Area Girls Basketball Teams Receive All-Academic Honors

Mar 26

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cloquet Lumberjacks, Esko Eskomos and Proctor Rails have been named to the All State All-Academic Team for 2010. Proctor and Cloquet are new to this season’s academic role, whereas Esko achieves this honor for the second straight year.

The 2009-2010 Esko Girls Basketball team accomplished several fine things this year on the hard-court, but this marks the second straight year for the coveted off-court honor. The Proctor Rails girls basketball team will also celebrate success off the court this season with a very prestigious award that is difficult to achieve.

Cloquet’s Jeff Ojanen coached a team this year that achieved more success than many may have thought possible at the start of the season, but this is a special honor. Section 7AA representative Byron Negen stated this honor is “truly reflective of the quality of student athletes there are in Minnesota.”

The Eskomos were selected as one of seven schools from Section 7AA. This accomplishment is a special recognition of the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association. To be awarded this honor, the basketball team has to average a grade point average of 3.5 as a team.

Esko finished the season with a cumulative grade point average of 3.738. The Lady Rails of Proctor finished with an average of 3.508. Cloquet ended the season with a 3.520 average. Coaches are Scott Antonutti of Esko and the Proctor Rails are coached by Brain Masterson.

Others from Section 7 earning this award in girls basketball include Cherry and Cook County in 7Am Aitkin and Deer River were named in 7AA, and Hibbing and Grand Rapids in 7AAA. The boys section awards are Mesabi East in 7A, Pine City in 7AA, and North Branch in Section 7AAA.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com