also if you take your program and look at the backside we would not be here today if we didn't have the people on the back side of the program these are our donors and sponsors and if you are interested in sponsoring or donating you can now visit our new website which is listed right above the a do you know logo at the bottom we just started about three months ago two months ago i lost track of time but we just have our website up and running it's the same ol of the dot com so go ahead the more will be on the website very soon and they're not ready i did check before i came to at this time i'd like to introduce our speaker to our speaker today is rachel block rachel is a sports reporter and columnist for the star tribute in the minneapolis area she has been at the star tribune since one nine hundred ninety and his covered a wide range of sports including the l the n b a college hockey and olympic sports she's covered the last eight olympics and in about two weeks i bet she's going to go to the kentucky derby because she's covered kentucky derby talking small towns appear and she graduated from the university of notre dame and had a has a master's degree in journalism from the university of missouri rachel news in south minneapolis with their husband and welcome to everybody here thank you so much for inviting me to be here with you today and share in this very very special celebration of athletic achievement even though we're stuck in this winter that will not and i'm sure that our worst of the ins and their parents are beginning to feel that that special kind of this tells you that comes when you know that a chapter in your life is starting to come to a close all the senior athletes are going to be saying goodbye to the teammates and the coaches who have helped you reach this place in your lives and create so many wonderful memories that you'll be carrying with you but i can say with absolute confidence that all the qualities that have earned you this award that you'll be accepting today the determination the work ethic the drive to be your best the impact that these things will have on your lives it's just beginning and i know because my own sports experience is still a very positive force in my life many many years after i last more uniform i grew up in iowa in the one nine hundred seventy s in a very small town in a family in a community that was just crazy for sports are high school only had three sports for girls we had six on six basketball track and softball but even before title line our town really valued those girls teams people would pack the gym for our games even people who didn't have kids in school would always come to our games and cheer for us whenever we had a fundraiser people would buy our wrapping paper or a candy bars line up at our car washes in my family we were always rounding up the neighbor kids and having a game of the home run deer derby or a game of horse in the driveway or hit around a tennis ball so i got to enjoy all the benefits of playing sports at a time when not all girls were lucky enough to have that opportunity and that helped prepare me for my career and a few other things in life that in ways that i didn't even realize at the time i graduated from notre dame in one nine eighty four with the dream of becoming a sports writer at a big city newspaper and in the late one nine hundred seventy s women were just starting to get opportunities to cover major sports events and to be allowed equal access to report on things like the l and major league baseball that was what i wanted to do simply because i love sports and i was absolutely fascinated by athletes and the stories that they had to tell even into the hundred sixty s though press passes frequently had a slogan printed on the back of them and it said no women or children allowed in the press box and when i began my career i suddenly started hearing things that i never heard when i was growing up i heard why would you want to write about sports your girl groups can't do that what are you thinking and when i started covering sports in the mid  eighty s there still were a lot of women sports reporters and there were many many people who just didn't think that we belonged my first job was in atlanta georgia right covered everything from major college football to the n b a in major league baseball i was asked by some coaches why i wasn't at home making biscuits because that's what a girl should be doing i debated there was a baseball player who wouldn't speak to any reporters if i was covering that game because he said that i was defying god's plan by taking a job that a man should have i got letters from people saying that i should be fired or beaten up or worse and even well meaning people even like my parents friends assume that i went into this profession because i wanted to date the athletes or they would say it's not ladylike or that i could never understand sports like a man could understand sports and here i am twenty seven years later still doing this job that i still have a great great passion for and think goodness attitudes have changed but sometimes people  me how did you get through those times when when you were wanted when people didn't think women should be sports reporters and my answer is always really simple it was all those things that i learned through all my years of playing sports sports made me a strong person a confident person a very determined person they made me understand what it means to want something really really bad and give everything you have to get it they taught me that giving up is never an option and i have all of my wonderful wonderful coaches and teachers through the years to think for that in just a few minutes we'll be introducing the winners of this year's athena awards and giving them plaques that they can hold in their hands or put on their wall that will remind them of the things that they accomplished as a high school athlete but i know that the qualities that led to those accomplishments are going to shine on in your lives every single day as a former high school athlete myself i feel so happy and so inspired to see what young women like you are achieving on the diamond and on the rink and on the court you make all of this very proud and not just because you've won championships