Noah Jankowski, junior, has always been intriguing. He’s intellectual, comical, witty, and a natural athlete.

“Noah is a very honest and intelligent guy. He’s my best friend because we always have another’s backs,” Liam Grathoff, junior, said. “There’s no one else I can connect to most things with like him, and I can.”

Many, like Grathoff, have many words to say about Jankowski. Friends or not, Jankowski always reaches out a hand of kindness.

Jankowski is always willing to help others with their work at any given time.

Jankowski said, “If people around me don’t understand their work, I go out of my way to help.”

He excels in all of his school work. He has always been accepted into all honors classes. He said his honors classes have challenged him but not more than what he can handle. Jankowski is determined to always do well.

“I want to be the best, better than everyone else.” Jankowski said proudly.

He was recently inducted into National Honor Society for maintaining his high grade-point average, and he plans to pursue a major in business.

Not only does Jankowski excel in academics, he also manages to excel in sports, primarily baseball.

Grathoff said he and Jankowski share these characteristics.

“Baseball and money are both loves of ours,” Grathoff said. “We are basically brothers without the same blood. We both are accepted into each other’s houses as if we are family.

“You will usually always catch us hysterically laughing or having an intriguing conversation. He’s interesting, too.”

Jankowski plays Kearsley baseball and competitive travel baseball in the summer and fall.

Senior Jacob Lucius has played baseball with Jankowski for a few years.

“Noah has always been my catcher since we played together in 2011,” Lucius said. “I can’t wait to play my final season with him.”

Jankowski played varsity baseball his sophomore year. He started 28 of 33 games, had 28 hits, batted .373, and threw out 15 of 22 base runners.

His accolades include 1st team All-District and 2nd team All-League. He also received the Scholar Athlete Award.

Besides the skills that Jankowski shows in public, he is individually interesting.

On the day we all celebrate Christmas, Jankowski celebrates his birthday, too.

While many people find this exciting and cool, Jankowski has a different opinion.

When Jankowski was young, he found it unfair. Now, he has matured to the reality of it.

“Since my birthday is on Christmas, it’s kind of cut short,” Jankowski said. “I don’t want my parents to spend double the money on me, so the Christmas presents just turn into my birthday presents. I don’t mind.”

Jankowski looks like the average boy walking around high school, but he was born with syndactyly, or webbed toes.

Syndactyly is the fusion of two or more digits of the feet often found in frogs and ducks.

His father and brother both share the same condition, too, although their toes are not as established as Jankowski’s are.

Webbed toes can be separated through surgery, but Jankowski does not plan to do so because it is “too small of a defect to do so.”

Through elementary school he was taught to show off his toes and not be self-conscious about them. Soon, all of his friends thought they were amazing and unique.

“Liam used to call me a frog. It just kind of stuck,” Jankowski said with a shrug and a smile.

Now, he is proud to be different in his own unique way.

Overall, Jankowski is a pleasure to be around. He is also a great friend to have by your side.

Grathoff said, “Noah is not just a casual friend. He’s one I can count on being there forever.”