Mason County Sports Hall of Fame presents Life Lesson Awards

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame has announced the recipients of the 2025 Life Lesson Awards, two from each of the county public high schools. Alex Tyndall and Lucy Shoup of Mason County Eastern High School, Nyvaeh Wendt and Jaxon Munoz from Mason County Central High School, and Reese Willis and Maksim “Maks” Flanery from Ludington High School, each chose a charity for a $100 donation given by the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame in their honor.

Initiated in 2023, the award recipients are selected by respective high school athletic directors and coaches based on the athlete’s demonstration of the themes Teamwork, Leadership, Perseverance, Discipline, Respect and/or Overcoming Adversity, all life lessons the MCSHOF has chosen to highlight as learned from participation in team and individual sports.

Lucy Shoup of Mason County Eastern, daughter of Paul and Susan Shoup, was chosen for her teamwork and perseverance. Shoup ran cross country and track and field, played basketball and softball and earned All-State honors in cross country and track. She prioritizes maintaining a positive attitude while supporting those around her and leading by example. In addition to athletics, Shoup was very active in Mason County Youth Advisory Council, Varsity Club, band, honorary school board member for student council, vice president of the National Honor Society and a 12-year 4-H member. In her sophomore year, Shoup lived in France for a semester as part of a study-abroad program. She plans to attend Michigan State University, pursuing a career in dermatology. Shoup chose Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center of the Mason County Fund of Ludington as the charity to receive her donation.

Alexander Tyndall of Mason County Eastern, son of Scott and Rebecca Tyndall, was chosen for his teamwork and leadership. Tyndall participated in basketball, baseball, indoor and outdoor track, and cross country. He earned All-State honors in cross country and track and field and was the 2025 MCDCCA Small School State Champion in cross country. Tyndall has a strong belief that to prosper in sport you have to love your sport, a lesson he’s tried to share with his teammates. He set school records in cross country and in the 1,600 meters in track and set the county record in the 3,200 meters. Tyndall plans to attend Lake Superior State University in the fall, running cross country and track. He chose The Samantha Bateson Memorial Scholarship to receive the donation given in his honor.

Nyvaeh Wendt of Mason County Central, daughter of Syerra Wendt and the late Josh Boerma, was chosen for her determination and overcoming adversity. After struggling at the start of her high school years she was determined to improve and that she did, improving her grade point average every year through focus and hard work.  Wendt earned All-State twice in wrestling and received a scholarship to wrestle at Sienna Heights University in the fall. She was the captain of the wrestling team her senior year, earning 100 career wins and was the first female wrestler to be named all-state. Along with wrestling, Wendt participated in cross country, softball and track and field. The charity she chose as the recipient of the donation given in her honor was Five CAP.

Jaxon Munoz of Mason County Central, son of Tonya Munoz and Terrell Williams, was chosen to receive the award for his determination. Munoz came to MCC his sophomore year looking for a new start, after struggling to find his place at his previous school. He first joined the basketball team where he found some success and camaraderie with teammates. He steadily improved in the classroom and found himself a new home as a Spartan. Munoz has excelled to the point he started on the football team this year, as well as the basketball team, earning all-conference honors in basketball. Munoz has started a window-washing business in the local area. The charity he chose as the recipient of the donation given in his honor is the Mason County Reformed Church.

Reese Willis of Ludington, daughter of Mark and Jeanne Willis, was selected for demonstrating leadership and respect. As an athlete, she participated in swimming, basketball and soccer, earning All-Conference honors in the pool, in the 200-meter medley relay, the 50 and the 100 freestyle races during her senior campaign. She was a member of the West Michigan Conference Champion soccer team her senior year. Willis demonstrated leadership through her service in the following roles: vice president of the Ludington High School Class of 2025, officer for the Anna Miller Chapter of the National Honor Society and her participation on the Mason County Youth Advisory Council. Reese, named Ludington High School All-Around Senior in 2025. Willis plans to attend the University of Kentucky, studying marketing with a minor in business analytics. She chose the Teen Resource Center at Ludington High School as the charity to receive the donation given in her honor.

Maksim “Maks” Flanery of Ludington, son of Brian and Jennifer Flanery, has been selected for demonstrating perseverance and respect. Flanery participated in football and golf and was always willing to do whatever was asked of him; from playing multiple positions because he was asked by the coaches to working diligently to help develop Ludington’s youth football program.  He was the consummate team player, named team captain of the football and golf teams his senior year. He was named West Michigan Conference Honorable Mention in golf. He participated in the Mason County 4-H program, including a number of volunteer opportunities. Flanery will attend West Shore Community College in the fall to study agricultural science. He chose Lakeshore Food Club as the recipient of the donation given in his honor.

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