What's in the water in Leelanau County?

How do you explain a small county like ours producing two of the best girls’ athletes in the state the last two years?

Last year, it was Alissa Glass of Leland, who was named Miss Volleyball, then went on to have an outstanding freshman year playing for Division I powerhouse Penn State.

This year, it’s Marissa Treece of Glen Lake, who capped her outstanding high school running career last weekend by winning three more individual state track titles, giving her 10 in four years.

Marissa’s accomplishment is the talk of the entire Traverse City area, not just Leelanau County.

On Tuesday at the Traverse City Rotary Club noon meeting, where more than 300 people are members, her performance was the talk of my table. And I’m not the one who brought it up in conversation.

One Rotarian was shaking his head and said, “Can you believe what the Treece girl from Glen Lake did at the state finals? That’s unbelievable.”
Another Rotary member chimed in: “She’s got a full ride scholarship to Notre Dame.”

Still a third person at our table, who knows the family, said “as good of an athlete as she is, she’s even a better person.”

I just sat and listened, smiling as I nodded my head.

Then the talk turned to how Leelanau County could have two great athletes – and people – come from the same small county.

“I think it’s just a coincidence,” said another table member.

“Not me,” said another. “I think it’s a combination of things, not the least of which is coming from a small town. These kids can play more than one sport and they get more one-on-one coaching.”

The truth probably lies somewhere in between both comments.

But I thought one of the most interesting takes from the Rotary Club meeting was how the members viewed the big picture.

“The most interesting thing I’ve heard about both of those girls is that they are hard working but humble,” one of the Rotarians said. “That shows they had great parenting. To me, that’s a sign that whatever they do later on in life, they will be outstanding.”

We all shook out heads in agreement, then went on to another topic of conversation.

But as I ate, it gave me great satisfaction to know that people are watching and rooting for our athletes in Leelanau County.

If you are good enough, people from all over the state will notice you. That’s why Marissa Treece was recently named the state’s top female high school athlete.

These kinds of athletes are supposed to come along once-in-a-decade. We’ve had two of them in the last two years.

Time to take some samples out of Lake Michigan, Lake Leelanau and Big Glen and Little Glen lakes. There’s definitely something in the water.