Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Gavin Hjelle

Transitioning from junior high to Oswego East is always a daunting task for any freshman. Finding your way to classes in a much larger setting, navigating the hallways and lunchroom, and adjusting to more rigorous classes can make even the most confident 14-year-old uneasy. Freshman Gavin Hjelle has found a way to make all of these adjustments early in the year and compete for the varsity golf team, which is why he is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Gavin's love for golf stems from his relationship with his uncles, who taught Gavin the fundamentals and instilled in him a passion for the game. "[Gavin's uncles] taught him to love the game and have fun, as well as how to learn from your mistakes and work on improving them," says Kurt and Lynn Hjelle, Gavin's parents.

Despite not having attended his first day at East before golf tryouts, Gavin managed to shoot the low score for a 3-day total. Head coach Jim Vera believes it speaks to his personality, saying, "[Gavin] is a great kid, a fierce competitor, and a great addition to a talented group of golfers."

Gavin has not allowed the stress or pressure of being a varsity golfer as a freshman get to him, posting scores of 41 vs. West Aurora, 43 against Joliet, and winning a medal with a score of 76 vs. Hinsdale South. Playing a great deal of MAJGT and iTour tournaments over the summer helped prepare Gavin for the spotlight and high-pressure situations.

Relating to older teammates can sometimes be a challenge, especially as a freshman who has only just started their high school career. However, Gavin's personality, and the leadership provided by the upperclassman on the golf team have allowed Gavin to get into a rhythm and be accepted. "His teammates really like him, he is a very positive person," says Vera. "[Gavin] is calm under pressure, has a lot of positive energy, is always focused and is very coachable," says Kurt and Lynn Hjelle. They go on to add, "[Gavin] really enjoys all of his teammates and Coach Vera, and likes the feel of playing on a golf "team" versus playing as an individual like he did all summer."

The biggest adjustment for Gavin has been the early school start time. 1st period begins at 7:20 A.M., which requires extra attention when playing a sport and planning for homework. However, Gavin is up to the task and has enjoyed his time at East so far. Academics are the number one priority for Gavin, and he has high hopes of one day playing golf in college for a large university such as Arizona State, University of Illinois, Oklahoma State, or Clemson. Gavin's modern world history teacher, Sean Kelleher, believes Gavin has a bright future ahead of him, based on the limited interaction he has had with Gavin so early in the school year. "Gavin is a very nice kid and seems to be more responsible than his peers traditionally are at this age," says Kelleher.

For now, Gavin's continues to improve on a daily basis, both academically and athletically. Even as a freshman, Gavin has high expectations for himself and is hopeful he can make it to state as an individual. Despite only being 3 weeks into his freshman year, his biggest challenge has been the workload as compared to junior high, and would encourage 8th graders who will be in his shoes next fall to, "study a lot." Hopefully, Gavin and his teammate's hard work continue to pay off as they look to improve on their 2-0 conference record.