By Mitch Silver

The Rye Lions Club award that recognizes standout Rye High athletes every month could just as easily be given for standout scholarship. Well, certainly this month. Not only is Amanda Hartzell captain of the Garnets’ lacrosse team and a three time All-League midfielder, she’s a National Honor Society member with a 98+ GPA who’s made the High Honor Roll every quarter of her high school career.

That career, which also includes captaining Rye’s soccer squad and three varsity letters on the Garnets’ basketball team — State champions in 2016 — will come to an end with graduation this June. In September, another one will begin at Yale University.

Right now, though, it’s the Lions Club honor that’s on Amanda’s mind. “I’m so thankful to my varsity coaches, Mr. Savage for soccer and Mr. Hurlie for basketball and lacrosse, for nurturing my abilities and being such remarkable human beings. As for my teachers, I can’t single one out — they’ve all been instrumental in my development. But I have to mention my guidance counselor Jennifer Magner for all her help right through high school.”

The April award qualifies Amanda to join the other monthly winners in the race for Athlete of the Year, an honor that will be announced in June at a dinner hosted by the Rye Lions Club at The Osborn.

In addition to community service hours earned mentoring young people at local soccer and lacrosse camps, Amanda serves on the Athletic Director’s Leadership Council, has spent hours with the Student Awareness Club at a homeless shelter in Stamford, and volunteered to work with kids in the Read-Along Program at Port Chester’s Don Bosco Community Center.

While the Rye Lions and Michael Arias, the high school’s AD, are honoring Amanda Hartzell for her efforts on the playing field, they’re getting a whole lot more. And so is Yale.