Oconomowoc’s Clayton balances the books
OCONOMOWOC – Not much gets the best of Zach Clayton. Certainly not defensive backs. The Oconomowoc senior was one of the state’s leading receivers the past two Not opposing guards or forwards. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged almost 20 points per game and is the school’s second all-time leading scorer.
Surely not pitchers. The infielder hit .422 last season when he was third team allstate for spring baseball. In November, he signed a letter of intent to play at Oregon State.
It turns out that this athlete for all seasons also is a standout in the classroom.
“If I didn’t have the best grades, I’d probably stress out,” he said. “If I didn’t have an A, I’d be kind of in panic mode, so I always made sure my grades were up to par. In everything I do, I try to be a competitor. I try to be the best. I take that seriously in classes, too.”
That is a little insight into what drives one of the state’s top student-athletes. He doesn’t settle, no matter the challenge.
These days you can’t afford to. The race for scholarships, both academic and athletic, is fierce. The competition for jobs is stiff. Admission to that prestigious uniyears.
versity isn’t getting any easier.
You really do have to swing for the fences. That mentality helped Clayton get a scholarship to a baseball program that has been ranked No. 1 in the nation the past six weeks. One day it might land him a spot in the Beavers’ starting lineup and further down the road a plum job.
We all can’t be the best, but we all can try to be. That kind of thinking helped Clayton earn the WIAA’s most prestigious honor. Each year every school in the state is invited to nominate one senior boy athlete and one senior girl athlete for the WIAA’s Scholar Athlete award. This year an all-time record of 861 students were nominated by 439 schools.
From that list, 16 boys and 16 girls were selected. The six winners from the area epitomize excellence on the field and in the classroom.
Whitefish Bay’s Camille Davre is a seventime state track champion and the state record holder in the 800 meters. Brookfield Central’s Caitlin Locante won a state title in the floor exercise in gymnastics and finished third at the Division 1 state meet in diving. Cudahy’s Bailey Eichner and Martin Luther’s Emily Hafemann led their teams to state runner-up finishes in basketball. Cole Sandvold led Arrowhead’s cross country team to a runner-up finish at state while taking 10th individually.
They averaged a 3.9 grade-point average. Clayton carries a 4.0.
“I’ve never really gotten too many awards in school, but I’ve gotten some accolades in sports, so this one is really special,” Clayton said. “To be recognized as one of those student-athletes that succeed on the field and in the classroom, that is something really special. It’s an honor.”
Clayton is a math guy. He says numbers and equations have always clicked with him. He also really enjoys history.
Those are his favorite subjects, but he is also a fan of science, even though he received a B in advanced placement physics.
The secrets to his success aren’t really secrets at all.
He makes the most of his “Pride period,” a 45-minute block during the school day in which he can get a jump on his homework. And if there is any work left to do at home, it gets top priority.
“School is first,” he said. “If you’re not doing well in school, you can’t play sports because you won’t be eligible. If you have something due, make sure you get that done before doing anything else that’s focusing on sports.”
You can’t argue with the results off or on the field.
During football season, Clayton ranked second in the state with 95 catches and 1,524 yards. In hoops, he was a firstteam all-conference pick in the Wisconsin Little Ten the past two seasons. And on the diamond, he was a key member on a team that reached the state semifinals as a sophomore and a sectional final last year.
And last but not least. He ranks 28th in his class. Not bad for a guy who is on the verge of winning his 10th letter.