Brendan Fraser learned today that he has been awarded the Rich Tompkins Multi-Sport Athlete Award from the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA).
Each year, the MHSCA recognizes the accomplishments of student-athletes who have excelled in a variety of athletic, academic, school, and community endeavors by presenting them with the Rich Tompkins Multi-Sport Athlete Award.
Fraser, who has participated in Irish cross-country, track and field, and wrestling, has been chosen as the state’s only male Class B recipient of the award. Each of the four classes of state high school athletics is honored by the MHSCA with a male and female recipient of the award.
Among Fraser’s accomplishments at Notre Dame Prep were regional and county finalists/championships in cross country, wrestling and track and field. He earned Academic All State accolades in cross country and wrestling and was named All State in cross country the past three years.
Fraser will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
James Okler, executive director of the MHSCA, said it is an extraordinary honor for Fraser. “It speaks highly of his academic and athletic aptitude and achievements,” Okler said.
According to Okler, a recipient of the Tompkins Award must have three seasons of interscholastic athletic participation in each of their four years of high school. In addition, their accomplishments as a scholar and their participation in additional school and community activities also are part of the annual award’s criteria.
Anthony Kulick, who teaches math at NDP and coached him in track and cross country, said Fraser is an excellent example of the school’s mission in action, which he believes makes him an excellent representative of the Tompkins Award.
“For example, Brendan demonstrates regularly what it means to be a ‘Christian person’ in many very obvious ways,” Kulick said. “He attends Mass regularly, both weekend services and morning Mass offered at NDP. Additionally, Brendan often led the team prayer before cross country or track meets. But most importantly, Brendan also demonstrates being a Christian and 'upright' person through his interactions with others. He is kind, outgoing, and engaging with his teammates and other students and is genuinely concerned with how other people are doing and wants people to feel welcome. And toward adults, he is always both attentive and respectful.”
Fraser will be continuing his education at the University of Notre Dame this fall where he signed in November to run cross country.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.