When you’re the top-ranked student in your graduating class and headed to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, you’re usually accustomed to receiving accolades and honors. It comes with the academic territory.
However, when someone tells you that you’ve been named the top student/athlete in your school, that might be enough to generally get you more excited than normal.
Omar Elangbawy already owns the impressive academic resume. But he was able to juggle his academic schedule in order to play soccer in the fall and be the anchor man on the varsity bowling team in the winter. He said he was totally taken aback when he was told by athletic director Richard Terpak that he was chosen as the school’s top scholar/athlete.
Elangbawy represented Weehawken High School at the annual Scholar/Athlete Luncheon sponsored by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association last month at the Pines Manor in Edison.
“I was actually shocked by it,” Elangbawy said. “It was something totally different for me. I’ve never been one to stand out in sports, so I never expected anything like this.”
Elangbawy said that he truly enjoyed being selected and attending the luncheon with 200 of the best student/athletes in New Jersey.
“It was pretty impressive,” Elangbawy said. “I liked the attention and hearing my name being called to go up and receive the award. I love sports and I’ve always been very competitive, so getting this award was an honor for me.”
Elangbawy was a standout defender for the Weehawken soccer team. His coach, Tim Gordon, believes that Elangbawy was such a critical player to the team’s success last fall.
“We started off the season 1-4,” Gordon said. “And Omar was the one who turned the team and the season around. We moved him to more of a defender role and he did a great job. But he turned the team around with his leadership. He changed his role, and everyone then followed suit.”
The Indians then won 12 of their last 19 games, with Elangbawy leading the way.
“I would have to say he was our toughest kid,” Gordon said. “A lot of student/athletes are able to handle their schoolwork and their athletic commitments, but to succeed the way Omar has is very rare.”
Terpak vividly recalls the way Elangbawy took control in the Indians’ Group I state tournament soccer match against McNair Academic.
“The game went into overtime and one of our players was about to lose his composure,” Terpak said. “Omar went up to him and told him to knock it off. I think that says a lot about his leadership abilities. That play stuck out in my mind.”
After playing soccer, Elangbawy headed to the bowling lanes and quickly made his impact there as well, posting an average of 168.
“He was an asset to the team,” said Weehawken bowling coach Cecily Hug. “He was our anchor, but he had a very positive role, instructing the younger kids. Plus, he had fun with it. It was very impressive to see Omar handle it all. He’s very well rounded and driven. And he’s pretty talented.”
Achieving his dream
Elangbawy will head to Penn and major in computer science and business administration.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to go to an Ivy League school,” Elangbawy said. “I’m very excited.”
But receiving an honor like the best student/athlete in the school is something Elangbawy never thought was possible.
“It’s very special for me to receive this honor,” Elangbawy said. “Being the only student from the entire high school, being recognized by the state. That means a lot.”