Tanana Emmendorfer earns Sand Creek Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor

SAND CREEK — An injured ankle could be the doom of a track and field sprinter, but Sand Creek’s Tanana Emmendorfer defied the odds.

A dual-sport athlete , Emmendorfer hurt her ankle sliding into third base in the first Aggie softball game of the season. Some around her told her that her spring sports season might be done.

“It was pretty bad,” she said. “I was in a boot for a week and a half and went to therapy for about three weeks. I had to get X-rays. My PT therapist was not hopeful, but it ended up working out.”

Emmendorfer not only returned to the softball field, but she also earned All-State honors in track by placing seventh in the 200 and eighth in the 400 at the Division 3 state meet. She also won the 400 at the Tri-County Conference championships and placed second in the event at the Lenawee County Championships.

The Sand Creek graduate was one of three valedictorians in her class and is now Sand Creek's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

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After the ankle injury, her doctors advised against playing softball. She wasn’t having it.

“I wore an ankle brace for most of the season until the last two weeks. It was a set-back but I just took it as a little bit of a hurdle I had to get over,” she said. “I was advised to by the doctors and my physical therapist, but softball was something I really wanted to do for my senior year.”

While she didn’t run or bat, she was on the field playing a defensive position throughout the rest of the season. Sand Creek softball coach Derek Hewitt was glad she stuck around for softball.

“She could have easily said she was just going to get better for track, but she didn’t,” Hewitt said. “She is an outstanding kid, hardworking and a leader by example. I was so happy for her outstanding success in track after everything she has been through injury wise.

“I wish I had a whole team of Tanana’s.”

Emmendorfer finished her high school career with 13 varsity letters. In addition to softball and track, she also played volleyball, golfed and played basketball.

“I did a lot of homework in the bleachers,” the 4.0 student said.

She won multiple Outstanding Academic Awards at Sand Creek, was first chair in the band, was chosen to the Sand Creek homecoming court, picked up the Penny Herriman Outstanding Senior Award, was a Daughters of the American Revolution essay winner and was chosen for a Community Service Award.

She was class president, served on the yearbook staff, prom committee and was involved in numerous volunteer organizations, from the St. Joseph Food Pantry to the Salvation Army.

She was first runner-up at the 2023 Lenawee County Fair Queen pageant and will compete for queen this summer as well.

“It was tough, but it was never too much,” she said. “The time and effort were a sacrifice I was willing to make. My academic career was very important to me.”

The daughter of Riki Carson and Eric Emmendorfer was named after former Detroit Tiger baseball player Frank Tanana. She will run track at Spring Arbor University where she will major in business with an English minor. She’d like to work in the non-profit field or women’s outreach.

The Adrian resident began attending Sand Creek in the sixth grade.

“Moving to Sand Creek was one of best choices I ever made,” she said. “I met my best friends there and met some incredible teammates and coaches. I think Sand Creek is the reason I was able to accomplish what I have in academics and athletics.”

SAND CREEK'S HONORABLE MENTIONS

Daniel Meckley, 4.0 (football, wrestling, track)

Denae Covey, 3.66 (equestrian, cross, track basketball, volleyball)

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Tanana Emmendorfer earns Sand Creek Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor