NBL swim champion and scholar athlete a high achiever
Driven is the best way to describe Windsor High School 17-year-old junior Connor Wong, who recently added to his growing list of achievements by being named an Eagle Scout.
Wong, a three-time North Bay League swimming champion and scholar athlete, was awarded the prestigious Eagle Pin and neckerchief award by Scout Master Alex Schultz at his Court of Honor at his home in Windsor, surrounded by friends, family and members of the Windsor School Board and local Boy Scout Troop 220.
Mark Hoff, a family friend and fellow Eagle Scout, served as master of ceremonies.
Wong’s parents, Kelli and Terry Wong, received Eagle Parent pins while Jerilyn Harris, Mike Harris and Mei Wong were given Eagle Grandparent pins. Kelli Wong, head coach of the Windsor High School swim team, was chosen by Connor to receive the Mentor Pin, as the person who has most helped guide him in scouting and life.
As part of the ceremony, Connor presented younger brother Scotty Wong with the Eagle Scout Challenge coin as a way to encourage him to follow in his footsteps. He was also presented with a U.S. flag by Harold Bagdonas of the American Legion that was flown over the nation’s capital in Washington, DC in his honor. The flying of the flag was arranged by Kelli Wong and Congressman Jared Huffman.
The rank of Eagle Scout has been the culmination of hundreds of hours of community work, special projects and determination, with just one in every 100 Boy Scouts receiving the designation nationwide.
A defending NBL champion in the 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley and a two-time NCS qualifier, Wong is currently enrolled in the Advanced Placement core program at Windsor. In addition to his role as team leader for the Jaguars, he swims competitively for the Santa Rosa Neptunes, attending eight practices per week. He was named an Academic All-American following last year’s swimming season.
When asked to compare academics and athletics with his Eagle Scout designation, Wong was quick to answer.
“I think scouting has translated more to academics, since it involves working well with others and in groups, while swimming is more of an individual sport,” he said. “Becoming an Eagle Scout feels like a bigger accomplishment than anything else I’ve done.”