and you've made all star teams we're proud of your strength and your perseverance your leadership and your teamwork and i can't wait to see where you all go from here thank you very much and congratulations to all  thank you rachel and i bet a lot of the girls out here don't know what six and six girls basketball is but those of us in the room that have a little bit of gray here no one six hundred six basketball has i  have a little story about that i won't bear bore you with and i but i'm not but i will say i went to when i went to with my parents for a weekend when i was in high school and whe station at that time carried the girls stayed six on six basketball tournaments from i don't know now and i was so oh this is very different we only got to play in gym we didn't get to play and we didn't get to play for you know as an athlete at this time i'd like to introduce the other person at the head table and i don't think he needs a whole lot of twelve many of you probably remember his sports extra which i think you still doing even though is now on the news side randy was proud to be inducted into the minnesota football coaches hall of fame in two thousand and four he's also a member of the cedar rapids jefferson high school hall of fame in both football and track each year randy hosted the rust creek golf club randy saver celebrity golf classic bed benefiting the randy save shaver cancer research and community fine randy has raised over four million dollars for cancer research and patient aid in minnesota so that's one nine hundred ninety five randy is a cancer survivor he was diagnosed with hodgkin's disease in june of one nine hundred ninety eight at this time i'd like to introduce randy van meter iowa which is the birthplace of bob fell exactly right again pretty impressive i used to have rachel here today this is my favorite event other than my golf event in june this is my favorite event and it's my favorite event because these young ladies are absolutely tremendous you're going to hear about their accomplishments today you're also going to hear where they're heading to school next year and i think we're going to hear some big things from all of these young ladies down the road they are very impressive i'm going to read each of their bios up here they're going to stand up here they're going to receive a black from rachel and you can do the applause right after we int after they i'm done reading about them we'll give you a chance to give a little bit of applause to first one up is caitlin russell from crete in durham hall caitlin was captain of all three of her team soccer hockey and lacrosse and soccer she was often savimbi be with four letters all conference and all stayed for both hockey and lacrosse she instore letters and to all conference and each outside of school she volunteers for the germ i have program she earned an academic excellence award caitlin plans to attend the university of wisconsin service award here marie academically on the a honor roll with oh good lord help taller every year on shrink and it's amazing what happens when you get old you're not five eleven i'm five eleven take off those heels academic which is on the a honor roll with a letter and the academic all state she plans to go to st all of college she's still undecided on a was six all conference captain and twice a state participant nordic skiing five time all conference and five time and v p thus far in track and field three all conference at three in the b s as well as being on the top ten list and five events at  school she's also a musician participating in concert choir concert band symphonic mand would one ensemble she's also the co founder of the diversity club her service activities have been include being a part of two mission trips academically on the honor roll she will ski for the university of colorado and studying exercise science kristen born from mountain park madison field for the life academy was kept in a bowl volleyball and basketball avoidable she has four letters for basketball four letters and one all conference her leadership continues a student council treasurer aso a member of the art club national honor society and the mentor prayer group as well as being a two once again or leadership shown off the court president of a nonprofit buy a coffee buy a well and volunteers from many groups including feed my starving children vacation bible school meals on wheels in assisted living home and basketball clinics she's on the a on a rule a very good student she's going to baylor university and her major is breed dental madison steel from new life a this one the most offensive award was among the top rebounders of the metro area basketball or other basketball accomplishments clue three letters and to all conference i will mentions from volleyball she aspires letters three all conference in an honorable mention as well she participates with my star children meals on wheels she plans to attend wisconsin river falls use undecided right now on a major career rose davis from say  an early rogers grants from messy ball academy in summit school holds the school record in the four by eight hundred meter relay with or for some having been conference champions for two years to be your captain interact earn six letters across country verses participate in the the senior strings chamber orchestra and the summit singers she is a youth leader in girl's basket nonprofit grant reviewing committee with the minnesota women's foundation she plans to attend bates college to participate in track and and urban teen deborah teen rather from visitation to time stay tournaments participated in volleyball and on the pioneer press all metro second team captain with four letters in softball three letters in three a conference twice peer mentor and coordinator of the blood drive beyond her school activity she works with clear housing feed my starving children and as a coach for you saw she plans to study go to dental school after studying biology and she plans to go to northwestern university congratulations and  mention rookie of the year player of the year and captain saint paul lions female amateur athlete other school activities include varsity band some phonic band ordway honors band national history day national honor society  