The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Logan Weninger was named Top Male Athlete.
Madison Johnson was named Top Female Athlete.
Evie Skytland was a co-honoree for this year's 'C' Club Award.
Peggy Smith was a co-honoree for this year's 'C' Club Award.
Contributors to Carrington Cardinal athletic programs, from the varsity down to junior varsity and C-squad levels, were all honored at the school's Athletic Awards Night for the 2023-24 season Tuesday evening, March 26.
Ten activities and their past seasons were granted time for recognition, with each team's coach or advisor speaking on the successes their respective students enjoyed. Five additional sports that played last spring were also honored.
Plaques were given to all seniors who participated in an athletic activity at least once during their careers, which denoted their sport and number of years they dedicated to it.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Logan Weninger and Madison Johnson were named CHS' Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year, and Evie Skytland and Peggy Smith were named to the Honorary 'C' Club.
Logan Weninger
Towards the middle of his high school career, Logan Weninger discovered his gift for speed.
Coming off two different leg injuries (femur and hip fractures) where he missed much of a season's worth of action in his freshman year, Weninger has blossomed into quite the athlete on the football field and track.
He has played football for four years and track and field for five, and was also part of the wrestling program up to his sophomore year.
This past fall, Weninger was named to the Second Team All-State football squad, and rushed for 1,141 yards and accumulated 21 total touchdowns on both the ground and in the air. He was the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Valuable Offensive Back in 2023.
He achieved a state qualification at 160 pounds as a sophomore on the mat, winning 28 total matches that year. In his junior year, he hung up the singlet to participate in indoor track as an unattached athlete, getting a head start on his competition for the 2023 spring.
It was during that year that the North Dakota Class B track world caught notice of Weninger. He would capture the 400-meter dash state championship in Bismarck with a dive across the finish line, and also placed second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 200, while also running on the fourth-place 4x400-meter relay team.
He has signed a letter of intent to compete for Minnesota State University-Mankato in track and field, and plans to major in Exercise Science.
Logan is the son of Brad and Lisa Weninger of Carrington.
Madison Johnson
Madison Johnson becomes the second member of her family to earn top Female Athlete honors. Her sister, McKenzie, won the award in 2019.
Like McKenzie, Madison has gone about her business in volleyball, basketball and track without much in the way of fanfare.
During her senior season at the net, Johnson was an All-District 5 Team selection, and was the offensive MVP with 364 kills. She helped lead the Cards to both regular and postseason success during her time in the red and white.
Basketball allowed the sure-handed smooth shooter to put her talents to good use. The 5'8" guard has been both a District 5 (Class B) and Region 2 (Division A) team honoree, and set the school record this past season for most converted free throws with an even 100.
She also led the team in rebounding (6.0) and steals (2.8) this past season, and won both the Hardest Worker and MVP honors.
In track, Johnson has established herself as one of the state's top middle distance aces. She placed third in both the 800 and 1,600-meter runs as a junior, and ran on the runner-up 4x800 relay team and fourth-place 4x400 in 2023.
She was fourth in the mile and fifth in the 800 as a sophomore, and had two other relay placings (second, 4x800, fifth, 4x400). Johnson also was a state qualifier her freshman season.
Madison is the daughter of David and Nichole Johnson of Carrington. She is currently undecided on either a major or school, but says she is leaning towards the University of Mary to possibly compete in track.
Evie Skytland & Peggy Smith
Evie Skytland and Peggy Smith are co-winners of this year's Honorary 'C' Club Award.
The two have been longtime supporters of Carrington High School athletics in various capacities, and are parents and grandparents of Cardinal athletes, as well as coaches.
Both Skytland and Smith are spouses of past 'C' Club honorees, Marvin "Red" Skytland (1973) and Ed Smith (1982).
The Skytlands have been a big part of the fundraising efforts to pay for the newly-dedicated Cardinal Stadium this past fall, as well as the Smith family being involved with numerous other projects as part of the Sports Boosters and additional clubs.
