The naming of the Athletes of the Year and recognition of a pair of retiring coaches highlighted the athletic awards presented at a ceremony held at the Britton-Hecla School on Monday evening.
Seniors Bryce Hawkinson and Abby Lee were recognized as this year’s top athletes. Lee is planning on competing in volleyball and track at Dakota Wesleyan this fall, while Hawkinson plans to play football at Dakota State.
Two long-time coaches have announced their retirement and were recognized for their service. Terry Nelson is retiring from the girls basketball position and Josh Hawkinson as wrestling coach.
Following are the special awards and letterwinners in each of the sports during the 2025-26 school year.
Cross Country
Special Awards: Livia Knecht, most valuable female runner, Be Brave Award; Joseph O’Brien, most valuable male runner; Lillian Boyko, most spirited; Danny Small, most improved
Letterwinners: Livia Knecht, Joseph O’Brien
Football
Special Awards: Bryce Hawkinson, Riley Hofland, Ben Folkman, Peyton Pearson, Will Richter, Jade Tisher, Jaxon Zuehlke, Academic All-State; Zuehlke, team MVP, defensive MVP, most valuable linebacker, co-captain; Hawkinson, offensive MVP, most valuable offensive back, co-captain; Riley Hofland, most valuable offensive lineman, co-captain; Graham Fosness, most valuable defensive lineman, co-captain; Jade Tisher, most valuable defensive back; Lofton Heer, special teams MVP; Tanner Atkinson, JV MVP; Doug Card, Friend of Football
Letterwinners: Bryce Hawkinson, Jaxon Zuehlke, Riley Hofland, Will Richter, Bryce Heitkamp, Cole Bodin, Peyton Pearson, Jade Tisher, Ben Folkman, Carter Dawson, seniors; Graham Fosness, Jace Rein, Mitch Burger, Ben Suther, Nate Schuller, Canyon Brassfield, Elijah Fox, juniors; Nathan Folkman, Lofton Heer, Colton Chapin, Chaz Vietor, sophomores; Liam Paxton, Cody Chapin, freshmen; Student Managers Jiana Davidson, Jaelee Grupe, sophomores
Volleyball
Varsity Special Awards: Karlie Zuehlke, most kills, co-offensive MVP, captain; Jaelee Grupe, co-offensive MVP, most assists, best server; Ava Teveldal, defensive MVP, most digs, captain; Abby Lee, most blocks, captain; Daynika Zuehlke, most improved; Tiana Tank, Be Brave Award
JV Special Awards: Tiana Tank, co-offensive MVP, most kills; Kennady Van Lith, defensive MVP, most digs, best server; Koryn Jones, co-offensive MVP, most assists; Kendra Kadoun, most improved
C Special Awards: Elsa Bosse-Faulhaber, offense MVP; Olivia Veflin, defense MVP; Arianna Gonzalez, most improved
Letterwinners: Ava Teveldal, Taryn Kraft, Karlie Zuehlke, Abby Lee, seniors; Airiana Buer, Brynlee Schmieg, Madelynn Micko, Daynika Zuehlke, Mataya Knecht, juniors; Jaelee Grupe, Chellon Pruitt, Kennady Van Lith, Koryn Jones, sophomores
Girls Basketball
Special Awards: Chellon Pruitt, top rebounder, top scorer; Daynika Zuehlke, top assists, top steals; Michelle Krutsinger, Super Fan Award
Letterwinners: Karlie Zuehlke, Natalie Treeby, seniors; Daynika Zuehlke, Maddi Micko, juniors; Chellon Pruitt, Tiana Tank, Koryn Jones, Paityn Erickson, sophomores; Ella Schuster, Lilly Mundt, eighth graders; Student Managers, Isabel James, Mataya Knecht, Maggie Taylor, Easton Zuehlke
Boys Basketball
Special Awards: Will Richter, MVP, top free throw percentage; Jaxon Zuehlke, Mr. Hustle, Best Teammate, top rebounder, top field goal percentage; Jack Teveldal, JV MVP; Lofton Heer, most improved; Nate Schuller, practice NVP; Mitchell Burger, best defender; Ben Folkman, Be Brave Award
Letterwinners: Ben Folkman, Will Richter, Jaxon Zuehlke, seniors; Mitchell Burger, Graham Fosness, Jace Rein, Nate Schuller, juniors; Nathan Folkman, Lofton Heer, Jack Teveldal, Chaz Vietor, sophomores; Bowen Micko, Drew Heitmann, freshman
Wrestling
Special Awards: Bryce Hawkinson, MVP, most takedowns, most match points scored; Tucker Hardy, most pins; Carter Grobe, most escapes; Lincoln Kilker, most improved; Henry Kilker, Rookie of the Year; Ben Suther, ROB Award
Letterwinners: Bryce Hawkinson, Tucker Hardy, seniors; Ben Suther, junior; Colton Chapin, Lincoln Kilker, Tanner Atkinson, Ryan Maxwell, Carter Grobe, sophomores; Max Suther, Liam Paxton, Olivia Borgen, freshmen; Henry Kilker, Corbin Dawson, Jerrik Jones, eighth graders; Booker Hardy, seventh grader; Student Managers, Carter Chapin, Gabby Hawkinson
Cheerleading
Special Awards: Eboni Jackson, senior leadership; Corinne Bosse, most spirited; Maddie Biel, most dedicated; Arianna Gonzalez, most versatile; UCA All-American, Bosse, Jackson, Sage Ford, Biel, Ava Anderson, Olivia Morrell, Avalon Dinger
Letterwinners: Sage Ford, Maddie Biel, Corinne Bosse, Eboni Jackson, seniors; Avalon Dinger, junior; Ava Anderson, Kara McLaen, Olivia Morrell, sophomores; Maci Key, Arianna Gonzalez, freshmen
Golf
Letterwinners: Corinne Bosse, Sage Ford, Ben Folkman, Landyn Fredrick, seniors; Maddi Micko, Jace Rein, Nate Schuller, juniors; Chellon Pruitt, Lofton Heer, sophomores; Chuck Schuller, Bowen Micko, freshmen
Track
Letterwinners: Abby Lee, Jade Tisher, Jaxon Zuehlke, seniors; Avalon Dinger, Elijah Fox, Marley Sundin, Ben Suther, Daynika Zuehlke, juniors; Jiana Davidson, Nathan Folkman, Jaelee Grupe, Jack Teveldal, Chaz Vietor, sophomores; Luke Bosse, Elsa Bosse-Faulhaber, Cody Chapin, Drew Heitmann, Livia Knecht, Ailyn Lee, Carter Nelson, Joseph O’Brien, freshmen; Grace Folkman, seventh grader
