Speech a part of 2009 award banquetCarroll College head football coach Mike Van Diest implored Powell High School student-athletes to remember their community roots and to stay involved in athletics. The remarks came during the keynote address of the 2009 athletic awards banquet at Powell High School on Monday. “I hope you realize how important you are to your communities,” Van Diest said to a sizable audience in the high school commons area. “You are the role models. You are the ones the younger kids look up to and relate to more than they do to people like me.”During his wide-ranging remarks, Van Diest, who has directed the Carroll College football program to five national championships in the past seven years, urged Powell youth to remain active in athletics. For those not planning to participate in athletics in college, he suggested they consider coaching in order to remain involved in with their high school pastimes. “Don't ever forget what you mean to the future,” Van Diest said. “Take your personality and skills with you and give back to the community.”Van Diest also stressed the importance of 1,440, a number he had printed on practice attire for Carroll's football program last summer. The figure reflects the number of minutes in each day.“That's the time we all have each day,” said Van Diest. “Nobody has more. Nobody gets less. We're all equal. If I don't utilize that time to make myself a better person, then I'm cheating myself and I'm cheating the others that I come into contact with.”Following Van Diest's comments, numerous awards were presented for the 2008-2009 academic year. Plaques for individual sports awards were presented to students on all fall and winter sports teams. Winners of those awards were announced earlier in the year at the sports' individual award programs. The evening culminated with a host of special award recipients. McKenzie Danforth and Gavin Mills were named the female and male senior athletes of the year for Powell High School. Danforth was also named the female recipient of the Pat Finney Service Award, given each year to individuals who are active in both their school and community. Galen Mills earned the award among male athletes at PHS. The Dr. Ray Christensen Stout Heart Award was bestowed upon Darcee Lynn and Trevor Donarski. Kelsey Allen and Jordan Brown earned the Gerald Sleep Most Inspirational Athlete awards for the night. Mills and Jordan Bigelow were named the U.S. Marines Distinguished Athletes. Chelsae Akin and Cody Kalberer were the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete Award recipients. Multi-sport medallions, given to boys who have lettered in six or more sports and girls lettering in five or more sports over their four-year high school careers went to Jordan Brown, Dalton Harris, Matt Kifer, Jackson Miller, Hannah Toland, Trevor Donarski, Cody Kalberer, Rustin Myrick, Dallas Robirds, Brandon Sullivan, Kelsey Allen, Darcee Lynn, Ryan Brandt, Matt McArthur, Galen Mills, Gavin Mills and McKenzie Danforth. Winners of individual sport awards were:Boys cross country — Patrick Sullivan (MVP), Wyatt Horner (most improved), Alex Speiser (most inspirational).Girls cross country — Desiree Murray (MVP), McKenzie Danforth (most improved), Kristi Mingus (most inspirational).Volleyball — Hannah Pollart (MVP), Kayla Ando (most improved), Erica Woodward (most inspirational).Tennis — Jonas Kuehl, Chris Brinkerhoff and Chelsea Akin (MVPs), Tyler Morgan and Brittany Feller (most improved), Todd Lewis and Kelli Lewis (most inspirational).Football — Trevor Donarski (MVP), Kyle Woodward (most improved), Mitch Sleep (most inspirational), Drewe Metzler (Lee Blocking award), Matt McArthur (Offensive MVP), Galen Mills (Defensive MVP), Drayson Bratt (Special Teams MVP).Golf — Bryan Borcher and Saige Smith (MVPs), A.J. Anderson (most improved), Colt Nix (most inspirational).Girls swimming —Laura Morse (MVP), Brittany Christensen (most improved), Maddy Jones (most inspirational).Boys basketball — Jordan Brown (MVP), Matt McArthur (most improved), Gavin Mills (most inspirational), Matt McArthur and Galen Mills (free throw percentage).Girls basketball —Savannah Donarski (MVP), Hannah Pollart (leading stats), Katie Kipp (most improved), Kelsey Allen (most inspirational), McKenzie Danforth (free throw award).Wrestling — Trevor Donarski (MVP), Colt Nix (most improved), Cory Eden (most inspirational).Boys swimming —Roy Oursler (MVP), Shane Firnekas (most improved), Alex Speiser (most inspirational).Cheerleading — Chelsea Akin (MVP), Tia Ibarra (most improved), Kelli Lewis (most inspirational).Groove Masters — Ashley Buckner (MVP), Bethany Marquez (most improved), Kelsey Payler (most inspirational).Individual awards in soccer and track will be announced and distributed at team award nights following the conclusion of those seasons.

