Jenna Korstjens Wins Spirit of Max Award at State Tennis 

Senior Jenna Korstjens, a member of the Lady Bulldogs varsity tennis team, won the Spirit of Max Award at the 2026 South Dakota Class A Girls Tennis Tournament held October 5-6 in Rapid City. She was selected from five finalists from across the state and is the first Milbank player to receive the award.

MHS Coach Abbey Trapp, who nominated Korstjens for the honor, said. “The nomination consists of academic achievement, tennis achievement, sportsmanship, extracurricular activities, and overall character. I am ecstatic to announce that Jenna won this award!” 

Korstjens, who played on the team for six years, said she believes, “Tennis has taught me that I am determined. I set a goal for myself and I have strived every year to meet those goals.“  She said one thing  people don’t realize about tennis is “how much your mentality actually affects how you play”. She played at No. 1 this year and clinched third place at State.

According to the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA), the  Spirit of Max Award is given in memory of Max Beeners. Max was a student and tennis player at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School who, after a lengthy battle with cancer, died in 1999.

In addition to tennis, Max was a leader in his church, his school, and in the community. With a sense of humor and a million-dollar smile, Max kept his faith and met his goal of graduating from high school shortly before he passed away. 

In honor of Max, the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame presents this award annually to a deserving senior boy and a deserving senior girl following their respective state high school tennis tournaments.