Honors Society, AP Scholar with Distinction Award recipient, Candidate for AP Capstone Diploma, County-wide Rotary Speech Contest Runner-Up, Cheerleading Leadership Award recipient, Cheerleading Spirit Award recipient, Director of Leukemia Lymphoma Society and High Honor Roll recipient. She is also Director of Leukemia Lymphoma Society and employee at Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes.
Sportsmanship Athletes of the Month
Griffin Turay
Senior
North Ridgeville High School
Basketball
Griffin Turay will be a four-year letterman on the Rangers’ Boys Basketball team. He earned All-SWC first team as a junior. Academically, Turay carries a 4.082 grade point average while taking both AP and LCCC classes. He plans to continue his academic and athletic career at Lake Erie College.
Natalie Pleban
Senior
Amherst Steele High School
Girls Soccer / Girls Basketball / Girls Track & Field
Natalie Pleoban is going to achieve a rare feat in high school athletics. She will earn 12 Varsity Letters over 3 sports by the conclusion of this school year. She has been (will be) a four-year varsity athlete in Soccer, Basketball, and Track & Field!
Natalie has had a great athletic career to this point of her high school experience. She finished 15th in the 100m Hurdles at the OHSAA State Track & Field Qualifier last spring. She was also the SWC 100m Hurdle Champion, finished second at the OHSAA District Championship and third at OHSAA Regional Championship. On the soccer field, she was the starting Goalkeeper and earned All-SWC Second Team honors, On the basketball court, Natalie earned All-SWC Honorable Mention as a sophomore.
Lauren Lantow
Junior
Berea-Midpark High School
Girls Volleyball / Girls Basketball
“Lauren is the player that will do whatever is best for the team. This year in particular she was the first to step up and change position when it was in the best interest of the team. She is always one of the first to ask a question and always willing to speak up on behalf of the team.”
– Kate Riley, BMHS Volleyball Coach
“Through all the ups and downs, highs and lows that Lauren has gone through she always maintains a positive energy and focus to her teammates. In practice and games her team first attitude and ability to help strategically with others is invaluable to our team.”
– Kevin McNamara, BMHS Girls Basketball Coach
