Amy Morlock said what she?ll remember most about her high-school career is winning the region cross-country title as a ninth-grader.
“My coaches expected me to be up near the top, but they didn?t expect me to win,” Morlock said. “I was just a freshman, but I ran a smart race, ran fast and finished first. It was pretty exciting.”
Three and a half years later, it turns out Morlock raced a pretty smart high-school career.
The Perry Hall senior, who also ran indoor and outdoor track, and with David Meniger, a soccer, wrestling and lacrosse standout from Loch Raven High School, were named recipients of the 19th annual Mildred Murray Scholar-Athlete Awards and Scholarships on Wednesday in a ceremony at the Baltimore School Board of Education building in Towson.
Superintendent Joe Hairston, along with Mildred Murray, the former Baltimore County athletics coordinator who helped establish the awards, presented plaques and $1,000 scholarships to each winner.
Meniger, who scored two goals in helping lead Loch Raven to the school?s first-ever boys lacrosse state championship, said his most memorable moment from high-school athletics will always be winning the face-off and starting the fast break that led to the Raiders? key goal in the win over Parkside in the state title game.
The midfielder said he hasn?t decided if he?ll play next year at Delaware State University.
“When I was first starting to look at schools, the most important thing was if I was if I could play lacrosse there,” Meniger said. “But eventually, the more I looked, I reached a certain point where playing lacrosse was secondary and finding a school that suited me academically was more important.”
Meniger plans to study physics and mathematics and is considering a research career.
Morlock won a swimming and academic scholarship to Towson University. She plans to study exercise physiology and pursue a graduate degree in physical therapy.
In order to qualify for the award, Baltimore County seniors must maintain at least a 3.5 GPA and participate in at least two varsity sports ? guidelines these two easily surpassed. Meniger earned a 4.0 unweighted GPA, is ranked ninth in his class, and was team captain of both the soccer and lacrosse squads. Morlock has an unweighted 3.96 GPA, is ranked 26th in a class of 547 and has been selected to numerous All-County and All-Met teams.
