MALST Awards Banquet Wraps Up Season

The Milbank Area SeaLions Swim Team officially wrapped up their season on Sunday, August 19, with their season-end awards banquet.
The Team Choice Award went to Will Karels. This is the only award that is voted on by the MALST swimmers and not the coaches.

The Big Brother/Big Sister Awards were given to a male and female swimmer who show support for their fellow swimmers, offer help and exhibit good attitude – those awards were given to Paul VanDover and Hope Karels.

The Most Valuable Swimmer Awards are given to both a female and male swimmer from both upper and lower age-levels. This year’s MVS Awards went to: Jacy Dexter and Trey Gloe in the 12 and under division and Amaya Street and Elijiah Fraasch in the 13 and over division.

MALST awards a Most Improved award to four swimmers each year, regardless of age – it is given to a swimmer that shows improvement in strokes, turn techniques and time cuts through the season. The four gentlemen receiving the award were: Mason Cordingley, Logan Dexter, Grant VanPuersem and Isaac Sousa.

Also given out are two Coaches Awards. These are given to swimmers showing good attitude, confidence, sportsmanship and those who jump in and help without being asked. The Coaches Award winners were Laura Johnson and Maddox Hanson.

Emma DeBoer was the sole recipient of the Commitment Award this year, given for the swimmer’s dedication both in and off season, assistance and positive feedback to other swimmers.

Four Hardest Worker Awards were handed out to swimmers for displaying overall hard work at every practice and meet and showing improvement throughout the season. The awards went to: Autumn Fox, Kaitlyn Krause, Max Scoular and Liam Street.

Rookie of the Year is given to a new swimmer on both the 12 and under and the 13 and over divisions, the two swimmers awarded were: Eleanor Mills (12 and under) and Reese Cronen (13 and over.)

One sole Performance Award is given to a swimmer or relay team that swims an incredible (and incredibly talked-about) race – this year that race was a 200 Butterfly swam by Jessica VanPuersem in Huron.

The final awards given are the Champion Swimmer Trophies, which are awarded on the performance throughout the swimmer’s season. A first, second and third place is usually given but this year was a unique situation. Savannah Osowski was given the 3rd place trophy and 1st and 2nd place came down to a tie between Maurina Street and Carter Gloe.

 Photo 1 – All swimmers receiving awards at the banquet
 Photo 2 – Will Karels receiving his Team Choice Award
 Photo 3 – Coach Jodi Street awards Maurina Street and Carter Gloe with Championship Swimmer Trophies