Athlete of the Year Banquet

(SHELBY) – KSEN 1150 Radio, for the 25^th year in a row held it’s annual Athlete of the Year Banquet at the Marias Valley Golf and Country Club Wed. night May 10^th.

The Banquet is a celebration and recognition of all the local athlete’s who have been selected as an Athlete of the Week during the current school year.

18 female and 14 male Athlete’s attended the Banquet with guests that brought the total in attendance to well over 100.

During the banquet KSEN introduced each athlete to those in attendance and talked about each of their accomplishments that earned them the award.  Bozeman Trophy has been sponsoring the Athlete of the Week since 1996 and they provide each Athlete with a plaque featuring name, school and date.

During the Banquet KSen also reveals 4 finalists who were considered for the Athlete of the Year award.  The Finalists included Sr. Jori Clary of Shelby, an All-Conference Volleyball, Basketball player and Divisional Golf Champion.  Claire Bucklin of Sunburst – a 3-sport star in X-Country, Basketball and Track & Field.  Jr. Cami Blevins of Shelby, an All-Conference selection in Volleyball, A 1^st Team All-Conference Selection in Basketball, and a participant in Track & Field.  The fourth finalist, Sr. Ada Bieler of Choteau was named “The Athlete of the Year” for the 2^nd year in a row.  Ada was the 1B District MVP and All-Conference, All-State selection in volleyball.  She was a 1^st Team All-Conference, “All-State pick” in Basketball and qualifier in 4 events for the State Track and Field event.

Our Male finalists, included; Trenton Emerson, an All-State Basketball player, QB of the Shelby Football team and a participant of 5 events in Track & Field. Alex Wahl of Cut Bank, an All-Conference Football player and 2^nd place finisher in the State Wrestling Tournament at 138 lbs.  Brinkley Evans an All-State football player and sprinter who finished 2^nd in the 100m dash at the State meet last year and has qualified in the 100m and 200m again this year.  He will also play Baseball for MSU Billings at the collegiate level.

Our Male Athlete of the Year was Sr. Braden Mattson – CJI Hawks.  Braden was a 1^st Team All-Conference QB who led the Hawks into the State playoffs and a 1^st round win.  He was a 1^st Team All-Conference Basketball player….the team’s top defender and Captain and a state qualifier in track and field in the Javelin and Long Jump

Featured Speaker was Chester native Jeff Graham and current Mt. Tech Orediggers women’s coach, formerly the head girls coach at Belt where he won 6-state Championships.  Jeff gave a great speech about being part of a community and thanking those who support their athletic and academic achievements.