Cort Kramer

Rob Pursley Scholarship, 2020

 

From the time I was four years old, I have loved playing team sports. I started playing baseball and basketball at the YMCA and soon started playing on local baseball teams and played basketball through the Sycamore Athletic Club. I played with and against many of my current teammates through the SAC organization, so by the time I was playing junior high basketball, we had already established a bond of athletic camaraderie. My goal was to always help our team win, whether that meant scrambling for a ball, grabbing the rebound or making a sneaky pass to someone who could score. It was never about scoring points for me. I always wanted to contribute to the team.

 

Being a great teammate means so much more than anything else you do in sports. Especially at the high school level, the memories you make playing a sport are going to be about the people who were with you. No one is going to remember how well someone played, what the score was, or someone’s statistics in a random game twenty, thirty, or even forty years later. What they will remember is that great teammate was always there for them, for better or worse. Being a great teammate is also about the things off the court/field. It can be as simple as just making sure they get to practice on time, but it is also the person who will come over and talk to you when it is needed. Ultimately, a teammate needs to be a good person and a great friend first. This doesn’t mean that you tell them what they want to hear, but what they need to hear. You have to be real and honest with them.

 

The importance of telling people how you feel is second to none. As in Rob’s life, bad things seem to happen to the best people. Rob seemed like the kind of person who you truly wanted to be around. So, to see someone who was such a good person and had done so much good for other people die so early, it reinforces the importance of sharing how you feel on a regular basis. You never know when you are going to see someone next. Whether they are traveling across the world or just going to the store to get a loaf of bread, a freak turn of events is always possible in the world in which we live. In my own life, I always make sure I tell my parents when I leave for school or the weekends that I love them, and if for some reason I can’t say it face to face, there is always a text to tell them. Both my parents, especially my mom, has always made it something that has to be done. It was always one of those things for her that took no effort and something that should be done no matter what. Life is short and as one of my coaches always reminds me, we are all listed day to day. 

 

Being a Sycamore student-athlete is truly something special. Almost all of my friends are people with whom I have played sports with most of them students at Sycamore High School. There have been guys who played basketball with me in second grade that no longer play, but the bond we created during that time is still as strong. The 2018-19 Sycamore varsity basketball team is a perfect example. This team holds a special place in every single one of those player’s hearts as it was a unique group of athletes who enjoyed each other’s company on and off the court. It had nothing to do with wins or losses, but everything to do with being a team player. I have never been on such an incredible team that was so close in my life. That bond was created at Sycamore, from the countless workouts, team dinners and the summer road trips. Essentially, most of my friendships would not be what they are today without the opportunity that Sycamore athletics has given me, and I am forever thankful for that.

 

As a natural leader, I have always wanted to lead the teams on which I have been. This basketball season has not been any different. With a team of just two seniors, there is a lack of upper-classman leadership just in pure numbers. The need for leadership is at an all-time high with such a young, immature team. We have had countless classes and discussions about what it means for me to be a leader in the program as well as within the team. I have played with so many different types of individuals that I bring a collaborative perspective to the floor each time we play. I want them to succeed as much as I want to succeed which is the best combination a leader can have.   I am ready for the challenge and look forward to how I can help the younger players grow into great teammates.

 

Earning this scholarship would be very beneficial for next year. As a hopeful NCAA division three college baseball player, college expenses will be high without a lot of opportunities to have a job.   I am looking forward to being able to continue building relationships with new teammates and hopefully leading them at some point to great accomplishments. As I develop as both a person and an adult, I want to glean the best leadership and sportsmanship attributes of Rob Pursley and apply them in my own life.

