The Becker Bulldog boys tennis team held their end-of-the-year awards banquet Wednesday at senior Jackson Lefebvre’s home.
The first award Head Coach Hokan Bengtson hands out every year is the Larry Hladky Award, which goes to the player who ‘possesses superior grit and determination, signifying the traits that Larry had (extraordinary spirit), selflessness and genuine appreciation of being a Becker Bulldog tennis player,” said Bengtson. Hladky coached from 2004-2007 and died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), which is basically the human version of mad cow disease.
That award went to Tyler Lindquist.
Bengtson also had a long list of academic awards, headlined by Jackson Lefebvre, who earned academic all state. Lefebvre was also awarded the scholar athlete award for the team (player with the highest GPA: 4.0)
Bengtson’s most improved player (voted by the team) was Jacob Lukkarila.
The team’s most dedicated (voted by the team) was Lefebvre.
The team’s most outstanding player (as voted by the team) was Lefebvre.
Becker had two all conference honorable mention players in Johnny Crocker and Brady Gruenhagen. Bengtson’s team had five all conference players in Lindquist, CJ Howard, Lefebvre, Branden Roemer and Lukkarila.
Lefebvre finished his career eighth all-time in the boys tennis program with 54 wins.
Gruenhagen finished the season with the best individual win total, finishing 20-5.
Becker’s only other senior besides Jackson was Isaac Popp. He finished the year winning the Granite Ridge Conference doubles title with Caleb Quernemoen. The Bulldogs also won the #2 doubles conference title with Gruenhagen and Crocker, as well as the #1 doubles title with Lindquist and Howard.
The team voted on captains for next year and chose Lindquist, Howard and Roemer.
The boys also honored Rob Olson, who finished the year as JV coach and has taken a teaching position in Wayzata.
“Rob is a gifted teacher, kind-hearted man and good friend,” said Bengtson. “Our program and team want to wish the best for him as he pursues his teaching career closer to his home in Maple Grove.”
