Carlton Athletes Honored At Athletic Banquet

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the complete Carlton Letterwinner list

For additional photos click here to view our complete photo gallery

May 18, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

Athletes from all Carlton sports got together Friday night for the annual Carlton Sports Awards Banquet. Four sport standout Lindsey Dahl-Holm received the coveted athlete of the year award on the girls side while the boys award was a split decision, with Dekota Frear and Colton Godbout sharing the athlete of the year award.

Just last fall, Carlton athletics hit a low point when they were forced to cancel the football season because of low numbers. Based on the amount of letterwinners at the banquet, that low did not last long. Football is set to return next season, at a JV level to begin with and most other varsity sports are improving in both numbers and competitiveness and sport a strong nucleus of younger players.

A total of 82 letter certificates were handed out at the banquet in grades 9-12. That number would have been even greater, with several younger athletes meeting the requirements for lettering, but the school requires the student to be at least a freshman to receive a letter.

Six athletes put the “student” back into student athlete by being named to the Polar League All-Academic Team. Students in grades 10-12 must have at least a 3.7 grade point average to qualify. The list was led by sophomore Tori Anderson with a 4.02 followed by Megan Tomczak with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Also named to the list were Courtney Bauer, Duncan Fox, Megan Nelson, and Brooke Camps.

Carlton Head Volleyball Coach Barb Soukkala presented the Sjodin Award in Volleyball to Marita Yellowhammer. The award was named in honor of Elsie Sjodin, a longtime physical education teacher at Carlton who was instrumental in pioneering girls sports at the high school level.

Dahl-Holm and Eric Adams received all-conference awards in basketball.

Head Softball Coach Denny Johnson was presented a plaque, which he accepted on behalf of the softball team for winning the 2011 Polar League title. The 2011 team fell just one game short of a section title and are looking to make another run for a state tournament berth as the 2012 playoffs kick into high gear next week.

In addition to being named female athlete of the year, Dahl-Holm received letters for all four sports she participated in and was recognized for her numerous trips to state in both track and cross-country. She is currently seeded #1in the 3200 meters as sub-section and section track events kick off next week.

Frear was recognized for the work ethic and leadership that he brought to the game of basketball; qualities which will serve him well as he prepares to serve his country as a Marine. Godbout was honored for pitching a perfect game against Moose Lake-Willow River in April. According to his baseball coach Ryan Schmidt, the accomplishment has only been done 16 times in the history of high school baseball in Minnesota.

The staff at Northland Sports Online would like to congratulate all of the student athletes for their accomplishments and wish them well in the future.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com