 

 

Ben Yuskewich

Rob Pursley Scholarship, 2019

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First off, I would like to introduce myself, so you can better understand me as a person, student, and a basketball player. My name is Ben Yuskewich, I am a senior at Sycamore High School, a three year varsity starter and captain for the Aviator basketball team. I am the oldest child in a family of four, and was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. My priorities in life are as follows:  1) family, 2) education, 3) basketball.  I’d like to share my story in each of these areas:

 

Family - In terms of what family means to me, it is everything. I am very fortunate to have two loving parents who routinely make sacrifices to support my sister and I, helping us grow and develop to our fullest potential.  In addition, I have 3 grandparents, 5 sets of aunts and uncles, and 11 cousins all of whom live in Cincinnati.  We get together regularly to celebrate holidays and support one another in our extracurricular activities.  I also have a sister who is 2 years younger than me.  We have a “normal” sibling relationship in that we argue and fight on occasion.  But, my sister has special needs – she is autistic.  While her disability makes some typical daily tasks more challenging, it has also strengthened our bond.  Kendall looks to me for guidance, help, support and comfort; and I do everything I can to take care of her.  Through our relationship, I’ve learned to appreciate the gifts I have and to have compassion for those less fortunate.  Family always has been and always will be the most important priority in my life.

 

Education - I have always set big goals for myself – and I knew education was the key to achieving them.  With clear focus and hard work, I have achieved at a high level in the classroom. I received a 35 on my ACT and currently have a 4.2 GPA. While those are just numbers, I feel they reflect the diligence with which I approach my education. I’ve challenged myself with a difficult schedule throughout high school with accelerated and AP courses (including 4 my senior year) to ready myself for success in college and beyond.

 

Basketball – Growing up, I enjoyed playing a variety of sports. But, basketball was always my passion. I fell in love with the game despite not being naturally gifted. Early on, I was always one of the smallest kids on the team, and objectively was also one of the least athletic. But, I loved competing and compensated for those disadvantages with tremendous energy and effort.  It wasn’t until seventh grade that high energy and effort were no longer enough to make me competitive. I made the junior high team that year, but I rarely played in games. It was the first time in my life that trying my best wasn’t good enough. After that season, there was a part of me that wanted to quit. I rationalized that I wasn’t being treated fairly by the coach. Ultimately, I had to stop making excuses and hold myself accountable for my own success. I chose to focus all my energy on improvement, and committed myself to maximizing my potential. I did this knowing full well that I might fail.  The following summer I dedicated my time to working hard for something that was important to me, and I loved it. Not only did I love the game of basketball, but I also fell in love with the process of improving myself. Initially, I focused on shooting and ball handling fundamentals.  I researched training techniques, went to the gym every day, and tracked my progress. I set goals for myself and refused to leave the gym until I accomplished them. My commitment was fueled by a passion for the game and a continuous drive for success.  By the time I made it to high school, I was a changed player. At tryouts, I wasn’t worried about making the team; I had my eyes set on bigger goals. I made the junior varsity team my freshman year and led the team in scoring. But I wasn’t satisfied. I set even higher goals for the following season and started rigorous off-season training immediately. As a sophomore, I made the varsity team and was the third leading scorer.  Following that season, I sought critical feedback from coaches and took a hard look at opportunities to improve my game and take it to the next level.  I spent the next off-season in the weight room, adding 30 pounds of muscle, while also increasing my speed, agility and jumping ability.  My junior season, I was in the top ten in scoring in the GMC and named second team all-conference. Now in my senior season, I’m a team captain, and on pace to be one of the all-time leading scorers in school history.  I cannot put into words all that Sycamore basketball has done for me. It has given me an outlet when things aren’t going well in life, it has given me great relationships with staff at the school, and it has also given me a group of brothers that will always be close to me. I believe that I have helped revive this program, through my hours of hard work and dedication.  I also believe my class of seniors have laid the groundwork for the next generation of Sycamore basketball players, showing them what it’s like to be dedicated players and passionate leaders.

 

Future Plans – As I said before, I have always prioritized education as a means to achieving my goals. I have already been accepted into the universities of Indiana, Iowa, Miami (OH), and Ohio State. I am focused on larger schools with a wide range of academic offerings, as I haven’t yet determined what I’d like to major in. Regardless of major, I plan to pursue leadership opportunities on campus and take full advantage of the opportunities available – potentially studying abroad. I will to continue to bring my best effort in all that I do, and will make a difference at whatever university I end up attending.

 

In closing, I’d like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.  I appreciate your continued support of Sycamore student athletes.  It is a tremendous legacy for Rob.

