The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
MAKING HER MARK
Determined Caszatt to study Pre-Med after successful prep career
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: July 3, 2008
Hannah Caszatt has always been able to adapt well.
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Whether it was changing positions on various sports teams or adjusting to life in a foreign country, the recent Manchester High School graduate has relished challenges throughout her prep career.
That trait helped Caszatt attain success in athletics and academics. She was a three-sport athlete in high school, earning several All-Cascades and team awards in softball, volleyball and basketball. Caszatt was also standout in the classroom, where she recorded a 4.19 grade point average while taking several honors and advanced-placement courses. She also found time to serve on Student Council, join the National Honor Society and last summer study abroad in Germany. For her efforts, Caszatt is recognized as one of Manchester's top scholar-athletes for 2008.
According to Caszatt, her determination to succeed helped her reach her goals on the field and in the classroom. Her coaches add that Caszatt was willing to adapt to any situation.
"I'm a determined person," Caszatt said. "If I wanted to get better at a sport, I kept practicing. And if there was a subject I was struggling with, I would study more to get better."
Caszatt played softball at MHS all four years, playing on varsity the final two years. She started at first base, but shifted to the outfield during her senior year when the team was short at the position. Serving as a senior captain, Caszatt adjusted to the outfield and helped the Flying Dutch recover from a 16-game winless streak and enter the Division 3 district playoffs on a five-game winning streak. Manchester advanced to the district finals, where they fell to powerhouse Clinton. Caszatt wouldn't let the Dutch go down without a fight, as she went 3-for-3 at the plate against Clinton ace pitcher Kristen Kimble.
"Her dependability is a strength, and she's one of the hardest working athletes who gives 100 percent all the time," Manchester softball coach Nikole Fether said. "She's a nice kid who gets along with everyone and is always positive and having fun."
Caszatt said she enjoyed softball because she loves the outdoors after being inside throughout the fall and winter. She also welcomed the change to the outfield as a challenge.
"I wanted to show that I could play any position, and I felt I proved that," Caszatt said. "I wanted to be the best I could be anywhere, so changing spots didn't bother me."
As a team, the Dutch were one of the state's best in the classroom. The entire team received the All-Cascades Scholar Athlete Award, averaging a 3.91 GPA. Caszatt received the All-Cascades Academic Award as a senior, and twice received the team's Sportsmanship Award.
"I felt privileged to be part of a team that was well-rounded in the classroom and on the field," Caszatt said.
She was a three-year player on the Manchester varsity volleyball team. Though used primarily as a middle hitter, Caszatt also saw time in the back row.
"Hannah's strongest trait is her willingness to do anything asked of her," Manchester volleyball coach Mike Mininger said. "She might've been best suited as an outside hitter, but she knew we needed help in the middle and was more than willing to do what was needed."
Caszatt proved to be a key player in big matches for the Dutch during her senior year, in which they finished 25-17-8 and second in the Cascades Conference. At the league tournament, she served 35 points (eight aces), made eight digs and blasted seven kills as the Dutch placed second to Hanover-Horton. In her final match during the Division 3 district semifinals, Caszatt had 12 kills and served up 20 points.
"She put out tremendous effort on the floor," Mininger said. "Hannah was a good all-around player, and those are hard to come by."
Just like softball, Caszatt relished the chance to play a variety of positions in volleyball.
"I looked forward to it and it gave me different perspectives of the game," she said. "Volleyball was a lot of fun, and we played together as a team."
She was also a three-year post player in basketball, but gave that up her senior year to focus on her studies. Though she admits it was a hard decision, Caszatt felt it gave her the best chance to success on her winter exams. It also allowed her to study abroad in Germany last summer. Along with taking classes at German schools, Caszatt was also able to visit Berlin, Dresden and Prague, Czech Republic. This year, she received the MHS German department award as an outstanding senior
"Germany was a completely different experience," Caszatt said. "It's go-go-go and the schools are different. There's so much history over there."
She served on the Manchester Student Council for two years and was Vice President as a senior. Caszatt was also the Treasurer for NHS. While doing that, she took three honors classes and two advanced placement courses this year, finishing with the maximum GPA of 4.05. Caszatt was named one of the top scholar athletes by the Ann Arbor News and Jackson Citizen Patriot, and was the Manchester Optimist Club's Student of the Month for Nov. 2007. She also received the Michigan Promise Scholarship, which is based on MEAP scores and the Michigan Competitive Scholarship, based on the ACT. Caszatt also earned the Manchester Class of 1958 Scholarship and received the Presidential Educational Gold Award during all four years of high school.
"Being on Student Council and NHS opened up a lot of community service opportunities," Caszatt said. "It was fun to set up for homecoming, then here people talk about it and knowing I was a part of that."
She was involved in several volunteer activities outside of school. Among them was the Relay for Life in Chelsea, holiday bell ringing for the Salvation Army and working at the Manchester Chicken Broil. Caszatt also worked two jobs since she was 15, working at Dan's River Grill and Classic Pizza. She also held a summer office job at AMCOR.
Caszatt will take her determination to the University of Michigan. She plans to major in Pre-Med and minor in Psychology. She earned a spot in the school's Health/Science Scholar Program, which only accepts 150 applicants. Through that, Caszatt will job shadow a doctor to learn more about the field. She will also be a part of the Underclassmen Research Opportunity Program (UROP), in which she can choose between 700 different research projects.
"I've always wanted to go to U-M, and I love Ann Arbor," Caszatt said. "I'm close to home, yet far enough away to be on my own. UROP is a great opportunity for me to get published if all goes well."
Her coaches at Manchester believe that Caszatt's determination and versatility will help her become success at the college level and beyond.
"Hannah is very smart and will be successful in anything she does," Fether said.
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