Speech a part of 2009 award banquet

Carroll College head football coach Mike Van Diest implored Powell High School student-athletes to remember their community roots and to stay involved in athletics. The remarks came during the keynote address of the 2009 athletic awards banquet at Powell High School on Monday.

“I hope you realize how important you are to your communities,” Van Diest said to a sizable audience in the high school commons area. “You are the role models. You are the ones the younger kids look up to and relate to more than they do to people like me.”

During his wide-ranging remarks, Van Diest, who has directed the Carroll College football program to five national championships in the past seven years, urged Powell youth to remain active in athletics. For those not planning to participate in athletics in college, he suggested they consider coaching in order to remain involved in with their high school pastimes.

“Don't ever forget what you mean to the future,” Van Diest said. “Take your personality and skills with you and give back to the community.”

Van Diest also stressed the importance of 1,440, a number he had printed on practice attire for Carroll's football program last summer. The figure reflects the number of minutes in each day.

“That's the time we all have each day,” said Van Diest. “Nobody has more. Nobody gets less. We're all equal. If I don't utilize that time to make myself a better person, then I'm cheating myself and I'm cheating the others that I come into contact with.”

Following Van Diest's comments, numerous awards were presented for the 2008-2009 academic year. Plaques for individual sports awards were presented to students on all fall and winter sports teams. Winners of those awards were announced earlier in the year at the sports' individual award programs.

The evening culminated with a host of special award recipients. McKenzie Danforth and Gavin Mills were named the female and male senior athletes of the year for Powell High School.

Danforth was also named the female recipient of the Pat Finney Service Award, given each year to individuals who are active in both their school and community. Galen Mills earned the award among male athletes at PHS.

The Dr. Ray Christensen Stout Heart Award was bestowed upon Darcee Lynn and Trevor Donarski. Kelsey Allen and Jordan Brown earned the Gerald Sleep Most Inspirational Athlete awards for the night.

Mills and Jordan Bigelow were named the U.S. Marines Distinguished Athletes. Chelsae Akin and Cody Kalberer were the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete Award recipients.

Multi-sport medallions, given to boys who have lettered in six or more sports and girls lettering in five or more sports over their four-year high school careers went to Jordan Brown, Dalton Harris, Matt Kifer, Jackson Miller, Hannah Toland, Trevor Donarski, Cody Kalberer, Rustin Myrick, Dallas Robirds, Brandon Sullivan, Kelsey Allen, Darcee Lynn, Ryan Brandt, Matt McArthur, Galen Mills, Gavin Mills and McKenzie Danforth.

Winners of individual sport awards were:

Boys cross country — Patrick Sullivan (MVP), Wyatt Horner (most improved), Alex Speiser (most inspirational).

Girls cross country — Desiree Murray (MVP), McKenzie Danforth (most improved), Kristi Mingus (most inspirational).

Volleyball — Hannah Pollart (MVP), Kayla Ando (most improved), Erica Woodward (most inspirational).

Tennis — Jonas Kuehl, Chris Brinkerhoff and Chelsea Akin (MVPs), Tyler Morgan and Brittany Feller (most improved), Todd Lewis and Kelli Lewis (most inspirational).

Football — Trevor Donarski (MVP), Kyle Woodward (most improved), Mitch Sleep (most inspirational), Drewe Metzler (Lee Blocking award), Matt McArthur (Offensive MVP), Galen Mills (Defensive MVP), Drayson Bratt (Special Teams MVP).

Golf — Bryan Borcher and Saige Smith (MVPs), A.J. Anderson (most improved), Colt Nix (most inspirational).

Girls swimming —Laura Morse (MVP), Brittany Christensen (most improved), Maddy Jones (most inspirational).

Boys basketball — Jordan Brown (MVP), Matt McArthur (most improved), Gavin Mills (most inspirational), Matt McArthur and Galen Mills (free throw percentage).

Girls basketball —Savannah Donarski (MVP), Hannah Pollart (leading stats), Katie Kipp (most improved), Kelsey Allen (most inspirational), McKenzie Danforth (free throw award).

Wrestling — Trevor Donarski (MVP), Colt Nix (most improved), Cory Eden (most inspirational).

Boys swimming —Roy Oursler (MVP), Shane Firnekas (most improved), Alex Speiser (most inspirational).

Cheerleading — Chelsea Akin (MVP), Tia Ibarra (most improved), Kelli Lewis (most inspirational).

Groove Masters — Ashley Buckner (MVP), Bethany Marquez (most improved), Kelsey Payler (most inspirational).

Individual awards in soccer and track will be announced and distributed at team award nights following the conclusion of those seasons.