By Klarissa Olvera

On Wednesday evening, May 27, Santa Fe High School held their annual Spring Sports Banquet in the Old Gym. 

Santa Fe High School Athletic Director Chad Meyer opened the program, and then coaches spoke about each spring sports athlete, beginning with track & field. 

Students  recognized during the event for postseason honors were as follows: 

Track & Field 

Medaling at the I-70 Conference meet (All-Conference): Logan Wilsie, Koewen Dierker, Ryker Moenkhoff, Wyatt Doak, Hayden Toliver, Brooke Summers, Sue Vandiver, Abbie Gieselman, Mia Lark, Mae Vandiver

Medaling at the District meet (All-District): Koewen Dierker, 

Wyatt Doak, Brooke Dierking, Mia Lark, Elise Michael, Ryker Moenkhoff, Brooke Summers, Sue Vandiver, Mae Vandiver

Medaling at the State meet (All-State): Koewen Dierker, Wyatt Doak

Baseball

I-70 All-Tournament: Dalton Doak

All-Conference: Dalton Doak

All-District: Dalton Doak, Thad Hopkins, Korben Dierking (Honorable Mention)

Softball

I-70 All-Tournament: Gentry Ballenger, Tatum Fitzwater

All-Conference: Tatum Fitzwater, Brooke Dierking, Gentry Ballenger

All-District: Gentry Ballenger, Brooke Dierking, Tatum Fitzwater, Abbi Mueller (At Large)

All-Region: Brooke Dierking, Tatum Fitzwater (At Large)

Other Awards

Additionally, Softball Coach Vada Johnson recognized five softball players for achievements outside of stats. This year she gave out five CHIEF Awards, with each award standing for either Communication, Hustle, Improvement, Effort or Family. Coach Johnson noted that the Improvement award should not be confused with “Most Improved,” but rather it signifies the player who put in the most work and showed the most determination to better themselves. She also stated that the Family award is the one she regards the highest, as it’s the most difficult to achieve.  It requires a player to do whatever is necessary to keep the players working together as a cohesive team, which sometimes includes the  uncomfortable task of calling players out when they aren’t doing their part. 

Winners of the CHIEF Awards were: Communication – Sami Mueller, Hustle – Gentry Ballenger, Improvement – Olivia Long, Effort – Audrey Finkeldei, Family – JoHanna Breshears.