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Luke Huffer

Rob Pursley Scholarship, 2018

           

I appreciate this opportunity to apply for this scholarship- being a good teammate on and off the court is very important to me. My teammates are way more than just people I play basketball with.  We have formed a bond much closer than that. These guys have put in the work in the off-season alongside me.  We have all gotten up for 6 a.m. workouts together, and in my opinion, when you are all forced to do that you are forming a tight bond right there. It is important to be a great teammate on and off the court because your team needs to be able to trust you with things such as making the right play in a game, showing up to practice on time, or even keeping each other accountable in school. If you can’t trust the people on your team to be good teammates then you will never succeed in anything. Much more than that, teammates are also there to pick you up when things are not going your way, on or off the court. I have been picked up by my teammates many times and I have had to pick them up sometimes, that's just how it works. We look out for each other. I believe that's what a true teammate is: trustworthy, unselfish, dedicated, and someone who buys into the program.

           

It’s very important to always let others know how much they mean to you because you never know which time will be the last time you see them. No one knows when they are going to die so why take a chance. Tell the people around you really how much they mean to you, because if you don’t today you may not get the chance to tomorrow. There are so many people in this world that wish they just had one more day with their loved ones who have passed. Sometimes the opportunity to still talk to our loved ones can be taken for granted. My grandma passed away a couple years ago and I know every single person in our family wishes every day that they could talk to her again. It is very hard for us to know we won’t be able to. So never wait until the last second for these things because we never know when the last second will be. Take advantage of the time God has given us with our loved ones.

 

Sycamore Athletics has played a huge part in my life throughout high school. Being a part of Sycamore Athletics has given me some lifelong friendships. Over the years I have come very close to my teammates through all the work we have put into basketball together, the 6 a.m. workouts, the pasta parties, etc. So you could say we have been through a good amount together. Sycamore Athletics also taught me to be a better basketball player, but more importantly taught me to be a better man. In this off-season our team read the book “Above The Line” by Urban Meyer. This book taught us about having a positive attitude in everything we do on or off the court. It also taught us to be better leaders and role models for the people around us in our lives. Our coach taught us about being better men, make the right decisions and helping our teammates do the same. Sycamore Athletics also taught me to have more confidence in myself. Sometimes I can struggle believing in myself, and throughout the years my coaches and teammates have helped me to find that confidence that helps me be a better player. Without Sycamore Athletics I would be a completely different person then what I am today. I have tried to become more of a leader this year being my senior year. That has been hard for me because I am not the most outgoing, talkative person, but my coach has helped me find ways to be a leader without being the most vocal guy in the gym. Things like showing up to every off-season workout and pushing others to do the same, and not just show up but push myself and others to do the best we can do. Or other things like running every sprint in practice as hard as I can and pushing others to do that also. By doing this I have become a better teammate and leader, my teammates now trust me and want to do the same because they know I have put in all the work as well and I’m not just trying to push others to work when I am not doing anything.

 

I have not decided for sure if I am going to pursue playing basketball in college, but I am considering it- because I do love to play. If I were to get this scholarship it would do a lot for my family and I as far as allowing us to afford college giving me the chance to play. I have been accepted to Taylor University and I would possibly play there. They have already given out all of their athletic scholarships for this year's class in basketball, so if I decide to try out, my family and I would benefit from any financial help we can find.

 

After reading about Rob, he seemed like a very dedicated, passionate, and loving guy. These are qualities I wish to reflect in my own life. Thank you so much for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. This would mean so much to me to be awarded this scholarship. At Taylor I want to study sports management and they would give me a great opportunity to get some internships and great experience in that field. This scholarship would be a huge step in the right direction for me to attend Taylor. Thank you for considering me for the Rob Pursley Scholarship, it would be an honor to be chosen.

 

Jake Borman

Rob Pursley Scholarship, 2017

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When I think about what it means to be an Aviator, many things come to mind. In everyone else’s mind, what it means to be an Aviator depends on how many wins we account for or how well our stats compare to others. Although those accomplishments are important to one’s season at Sycamore High School, it is not what it means to be an Aviator. What it means to be Aviator in my mind is defined by three words: effort, enthusiasm, and family.

