An award with a different spin has been bestowed on Merrill athlete-extraordinaire Sam Arneson.
Arneson was recently chosen as one of four boys in Division 1 and one of 32 WIAA Scholar/Athletes overall, including girls, of a record 728 nominations. He is just the second selection from Merrill. Todd Rebella was picked in 1989.
“It’s a very cool award to get,” Arneson said. “It not only recognizes the athletic performance, but academics as well, which have always been important to me.
“My parents instilled the importance of academics in me ever since I was a little kid. It’s great to challenge yourself, and always try to do your best.”
Arneson currently sits atop his graduating class of 259 students, but hold off on the chef’s and interpersonal relationship class jokes.
“Definitely not,” Arneson said of the ‘easy schedule’ notion. “I have to finish up AP (Advanced Placement) psychlogy, AP calculus and college prep English. I hope to finish out the year strong.”
Arneson has accepted his dream offer to play football at UW-Madison, and plans to major in kinesiology.
“I’ll see where that takes me,” he said. “I like it that the field keeps me involved in sports. I may become involved in a career in physical therapy.”
Arneson was a First-Team All-State linebacker and HM quarterback as a senior after earning HM as a tight end in 2009. He was the defensive POY in the Valley. Sam also helped the basketball team place second at state this year, and finished sixth in the discus and 10th in the shot put in state track last year. A track letter this year will give him nine for his high school career.