Bulldogs Tradition Showcased At Annual MHS Athletic Banquet

Athletes from Milbank High School were recognized for a year of excellence in the sports world
during the MHS athletic banquet in the Milbank Armory this evening.

The highlight of the evening was the Heart of the Bulldog Award. This award is given to one female and one male who participated in at least two sports and demonstrated the qualities of an outstanding student-athlete. The athlete might not have the highest statistics throughout their career, but has displayed great leadership, sportsmanship, and heart. This year’s winners were Tori Brandenburger and Nolan Foss.

Three seniors were recognized with the Bulldog Award, which is given for participating in three sports for all four years of their high school careers. Recipients this year were Cara Berkner, Nolan Foss and Kyle Montag.

Recognition was given to numerous individual Academic All-State individuals and teams. Team awards were given to football, volleyball, boys golf, boys cross country, girls cross country, girls tennis, football cheerleaders, girls basketball, boys basketball, gymnastics, girls and boys basketball cheerleaders, girls track, boys track, boys tennis, and girls golf.

Individual Academic All-State honorees were Cara Berkner (basketball, tennis, track), Tori Brandenburger (volleyball, basketball), Katie Cannedy (volleyball), Rachelle Gabriel (volleyball), Tera Hanson (cheer), Shelby Hooth (basketball), Chris Loutsch (wrestling, tennis), Courtney Lusk (cross country, cheer), Andrew Mears (basketball), Shauna Pauli (cross country, track), Josh Pillatzki (cross country), Hannah Rick (volleyball, basketball), Morgan Schmitt (basketball, track), Isaac Snaza (football, basketball), Mikayla Street (basketball), Rebekah Tuchscherer (tennis), Ellie Webb (cross country) and Abby Wollschlager (cheer).

Seniors were presented certificates for participating in a sport for four years. Earning the honor for football were: Nolan Foss, Tristan Hall, Jacob Jackson, Dalton Koch, Kyle Montag, Isaac Snaza and Devin Stricherz. Volleyball honorees were Tori Brandenburger, Katie Cannedy, Eliza DiNatale, Rachelle Gabriel, and Hannah Rick. Earning the award for cross country were: Dylan Johnson, Shauna Pauli and Josh Pillatzki. Girls tennis winners were Cara Berkner, and Rebekah Tuchscherer.

Earning a four-year certificate for girls basketball were: Cara Berkner, Tori Brandenburger, Eliza DiNatale, Shelby Hooth, Hannah Rick, Morgan Schmitt and Mikayla Street. Boys basketball recipients were Brandon Adolph, Nolan Foss, Jacob Jackson, Andrew Mears, Kyle Montag, Isaac Snaza and Christopher Stodolski. Four-year wrestling participants were: Chris Loutsch and Jordan Pollock. Earning the award for gymnastics was Natalie Stohr. Honorees for track were:Cara Berkner, Nolan Foss, Dylan Johnson, Kyle Montag, and Morgan Schmitt. Chris Loutsch took part in boys tennis for four years and four-year cheerleaders were Courtney Lusk and Jessica Mogard.

Three seniors participated in Special Olympics for all four years of their high school careers. They were Tyler Johnson, Mariah Pillatzki, and Chris Stodolski.

Numerous athletes were recognized for being named to the Northeast Conference All-Conference team. Honorees included Jake Anderson (football, 2nd wrestling), Jonny Ash (basketball second team), Tanner Bock (8th cross country), Jose Chen (4th wrestling), Jodi DeVaal (7th beam), Cole Dockter (3rd wrestling), Eli Fischer (4th wrestling), Isaac Fischer (3rd wrestling), Nolan Foss (football), Brooke Fraasch (5th bars, 4th beam, 6th all-around), Tanner Gauer (football), Tristan Hall (honorable mention football), Mikaela Hoeke (volleyball), Koben Huber (football, 2nd wrestling), Dylan Johnson (11th cross country), Kody Johnson (17th cross country), Kylie Kasuske (6th golf), Tanner Kettwig (2nd wrestling), Dalton Koch (honorable mention football), Tyler Krause (3rd wrestling), Allison Leddy (20th cross country), Chris Loutsch (2nd wrestling), Caryssa Mielitz (volleyball, girls basketball), Taran Mogard (2nd wrestling), Kyle Montag (football), Noah Pillatzki (14th golf), Jordan Pollock (2nd wrestling), Danica Schulte (7th cross country), Toby Schneck (3rd wrestling), Isaac Snaza (football), Natalie Stohr (1st vault, 6th bars, 5th all-around), Amaya Street (17th cross country), Devin Stricherz (football), Adam Thomas (3rd golf), Madi Thue (16th cross country), Taylor Thue (8th cross country), Emma VanVooren (8th bars, 5th beam), Mackenzie Weinkauf (4th floor, 8th all-around), Luke Wold (14th cross country).