After reading the bio on how Rob Pursley affected those around him and how he treated his teammates, I was truly inspired. What specifically stood out to me was when the biography said that he was the type of teammate that was more like a brother rather than just a friend. Obviously Rob Pursley understood what it meant to be an Aviator. As a senior captain in all three of my varsity sports: football, basketball, and baseball, it was essential for me to understand and demonstrate those three words that I used in the paragraph above. Being the varsity quarterback, it is necessary that I be the team’s leader and be the best teammate possible to lead by example on how a true Aviator should act.

 

In football, effort is very key. Coach Dattillo always said, “When you have to coach your team in effort that is when you have the most problems.” In my mind, this is 110% true. Throughout my four years of varsity football, I have battled through numerous practices and been a part of over 30 varsity football games. In my freshmen, sophomore, and junior years we had successful teams, though none of those teams were as special as my senior year’s team.

The 2016 Sycamore Aves football team was the most savvy, hardworking, badass team that Sycamore has ever laid out onto Bud Acus Alumni Field. It wasn’t that we were more talented or we had an easier schedule than in prior years. It was the fact that each player understood what being an Aviator meant. At the beginning of the year, we started off with a disappointing 2-4 and the outlook on the season was decreasing with every loss.

 

After those six games had concluded, every single player understood we were under-performing and something needed to change. My fellow captains and I called a players only meeting and told the team that if our attitude towards practices, games, and each other did not change, that we would continue on this rough skid. The very next practice anyone could have seen the difference in the team. The amount of hustle I witnessed in practice was unlike any other type of practicing I experienced in my high school career. Sprints were run at full speed and drills were done with a much higher motor. My team and I were tired of being put down. In the next four games of the regular season, enthusiasm was at an all-time high. We were no longer celebrating big plays by ourselves but doing so with our entire team. My favorite part of those four games was that losing was not an option. The whole team came together and became a family. We pulled off three consecutive games leading up to the biggest game of the year and my life. Mason. During Mason week, nothing is the same. The school is buzzing, social media is full of trash talking and this game will determine if we could make the playoffs. Mason week is especially important to me because in the year prior, we had the chance to win the game in the concluding seconds and I was stopped short of the goal line by a half a yard. I have never felt so low. The fact that I could not come in clutch for my team tore my heart in two. After the game I told myself and my teammates that I refuse to lose to Mason on my final home game of my football career. Every Thursday after practice we have a team meeting. Once that meeting concludes, the coaches leave the room and “give the seniors the floor,” as Coach Dattillo says. It is tradition that at least one senior goes up to the podium and gives a speech to the entire team about the game the next day. Ever since I came to play football as a freshmen, I have dreamed about what I was going to talk about in that speech. Knowing this was the biggest game of the season so far, as the senior leader that I was, I needed to give a speech to let all of my teammates know what this game is all about. When the time came for me to get up in front of all my brothers there was only one thing I could say. “Tomorrow we play Mason for a berth into the division one Ohio state playoffs. With all of your brothers by your side, let’s go make a memory that you will never forget.” And that is exactly what we did. With a 17-0 victory on senior night, my team and I made a memory that I will never be able to forget. The defense allowed zero points in the second half and the offense delivered late in the fourth quarter on a reverse pass to seal the victory. After the final score ran off the clock I saw nothing but smiles and tears of joy. The ball that I took a knee with to end “The Battle of the Skies” is still in my possession and will soon be in a glass case to commemorate the memory that was made October 29, 2016.

 

I believe if Rob was still alive here today he would be proud of what the 2016 Sycamore Aves football team accomplished this year. Even after the regular season we continued on our hot steak and became the only Sycamore team in history to record two playoff wins in a single season, beating Lebanon and Mason for a second time. When outsiders look back on this record setting season they will remember the stats and records we achieved. But what all the players will remember are the memories that were made just by playing a sport we love with all of our brothers by each of our sides. Those memories are what I assume Rob wanted each and every Aviator to cherish once their journey through Sycamore athletics has ended.

