Five-time state champ Keyanna O'Tey will run for University of Michigan
STURGIS — Keyanna O'Tey will go down as one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of Sturgis High School. She earned it, posting five state championships during her time as a Trojan in the sport of track and field.
Now at the end of the summer, O'Tey will officially enroll and become a student at the University of Michigan. There, she will run for the Maize and Blue as she fulfills one of her dreams as being a Division I athlete.
And she leaves SHS having helped lead the Trojans to the team's first track and field title. It came earlier this year at Hamilton High School, a dominant performance by the orange and black from the beginning of the day.
"Extremely happy with the outcome," O'Tey said after it was all said and done. "I definitely think we deserve this. With all the practices and training and hard work we put in all year, I'm happy to be a part of this team."
O'Tey ran to five state titles during her time at Sturgis. She won the 100 and 200 dashes her sophomore year, plus the 100 dash last year as a junior as well. This year's finals saw her run to Top Three spots in both events, where she set new school records at the state finals in Hamilton — running a time of 11.64 in the 100 and 24.26 in the 200.
But when it came to talking following the finals, O'Tey was quick to give thanks to her teammates and the entire SHS track and field family.
"So proud of everyone here. From the parents bringing food to my teammates giving it all, just extremely grateful for everything," she said. "After all this, hearing them call our names today, I certainly prefer winning as a team. I think it's more special that way, more exciting. This whole team, it's so awesome to be a part of this."
O'Tey helped Sturgis win state titles in the 400 relay with Tenley Banaszak, Angela Cary and Hannah Garbine, plus the 800 relay with Garbine, Sydney Bir and Addison Eicher.
And, earlier in the year, she was named the MVP at the Wolverine Conference Championships held in Three Rivers. O'Tey also earned her second consecutive Baker Award win as the most outstanding female athlete at the St. Joseph County track and field meet.
"I'm happy for her. I feel like she's really found a place where she can call home for the next four years," Sturgis coach Lesley Starkey said of O'Tey. "Seeing her first place, I knew she had potential. But seeing all the work she has put in over the last four years has been great as well. I think she is capable of doing big things in the Big Ten."
In the classroom, O'Tey said she has plans to study psychology while in Ann Arbor. She wants to someday work with children in that realm and offer both guidance and the ability to listen, if needed.
"It's nice, but I'm kinda scared for the future to be honest. I want to work with kids," she said.
She also has a hidden talent as she loves to play the violin. First chair as well in the orchestra.
"A lot of people don't know that. Rasean (older brother) played an instrument, so little me trying to always be like Rasean had to play an instrument as well," O'Tey said.
This past year, the Wolverine track and field team finished tied for 10th in the Big Ten at the indoor championships and was ninth at the outdoor championships. They qualified for the post season in both sports.
Collegiate sports have changed in recent years, with NIL, roster limits and scholarships. Both Starkey coaches (J.B. included) have had quite a bit to learn throughout the process of recruitment, but now that O'Tey is sealed up with Michigan, they feel pretty up to speed.
Starkey, who ran both cross country and distance for the Michigan track teams during her time in Ann Arbor, said O'Tey should fit in just fine with the program.
"Her times and performances have spoken for themselves. She can compete at that level, no doubt," Starkey said. "I think she will continue to get even better when she gets there, being around athletes of equal talent should help her excel in a true training environment."
O'Tey also earned co-Outstanding Athlete of the Year honors for Sturgis at the 102nd annual Exchange Club All-Sports Banquet with Madison Webb, the male selected was Gavyn Moore. The athletes are chosen based on their athletic careers at Sturgis and each needed to have earned at least five varsity letters during their time at SHS.
Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Five-time state champ Keyanna O'Tey will run for University of Michigan
Category: General Sports
