Matt Plaska Class: Senior Hometown: Zeeland, MI High School: Zeeland Height: 6-0 Birthdate: 12/06/1984

AS A FRESHMAN: Did not compete during the 2003 cross country season and the 2004 track and field season.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: One of the top prep distance runners in Michigan, both on and off the track ... named class valedictorian, a National Merit Scholar and earned numerous scholastic awards, including: MHSAA Scholar Athlete, OK-White Scholar-Athlete, Zeeland High School Athlete of the Year (2002-03), Detroit Free Press Scholar-Athlete, Michigan Cup recipient and U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete ... earned all-state honors in both cross country and track and field ... led the 2002 Zeeland cross country team to an undefeated conference record ... helped the 4x800-meter relay team win the regional title in 2003 and finish third at the state meet ... also competed in the 800 meters as an individual at the state meet in '03, finishing sixth ... high scorer for the track and field team in 2002 and 2003 ... an academic all-state selection in '01 and '02 for cross country, '03 for track and field ... posted a 1:54.80 800-meter effort at the Champion of Champions Meet, setting the meet and school record in the process ... also won the 1,600 meters at the Champion of Champions ... his 4:19.1 time in the 1,600 meters set a school record ... member of the school, conference and area record-holding 4x800-meter team (7:50.59) ... posted cross country course records at Zeeland, Lowell and Grand Haven ... participated in the Jon Bos All-Stars Track Meet in 2003, winning the 1,600 meters ... highly involved in extra-curricular activities, including National Honor Soceity, Peer Assisting Listeners, Pastoral Council member, retreat leader and was an alter server co-coordinator at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church ... son of Sharon and Mike Plaska ... Mike ran cross country and track and field at Grand Rapids Junior College ... oldest of five children ... born Dec. 6, 1984, in Grand Rapids, Mich. ... enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters with a theology/computer applications major.