 

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Annie Moreno

Rob Pursley Scholarship, 2016

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You never know when the last time you will see someone you love. Scary situations can happen within seconds, and that can change a person's life forever. Just like your family was changed by a senseless act of violence, I remember the exact moment my life and my family's life changed. I was in a small room at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It was the day I was diagnosed with a type of cancer, called Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a cancer of the white blood cells. Although it is a highly curable cancer, it was so scary at the time. I had never known about this type of cancer before, what is was, if it was curable. I just remember my hands start shaking, and freaking out right after the doctors had told me. Extremely swollen lymph nodes in my neck that didn't respond to antibiotics led me to Cincinnati Children's Hospital that cold November Day, three days before Thanksgiving. It seemed Surreal as I sat in the doctor's office with all of the weak bald headed kids around me. I will never forget the first person I saw. As I walked into the waiting room there was a girl, who looked to be around my age, the receptionist called her Skylar. She looked tired and fragile, just sitting there with an oxygen tank strapped to the back of her wheelchair. Her mom had dark circles under her eyes; it looked as if she hadn't slept for a few days. A few minutes later a bald, five year old boy came into the waiting room and sat down near my mom and me. I looked up at my mom and said I do not belong here, this isn't for me. I do not want to take time out of the doctor's day, when they could be spending more time with really sick kids. Little did I know that within two weeks, I would have had two surgeries and been admitted into the hospital for chemotherapy. Like Rob, I have always been extremely involved in sports. Swimming has always been my passion. I started swimming for the Sycamore Flying Fish at the age of eight. In Junior High I became part of Sycamore's swim team and have been on the High School Varsity Swim Team since my freshman year. I had always dreamed of Swimming in college. Unfortunately, cancer struck in my junior year. Junior year is typically the year college coaches start looking at you, and you start looking at colleges. Cancer gave me great perspective about what is important in life. Sometimes you have to take detours. I got back in the pool last April, the day after my last round of radiation. I love Swimming, and it will always be a part of my life. I have worked extremely hard since last spring. My times are almost where they were at the end of sophomore year. I am so proud of what I have accomplished...surviving cancer and not letting it get in the way of what I love. During Swim season my junior year, as I went through chemotherapy and radiation, I could have really gotten discouraged. Sometimes it seemed like life was passing me by. I underestimated the support of my Sycamore High School Swim Team. They turned out to be my major support system. Coach Dan Carl came and sat with my parents during surgery. He brought me a little angel to keep by my hospital bedside. My teammates visited me during my four hospital stays. They brought me silly things like play doh and coloring books to make me laugh. Once a group of them helped me sneak down to the cafeteria in the evening. We thought we would never get caught until we realized we had locked ourselves out of my wing on the 5th floor. My team sent me cards and gifts and came to my house to visit when my blood counts were high enough for visitors. The night before I went to the hospital for 3 nights of my second round of chemotherapy, I got a text telling me to look outside. I went to the front door and saw that my team had put luminaries along my driveway and sidewalk. I knew I had their love and support and it helped me get through a scary night. Not only did Sycamore show support, other swim teams in the Greater Miami Conference did as well. They made get well cards that the whole swim team signed. I remember Mason gave a teddy bear! People from other swim teams were trying to be good teammates and friends, and I felt the community was being brought closer together I will never forget how such a hard year turned out to be so rewarding. It was a good lesson for my friends and family. We never take one day for granted. Life is a gift, sometimes it is cut short, but we have to make the most out of each day. Now I know that I have the support of both my family and my Sycamore family. We all say a lot more “I love yous!” We know that something life changing can happen at any moment. Maybe this experience taught my teammates this lesson also? I am still trying to decide where to go to college, but like your Rob, I want to pursue a career in business.

 

When I read that he went to University of Cincinnati and got a degree in business, I realized how our lives had much in common. Rob set a good example for the Sycamore community. His loyalty, compassion and love of life live on in all of those whose lives his touched. I hope that he looked down from Heaven at me last winter and felt a sense of pride as he watched his fellow Aviators living by his example. Lifting a teammate up when they are down and helping all those around him feel joy is the legacy Rob left us. I hope one day to have inspired as many as Rob Pursley!