Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Maya Santeliz

Freshman Maya Santeliz fell in love with bowling over the bond she shares with her father. Carlos Santeliz, Maya’s father, is an avid bowler who played in numerous leagues where Maya would tag along. Eventually, Maya, alongside her father’s tutelage, picked up the game and found she had a propensity for the sport. Maya’s talent and aptitude for learning are why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Before high school, Maya competed in tournaments as an individual. Her talent was evident early on to Head Coach Jeremy Hillman, and Maya made the team and has bowled for the varsity all season. Being on a team has helped Maya not only improve as an individual but also helped Maya learn to work within the framework of a team. “Before joining the team at OE, Maya would only go to individual tournaments,” says Fabiola Rodriguez, Maya’s mother. She goes on to say that, “now with a team dynamic she has to focus on helping others. Being able to practice every day has helped her improve her average score and enhance her skills.”

Maya’s improvement has seen her game average rise to 191, which is the high average for the varsity. She has also won two tournaments as an individual, including the first tournament she bowled as a member of the varsity team at OE, as well as placing in 4 others. “A lot of Maya’s current experience has been as an individual, but she has learned to be very supportive of her teammates and is happy for them when they succeed,” says Jeremy. He goes on to say, “As the season progressed, I noticed her ability to help some of the girls out and to try to refocus them when they are struggling.”

To be successful at a young age requires a strong work ethic and maturity, something Fabiola has recognized this season. “Maya showed from a young age she was a very driven child,” says Fabiola. She goes on to say, “She is very dedicated and always makes sure to keep good grades and a positive attitude. When it comes to bowling, she’s very determined to set a goal, accomplish it, and set the bar higher.”

Continuously raising the bar can be difficult for a young athlete, but for Maya, it is what drives her to succeed. “As a coaching staff, we feel confident Maya will continue to challenge herself and grow not only as a bowler but as an overall leader,” says Jeremy. He adds, “Maya has the ability and stamina to be a four-time all-conference bowler and to compete several times at the State Finals.”

The team will compete at regionals this weekend, and although a prior conflict will keep Maya out of the tournament, the team is hopeful to move on to sectionals, where Maya would be able to compete and hopefully make a bid for the State Finals as either a team or individual.

Maya’s inquisitive nature and strong work ethic extend to the classroom, where she managed a 3.62 GPA. in her first semester and is currently earning an A in each class this semester. Maya has used her personal life to help shape her goals for her career as she has a great interest in becoming an allergist doctor. “Maya has allergies of her own, which is why she is so passionate about being an advocate for allergies in the medical field,” says Fabiola.

Haley Morganeeg, Maya’s Biology teacher, has already seen a propensity for both science and education, saying, “Maya focuses so well, and even her body language emits utter control.” She goes on to say, “Maya’s logic and understanding of how things quantify are above her peers. Those skills will translate so well into any branch of medicine.”

The future is undoubtedly bright for Maya as both a bowler and student, as she has already established herself as an individual leader on the team. Having experienced success so early in her high school career, she advises future Wolves who would like to experience similar success to, “focus on your grades no matter what, and be willing to ask for help from your teachers because they are very friendly.”