Athlete of the Week

OUR KSEN/K96—BOZEMAN TROPHY ATHLETE’S OF THE WEEK COME FROM SUNBURST AND VALIER THIS WEEK WHERE BOTH HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THEIR TEAM SUCCESS AND IN THE CASE OF OUR MALE ATHLETE, BOTH TEAMS.

SUNBURST SR. JADEN KOON, CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION AFTER WINNING THE SUNBURST CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL LAST WEEK. OPPORTUNITIES FOR JADEN TO RUN HAVE BEEN LIMITED THIS YEAR, PARTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE IS ALSO A TOP PLAYER ON THE REFINERS FOOTBALL TEAM.

BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY DID COME ABOUT JADEN TOOK ADVANTAGE WITH A 1ST PLACE FINISH AND A VERY RESPECTABLE TIME OF 18:49. A QUICK COMPARISON SHOWED US THAT, AT MUCH LARGER MEET IN GLASGOW THIS PAST WEEKEND, THAT TIME WOULD HAVE PUT HIM IN THE TOP 10 THERE. HE HAS MISSED ONE OTHER MEET DUE TO THE FOOTBALL COMMITMENT.

ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, JADEN IS ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT, ESPECIALLY ON DEFENSE WHERE HE IS THE TEAMS’ 2ND LEADING TACKLER WITH 20 AND 1 QB SACK. HE HAS ONE TOUCHDOWN ON THE OFFENSE AND IS 2ND IN RECEIVING AND RUSHING YARDS.

OUR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK IS JUST 5 FT, 4 IN. BUT SR. SKYLAR CONNELLY PLAYS THE KEY MIDDLE HITTER SPOT FOR THE VALIER PANTHERS AND HEAD COACH KADIE BRIGGS SAYS AT LEAST ONE TEAM WITH 6-FOOTERS ARE TRYING TO AVOID THE CONFRONTATION.

VALIER’S TEAM SUCCESS FIRST CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION WHEN THEY TOOK A TOP TEAM IN AUGUSTA TO 5 GAMES BEFORE LOSING 16-14 IN THE FINAL GAME. THIS PAST WEEK THEY BLEW BY CASCADE 3-0 AND THEN BEAT BELT. THE HUSKIES HAVE BEEN A PERENNIAL POWERHOUSE IN CLASS C VOLLEYBALL AND EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST 8 SENIORS FROM LAST YEAR, THEY ARE STILL A FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND TEAM.

IN THAT BELT MATCH, CONNELLY KNOCKED DOWN 12 KILLS, HAD 11 KILLS AND 1 BLOCK. COACH BRIGGS SAYS SHE PLAYS ALL ROTATIONS, “IS LEVEL-HEADED, SEES THE COURT WELL AND ADJUSTS TO THE SITUATION.” IN THE BACK, “SHE JUST TAKES CONTROL.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR KSEN/K96—BOZEMAN TROPHY ATHLETE’S OF THE WEEK, SR. JADEN KOON OF SUNBURST AND SR. SKYLAR CONNELLY OF VALIER. THE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK IS SPONSORED LOCALLY BY McDONALD’S IN CUT BANK. McDONALD’S HONORS OUR ATHLETE’S WITH TWO FREE VALUE MEALS EACH.