The Becker Bulldog girls Cross-Country team celebrated its amazing season last week with its annual year end banquet.  The Bulldogs capped off a great season with a 10th place finish in the Class AA MSHSL State Meet.

“We are very proud of our team again this year . . . the girls cross country has a tradition of excellence and sportsmanship,” Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy said.  “We won 5 of our season meets this year and also won the MSHSL Section 5AA Championship for the third year in a row to advance to the State Meet.”

Letterwinners were honored at the banquet and included: Olivia Babler, Tasha Berthiaume, Alea Briggs, Ella McDonald, Katelyn Brower, Naiya Hanson, Alyssa Brower, Adele Changamire, Laney Hodel, Lorelei Swanson and Andie Changamire.

Participation awards were earned by: Raelee Lyon, Sophia Malisheski, Aria Deidrick, Charlie Dirkes, Abby Frey, Myka Maksimenko, Ava Scheiber, Lillee Stevens, Addy Goenner, Greta Schmitt and Anna Wynia.

As a team, the girls earned the Minnesota State Cross Country Coaches Association Team Academic

GOLD AWARD, while the M8 Conference also honored the team with the Gold Award.

Individual Academic All Conference awards were given to: Lexi Rose. Berthiaume, Briggs and Katelyn Brower, while the Spotlight on Scholarship honorees included Babler, Berthiaume, Briggs, Katelyn Brower, Hanson, Rose and Lyon.  Rose won the Scholar Athlete award and Briggs was named Academic All-State.  

Speaking about the three trips to State, Reimer-Kealy sang the praises of her athletes.

“Olivia Babler and Alea Briggs ran on all 3 of those teams which is quite an accomplishment,” said the coach. 

The future also looks bright, as the Bulldog JV team handily won the JV conference meet and the middle school team was 3rd..

“We had 4 All Conference runners: Adele Changamire, Alea Briggs, Andi Changamire and Olivia Babler,” Added Reimer-Kealy.

Individual awards given included: Most Valuable (Adele Changamire), Most Dedicated (Alea Briggs), Most Improved (Laney Hodel), Rookie Award (Andie Changamire), Legacy Award (Tasha Berthiaume), Heart of CC award (Olivia Babler),  True Grit Awards (Lexi Rose and Ella McDonald), and Inspiration Award (Charlie Dirkes).

“There are impressive young women returning next year to continue our cross country story, they will be fun to watch,” Reimer-Kealy said.  “We salute our seniors who have been such wonderful leaders and competitors for many years. They have truly embodied our cross country mentality.  Olivia Babler, Tasha Berthiaume, Alea Briggs and Lexi Rose. Olivia and Alea plan to continue their running careers in college next year, while Tasha plans to play lacrosse and Lexi will compete in basketball.  They are a well rounded group of individuals who we know will succeed in life.  They take our love with them.”