softball team she was a member abandon her freshman sophomore year scholastic leave for three in her class on the a honor roll with distinction abigail wants to play once more to college not sure what that sport will be or do we know what th also two sports at volleyball and softball and she's going to say it all of it she plans to study physical therapy or sports medicine she's a little undecided which one which one she's going to study but i'm sure she'll be a great success abigail smith from s volleyball holding three letters in all conference an honorable mentions her other school activities upon committee blood drive and treasurer of self esteem for teens volunteers for big brothers big sisters earth club the children's museum and  anyone or whether highland park buttered in four sports including a school record thirty two hundred metres and on the four by six hundred meter relay team conference champion thirty two hundred meters soccer team was twice conference championship holds four letters in that sport in cross country your team was conference champ and her accomplishments one letter and one all conference she was captain of the nordic ski team took second in the state state qualifier and two letters in all conference on mention outside of sports she the student council president was secretary last year for years of speech comp titian captain of that team in a two year state qualifier she's also a member of the for age and has been for the last thirteen years school asked to please use eleventh in her class and plans to take chinese through the university of minnesota at least says that here that may be different now same beds as where she's heading studying international business and the weather from highland park from humble holds twelve letters and three sports and softball section all conference on will mention a basketball she was an all conference honorable mention and volleyball to all conference on the mention active in student council friendship club homecoming and snow days committees community activities include a neighborhood food shelf and west side boosters she's an honor roll student plans to play softball and century college undecided  as she is the also the school mascot that's awesome not only does she play the sports but she supports the other sports and she's the mascot can answer them better than man she's an honor roll student and most versatile and m v p she was twice captain in the basketball team twice leading scorer and leading rebounder scoring over a thousand points in her career holds five letters and three all conference in that sport she's a member of the choir a national honor dartmouth college and participated in track and field of study chemistry jared  is on the yearbook committee organized the school blood drive in the community she works with the youth soccer in the my starving children she will play soccer on scholarship this is where we would all like to go on a day like today santa clara scholastically she has an academic letter all conference academic and a distinguished academic achievement award samantha will attend st cloud state university she's plans to study spanish education samantha thompson from nike nationals cross country team qualifier holds four letters and three all conference three all stayed team captain also a carol of an athlete that we back in october for track and field she was captain with four letters to all conference three allstate she was the section champ of the sixteen hundred thirty two hundred meter runs she's a member of student government and national honor society her volunteer activities include church school teaching and very ridges were ever ridges she plans to attend the university of minnesota she will run track and cross country in plans to study pre med then you know anderson from beacon high school she helps with special olympics and youth ski racing she earned eight spotlight on scholarship awards not only an outstanding athlete with a very good student she is still undecided on what college she plans to attend but she don't she wants to study physical therapy elizabeth  are the better from east view when the whole be bigger character award in hockey captain and twice best offensive player earned the outstanding academic athletic award in lacrosse she was ricky of the year for her team and player of the year and won the lightning leadership winning in on what we do volunteer activities include working for the east view scholarship five k coaching usual across she's worked for blood drives and nursing home as well as a volunteer nominated for the excel award she's on the honor roll she's earned a look ross scholarship at lehigh university and is unrolled in their school of business congratulations tailored to bet is from farmington the state champion in the long jump of the one hundred meter hurdles having been runner up the previous year outstanding track and field athletes former carole levon athlete of the week as well in gymnastics she was a conference champion viewed my starving children she's on the honor roll she hopes to study pre med more dissipative gymnastics and track at the university of wisconsin clare jessica dany from for slate everyone wistrom hastings selected to the all mitchell softball team for both the star tribune apart your press all stayed to all section to all conference and three letter winner office of a defensive m v p last year for her team currently in tennis good luck with that the spring forth on the school all time career wins with fifty nine she has four letters to wall conference and to all conference i will mention awards where you go on stay right there i'm not done yet conference and to all conference i will mention is also captain and three the year of three letter winner in hockey and most improved player school activities include national honor society league group environmental club in the community she's a math tutor and works with dodge a nature center feed my starving children and the school blood drive she holds to academic letters in the spotlight of scholarship award she will continue running for the university of wisconsin lacrosse and hopes to major in physical therapy outside of school she volunteers for a few months term children and union gospel mission school last