Earning a Northeast Conference individual title were Alec Bien, 132 pound wrestler, and Natalie Stohr, NEC vault champion. The MHS wrestling team captured the dual championship title and the NEC tournament championship title.

All-State performers were also recognized. Included were Jake Anderson (7th wrestling), Mikaela Hoeke (all-tournament volleyball team), Paige Johnson (#3 singles tennis consolation champ and 10th at #2 doubles), Caryssa Mielitz (volleyball honorable mention), Kyle Montag (football honorable mention), Natalie Stohr (4th vault, 9th bars, 12th all-around), Adam Thomas (T-55th golf), Rebekah Tuchscherer (10th #2 tennis doubles), Emma VanVooren (14th beam) and Mackenzie Weinkauf (10th floor).

Also earning a trip to a state event were Alec Bien (wrestling), Jodi DeVaal (gymnastics), Emily Dornbusch (gymnastics), Riley Folk (wrestling), Brooke Fraasch (gymnastics), Tyler Krause (wrestling), Chris Loutsch (wrestling), Jordan Pollock (wrestling), Cole Dockter (wrestling), Natalie Stohr (gymnastics), Emma VanVooren (gymnastics), Mackenzie Weinkauf (gymnastics).

Several athletes have also qualified for the state track meet which will take place May 27-28. Earning a spot thus far this season are Derrick Aho (100 meter dash), Jake Anderson (triple jump), Cole Dockter (100 meter dash), Tanner Gauer (100 and 200 meter dashes), Jacob Karges (long jump), Taylor Thue (100 and 300 meter hurdles), boys 400, 800 and sprint medley relays, and the girls 800, 1,600 and sprint medley relays.

The MHS volleyball team captured the Region 1A championship title and finished seventh place in the State Class A tournament. The girls cross country team was recognized for their 16th place finish at state. The gymnastics team earned a sixth place team finish at the state meet while the girls tennis team finished 14th overall.

One coach was recognized for his efforts to the Milbank High School girls basketball program. Joe Frederiksen will depart from Milbank at the end of the school year and move on to the next phase of his career. He was thanked for all his efforts.

Volunteer coaches, workers, and sponsors were thanked for their involvement in MHS athletics. Recognized for boys basketball were Joel Foster, Tyler Gall, Monte Robinson, Tom Aho, and S&D One Stop; girls basketball – Todd Yerdon, Joel Foster, Tyler Gall, State Farm Insurance and Anne Seffrood; cross country – Heidi Mischel, Christine Townsend, Chuck Foss, Laura Foss, Hardee’s, Tobacco Coalition and Sara Snaza; football – Joel Foster, Jason Kettwig, Bill Tostenson, Terry McCulloch, Scott Jackson, Ron Waletich, Dennis Krause and Paul Tostenson; golf – Randy Patnoe and POET; gymnastics – Karla DeVaal and Lewis Drug; boys and girls tennis – Larry Cantine, Steve Stemsrud, Kevin Cantine, Greg Cantine, MACTA and Boyd VanVooren; track – Amy Thue, Josh Schmeichel, Valley Queen Cheese, Anne Seffrood, SDNG, Mark Leddy, Lyle and Nancy Kreutner, Rick Swenson, Wade Van Dover and Sara Snaza; volleyball – Joel Foster and Hannah Rick; wrestling – Joel Foster, Tracy Upton, Ryan Conrad and Big Stone Therapies.

Milbank alumnus, Kalen DeBoer, was the guest speaker for the banquet. Chris Loutsch sang the National Anthem and Hannah Rick provided the prayer. The meal was catered by the Millstone Family Restaurant.