Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Michael Hugelier

Oswego IL

27 August, 2021

1:19 PM

Description

Senior Michael Hugelier found a passion for golf in the 8th grade, bonding over the sport with his father. Enrolling at Oswego East allowed him to try out for the golf team, and an opportunity to not only improve his own game but become a leader and mentor for his teammates. Michael's consistent play and the impact he has on his teammates are just a couple of reasons why he is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week. Having been introduced to the game at a young age, Michael didn't develop interest until the 8th grade. "My dad kept pushing the game and eventually I got really into it," says Michael. Michael's mom, Jackie Hugelier, says, "Michael has a special relationship with his father." She goes on to add, "Golfing together is where they get their bonding time. It's 4-5 hours of uninterrupted time filled with life lessons, laughter, and how to handle yourself on the course." As a multi-sport athlete (Michael also plays hockey for the Oswego team), Michael has learned how to prioritize his time and what it means to make sacrifices. "Michael is very disciplined as a student, and as an athlete, he has a strong desire to excel and high expectations for himself," says Jackie. She continues by saying, "He plays golf and hockey and sometimes has to go straight from the course to the ice and still finds time to study." Head golf coach Jim Vera is grateful to have one more season with Michael and understands how important Michael has been to the program's success. "His best quality as a golfer is how high his standards are for himself." He adds, "I don't think Michael gets enough credit for how much he has had to do with the team's success in the past two years. Because of his consistency, he is responsible for a lot of our victories. He is driven to be the best." As a junior, Michael was named all-conference and qualified for the sectional tournament. This season, Michael is raising the stakes by setting a goal of qualifying for the state tournament. Anyone who has played golf understands how important the mental part of the game is, making Michael's leadership vital to the team's success. "Michael is an excellent teammate, and he has matured greatly over the years as both a golfer and a person," says Jim. That maturity has helped Michael serve as a mentor, with mom Jackie saying, "I've watched Michael golf with underclassmen, and his patience level and the way he explains the game to them is so relatable." Michael hopes to use that leadership experience to major in sports marketing and one day coach. "I want to coach hockey, but sports marketing gives me a ton of options such as being an agent, trainer, writer, or journalist," says Michael. Graham Brown, who has taught Michael in several business classes, thinks Michael has chosen the right field, saying, "Michael is charismatic and able to relate well with others." He goes on to add, "Michael has a strong passion for sports, and sports influence much of what he does inside and outside the classroom. He will be successful because his dedication to sports will drive his will to continue to be a part of the industry." As a senior, Michael understands his time left in high school is limited. However, he is willing to do the work necessary to achieve his goals and set himself up for future success. "It's going to be hard to see him go, but I know that he has great things in his future, both as a golfer and a person," says Jim. Michael will be sure to stay in the now and advises future Wolves to be mindful of the short time they have, saying, "Enjoy it while it lasts because it goes by really quickly."