Trappers who went above and beyond were honored last Wednesday. 

Northwest College Athletic Director Brian Erickson virtually hosted the annual Trapper Awards Banquet via a Facebook livestream, recognizing student-athletes who were impactful on the court, on the pitch or in the classroom.

Haruki Yamazaki of the men’s soccer team and Samiyah Worrell of women’s basketball won male and female athlete of the year, respectively. Yamazaki, a sophomore from Nara, Japan, led the Trappers with five goals on eight shots. Worrell, a sophomore from Fountain, Colorado, was named to the all-Region IX team in 2021. She averaged a team-high 14.1 points per game for the Trappers. The two have both signed to play at four-year schools, with Yamazaki pledging to Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, and Worrell committing to Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. 

The recipients of the Trapper Award — given to student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in the areas of academics, citizenship, leadership, and athletic performance — were Hayden Peterson of Buffalo (men’s basketball) and Devon Curtis of Powell (volleyball). Both sophomores, Peterson and Curtis were singled out for being prime leaders and key contributors to their respective sports.

As for the Trapper Dave Award, awarded to freshmen student-athletes who embody the spirit of “Trapper” Dave Fink — Alan Swenson (men’s basketball) and Aubrianne Crosby (volleyball) took home the hardware. Swenson, of Brussels, Belgium, was a key vocal leader on the bench after suffering a season-ending injury, while Crosby, of Cowley, displayed grit and leadership off the bench for the volleyball team.

“I want to thank our student-athletes for keeping our campus safe, getting it done in the classroom,” Erickson said. “It was such a different year, and I’m so proud of how you represented our athletic department and your sport.”