Five student-athletes from Anthony Wayne High School have been named to the 2025 National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Academic All-American Team — an honor reserved for the top student-athletes in the nation who maintain at least a 3.6 GPA while excelling in their sports.
Five players — Ryan Dzierwa, Jessica Kennelly, Mallory Pike, Leah Pike and Charlotte “Charley” Gardner — were nominated by their Coach Chrissy Graven for demonstrating excellence in the classroom and on the court during what became the most memorable season in school history.
“We’ve done this our whole lives,” said junior Jessica Kennelly. “Balancing school and sports is just part of who we are and the way we do things.”
That experience and balance paid off. The Generals enjoyed a remarkably successful season, remaining undefeated until the state final – where they closed out their season as state runners-up in their first-ever appearance at the championship.
Senior Ryan Dzierwa, who plans to study criminal justice at Bowling Green State University, said that it meant a lot to be acknowledged for her efforts. “It’s an honor to be recognized for the academic rigor,” she said. “It shows our priorities — we were locked in on school while still balancing the demands of our sport.”
She, along with juniors Leah and Mallory Pike, earned First Team All-NLL honors. Kennelly and Gardner were named to the Second Team. Leah and Mallory also earned All-Ohio recognition and have committed to continue their volleyball careers at Ball State University.
For these girls, academic success wasn’t an afterthought. It was expected.
“Our coach never had to remind us,” said sophomore Charley Gardner. “We’d go home after school to do homework, then come back and win games, then go home to get good sleep. It was just built into the routine.”
Each balances a challenging course load, with most of them taking College Credit Plus and Honors Classes - but they rarely are concerned with their current GPA.
“I don't religiously check it - because it can add to stress,” Charlie said. “There’s really smart people in all of our grades and academics can be really competitive.
They were more concerned about keeping up with the volume of work, and time management was the name of the game. For many, they found that downtime could lead to procrastination, like spending more time scrolling through social media on their phones.
Mallory Pike, who also runs track, explained that being busy actually helps her stay focused, “I make to-do lists and know what I need to get done. I want to leave time to play pickleball, so it’s making good use of my time.”
Even with grueling club schedules — which sometimes include extended-weekend tournaments, long road trips, hours of missed class — the girls leaned on their ability to plan ahead and communicate with teachers.
“It really came down to being proactive,” said Charley. “Our teachers were supportive, but we had to hold up our end. Ask for the work. Do it in the car. Make it up afterward. It was on us to communicate with our teachers.”
Jessica added, “I think the key is just talking to people. Our coaches, our teachers — they made it okay to be honest about what we needed.”
Mindfulness and mental health were part of the formula too. The team regularly held mindfulness sessions where they discussed stress, gratitude and school life. “Those conversations made us closer,” said Ryan. “They helped us open up, which made us stronger on the court too.”
Their advice to others? Prioritize, communicate and remember that balance requires commitment.
“Be disciplined and make the most of your time,” Charley said. “You don’t have to give up everything — school, sports, or your social life. But you do have to be intentional about your priorities.”
Congratulations to each of the girls for their academic and athletic accomplishments!