Shelbyville High School seniors Michael Creech and Dalton Jones were presented football and baseball scholarships this spring as they turn their attention to their post-high school educational pursuits.
Creech received the Robert J. Zimny Football Scholarship, which is granted each year to an outstanding member of the Golden Bear football squad. He played primarily as an offensive tackle and filled in on the defensive line.
“Michael is an exceptional young man,” said SHS head football coach Scott Fitzgerald. “He played all four years of high school football and served as a team captain this past year as a senior.”
Fitzgerald cited Creech’s exemplary work ethic and determination.
“Michael has tremendous leadership skills,” Fitzgerald continued. “He will go on and be successful at whatever he chooses to do after high school.”
“Football has always been his great love,” said grandmother Lori Creech. “He really developed a passion for it in middle school and that consistently developed.”
Creech is currently undecided about his collegiate plans. “He has been accepted to both Indiana University and Ball State,” said Lori. “He is interested in studying mental health therapy. He is taking some time to put a lot of thought into his decision.”
Creech also participated on the high school’s school leadership council.
The award is presented in memory of Robert Zimny who served as Golden Bear football coach from 1958 through 1964 and taught physical education and health at the Shelbyville Junior High School for 25 years.
Mr. Zimny was an all-Big-Ten football player at IU and won an NFL championship with the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals in 1947.
Dalton Jones (photo) received the Thomas D. Hession Baseball Scholarship at the Shelbyville awards program on Wednesday.
Jones was a four-year starter for the Golden Bears.
He earned all-conference honors as a senior this year as he posted a .400 batting average and 32 hits. He also compiled a 4-2 record on the mound, pitching 33 innings and striking out 24 batters for the 18-8 Shelbyville baseball team.
“Dalton has been a true leader for the baseball program,” said Shelbyville head coach Jacob Shively. “He puts forth the extra effort to help the younger players continually improve and is someone who makes his teammates better.”
Jones has also dedicated extensive time to the high school’s special education department and the “Champions Together” program.
“He is always very eager to help those less fortunate,” said Shively.
Jones will continue his education and baseball career at Olney Central College in Illinois.
The baseball scholarship was created in 2010 in honor of former SHS baseball and football coach Tom Hession. Hession was Golden Bear baseball coach for 12 seasons, winning three sectionals and a South Central Conference championship in 1974.
He later entered the banking profession and served two terms as an Indiana state senator.
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