Every year, thousands of athletes from across Indiana take part in high school sports. Many of them win sectional, regional and state championships, either as individuals or as part of a team.
Very few, however, can lay claim to the IHSAA’s Mental Attitude Award.
Given out at each state championship event during the year, the Mental Attitude Award is presented annually to a senior state finals participant in each classification “who has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.”
Athletes are nominated by their high school principal and coach.
Franklin senior swimmer Jacob Destrampe became just the 18th Johnson County athlete to receive the award at the conclusion of last weekend’s state meet in Indianapolis.
“Jacob was a clear candidate,” Franklin principal Steve Ahaus said. “He’s won awards here in the building for character and leadership, been nominated by his teachers. Clearly his academic record is great, and then of course the accomplishments in the pool is a part of that.”
Destrampe is the first county athlete to win the award since Center Grove’s Logan Bontrager (football) and Maddie Weeks (girls tennis) did so during the 2016-17 school year.
Franklin’s Garry Abplanalp was the first local recipient of the award, winning for boys basketball in 1973. The following year, Grizzly Cubs Jon and Don McGlocklin also earned the honor in basketball.
Destrampe is the first Johnson County swimmer to win the award; Franklin girls diver Abby Smith was selected in 2012.
The Grizzly Cubs’ boys and girls swimming and diving teams were recognized this week by Franklin mayor Steve Barnett for their accomplishments in the pool — both squads finished second in the state this season.
Having a Mental Attitude Award winner on top of those achievements is a particularly huge deal for the school, Ahaus said.
“Mental attitude means you’re more than just an athlete,” he said. “It means you’re a leader, you’re doing it in the classroom, you’re a role model, and so we tout that up. …
“We want to produce student-athletes who represent their communities and their families and our building and everybody well, and (Destrampe) has done that the whole time he’s been here.”
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Johnson County has had just 18 athletes win the IHSAA’s Mental Attitude Award. A list of the local recipients:
Year;Athlete;School;Sport
1973;Garry Abplanalp;Franklin;Boys basketball
1974;Jon & Don McGlocklin;Franklin;Boys basketball
1981;Thomas Doyle;Franklin;Wrestling
1996;A.J. Zapp;Center Grove;Boys tennis
1998;Andrea White;Franklin;Girls basketball
2003;Brittany Hedrick;Center Grove;Softball
2004;Katie Jones;Center Grove;Softball
2005;Natalie Hesler;Center Grove;Gymnastics
2008;Luke Swift;Center Grove;Football
2008;Sean Wilson;Franklin;Boys cross country
2010;Sarah Dooms;Center Grove;Volleyball
2012;Abby Smith;Franklin;Girls swimming
2014;Skyler Lykins;Franklin;Wrestling
2015;Victoria Boyer;Center Grove;Softball
2016;Logan Bontrager;Center Grove;Football
2017;Maddie Weeks;Center Grove;Girls tennis
2019;Jacob Destrampe;Franklin;Boys swimming
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