play a member of the national honor society and she's on the honor roll she will tell the university of minnesota she's on the sided on what she plans to study  the lakeville north volleyball team was twice state champ in two thousand and ten and two thousand and twelve and runner up in two thousand and eleven she earned three letters and all conference and allstate honorable mention participated in the state golf tournament receiving three letters and was captain of the gove team and a member of the marching band as well community at tiffany's include adopt the park sunday school teacher mission driven tutoring she won the harvard prize with award and is an a p scholar with distinction being the third in her class and a member of the national honor society she's earned a volleyball scholarship oh boy good for you when she's going to the university of arizona are you kidding that's awesome going to university of arizona to play volleyball and three letters in soccer she has this is one person you don't want to mess with i'm just telling you right now i don't want to mess with soccer she has three letters a member of the choir she takes an interest in her church choir as well also a sunday school teacher and being the art supply coordinator besides athletics she's around three academic letters all state academic and student of the month she will take her track talent to north dakota state university where she plans to study out of all three of her sports and soccer three letters and the best attitude and best efforts award winner for hockey she earned three letters a best attitude award and lacrosse three time winner winner your book editor having earned a letter for her work and that additionally she mcdaniels from mt you career points in basketball one thousand one hundred thirty eight ball state honorable mention in star tribune in pioneer press he was the m v p and captain of the team three time state participant across country four time letter winner captain as well in track and field holds the school record in the four by eight hundred b to relate to time state participant was named rookie of the year one time that's board member of the student council synergy club national honor society she uses are sports rachael hannigan or see color in the most improved player a defensive stopper in basketball twice captain three time letter winner her scholar soccer accomplishments two two time letter winner of captain named the hardest worker for track two letters in all conference on will mention she's a member of leap crew a national honor society in the community she's a volunteer in children's and regents hospitals the women's rock marathon and youth basketball holds academic letters a honor roll and art you were still workin for park was a miss basketball candid scored a one thousand points as a junior going on to be the all time leading scorer in park history track and field five time letter winner to all conference and academic all stayed in one of the top runners in her school that running abilities also makes her the fourth vastus cross country runner at her school as well named the rookie of the year a one time in that sport she is one of the leaders of the pack a like that that's good she participates is good one of the at like that honorable she will play soccer at the university of north dakota and she plans to study nursing  valuable player a five time letter with her in that sport captain twice track and field accomplishments are three letters all conference on will mention and read her character award winner in tennis the captain is the british have been a doubles having been section runner up and also a two time all state participant she's a trombone player for the symbiotic band and a member of national honor society in the community she is the student member of the central park board foundation and volunteers at her  p courses holds three academic letters she's on the a honor roll but she has earned a basketball scholarship at the university of denver and plans to study business analytics jacqueline johnson hospital and is number three on the list of the four hundred metres all time for letters that track as well she is the captain of the team other school activities include national honor society as an officer better persons club spanish club and student council volunteers at her church youth hockey and soccer as well academic achievements need peace scholar with honors top ten of her class in the a honor roll she would tend to stave us at the office she's undecided yet or what she will study but i'm sure she'll get that all four letters and golf and was the captain of the team of the school activities include junior and senior counsel national honor society she participates in youth camps for soccer and basketball she's on the gold honor roll she will attend north dakota state going on up here natalie i've been waiting for you finally finally finally where seventy one dire was stated and not only are we sending one the iowa state which is white bear lake one the hardest worker and m v p awards and softball three time letter winner won all conference and all state in basketball holds four letters and won each one each for all conference and i will mention a member of the play soft ball their hopes to major in architecture mechanical engineering danielle rendered from white girl earning four letters to win b p three time all conference named two time pioneer press all stayed twice captain school record holder with a total of two hundred two points in three pointers and most free throws made in school history for soccer team took second and stayed for tom better winter and that's borders also captain other school activities include link crew and community outreach she volunteers at her church's youth mentor has a distinguished academic achievement check the listings and see will try to post on the website too when it's going to when it's going to play so you can hopefully catch it if you are in the right cable area i'd like to say congratulations to all the girls don't forget to take your posters home and any of you you're welcome to come up and take pictures up here if you want if their parents didn't get a chance to take pictures during the banquet thank you for coming and hope to see you next