A full list of award honorees for each completed varsity sport to date this season, along with sports from the 2023 spring season, are as follows:
Football
Team Most Valuable Player: Logan Weninger
Most Valuable Offensive Back: Logan Weninger
Most Valuable Defensive Back: Josh Bickett
Most Valuable Freshman: Alec Threadgold
Teamwork Award: Charles Jorgensen
Most Valuable Offensive Line: Brock Jungels
Most Valuable Defensive Line: Brock Jungels
Most Valuable Receiver: Grady Shipman
Most Valuable Linebacker: Corbin Clifton
Most Valuable Special Teams: Grady Shipman
Most Improved: Aaron Neumiller
Hardest Worker: Jake Otto
Top Rock: Jaxon Schaefer
Most Rushing Yards: Logan Weninger, 1,141
Most Touchdowns: Logan Weninger, 21
Most Passing Yards: Josh Bickett, 1,141
Most Tackles: Corbin Clifton, 100
Most Interceptions: McKade Zink, 4
Most Receiving Yards: McKade Zink, 299
Most Tackles for Loss: Brock Jungels, 12
Cross Country
Girls' MVP: Kenadie Pazdernik
Most Improved: Kaylin Pate, Joie Helseth, Kate Fiebiger
Hardest Worker: Kenadie Pazdernik, Macy Fiebiger
Leadership Award: Jaedyn Lura, Nela McKibben
Boys' MVP: Joe Lindberg
Most Improved: Gabe Inglish, Howie Simonson, Eric Hallwachs
Hardest Worker: Gabe Inglish, Sam Garr
Leadership Award: Joe Lindberg
Volleyball
Offensive MVP: Madison Johnson
Defensive MVP: Kenadie Pazdernik
Most Kills: Madison Johnson, 364
Most Aces: Kacie Rexin, 57
Most Assists: Kacie Rexin, 567
Most Blocks: Edyn Hoornaert, 73
Most Digs: Kenadie Pazdernik, 779
Most Improved Player: Harper Kollman (varsity), Aubrey Neis (JV), Khendra Garcia (C-squad)
Hardest Worker: Isabel Wendel
Cardinal Spirit Award: Sydney Friedt
JV MVP: Brynn Smith
C-Squad MVP: Journey Peltier
Girls' Golf
Most Birdies: Kacie Rexin
Most Pars: Kacie Rexin
Lowest Scoring Average: Kacie Rexin
Most Improved: Molly Hansen
Hardest Worker: Kacie Rexin, Molly Hansen
Girls' Basketball
Most Assists: Isabel Wendel, 4.2 apg
Best Free Throw Percentage: Kaydence VanRay, 75%
Most Free Throws Made: Madison Johnson, 100
Most Rebounds: Madison Johnson, 6.0 rpg
Most Steals: Madison Johnson, 2.8 spg
Best 3-point Field Goal Percentage: Kacie Rexin, 36%
Best 2-point Field Goal Percentage: Edyn Hoornaert, Olivia Threadgold, 49%
Hardest Worker: Madison Johnson
Best Defense: Isabel Wendel
Best Spirit: Kenadie Pazdernik
Most Improved (JV): Sienna Topp
Most Improved: Olivia Threadgold
MVP: Madison Johnson
Boys' Basketball
Most Improved: Drew Matt
Teamwork Award: Josh Bickett, Jake Otto
Most Hustle: Jake Otto
Best Defensive: Grady Shipman
Best Offensive: Josh Bickett
Sixth Man Award: Taylen Mehring
JV Player of the Year: Grady Idland, Maddox McIlonie
Most 3-pointers: Josh Bickett, 35
Best Free Throw Percentage: Josh Bickett, 79% (54-of-68)
Most Steals: Grady Shipman, 44
Most Rebounds: Grady Shipman, 116
Most Assists: Grady Shipman, 44
Boys' Wrestling
Most Takedowns: Corbin Clifton, 73
Most Escapes: Dru Carr, 50
Most Reversals: Skye Kramlich, 21
Most 3-pt. Near Falls: Skye Kramlich, 16
Most 2-pt. Near Falls: Skye Kramlich, 12
Most Wins: Skye Kramlich, 59
Most Pins: Corbin Clifton, 37
Most Major Decisions: Dru Carr, 19
Most Technical Falls: Skye Kramlich, Dru Carr, Nic Garber (1)
Best Winning Percentage: Corbin Clifton, 49-8 (85.9 percent)
Most Improved: Brody Weisenburger
Hardest Worker: Skye Kramlich
Courage and Guts: Nic Garber, Gabe Clifton, Kallen Wolsky
Lance Koenig Most Valuable Wrestler: Corbin Clifton
Al Larson Leadership Award: Corbin Clifton
Most Dedicated: Dru Carr
East Region Champion: Corbin Clifton (145)
State Placers: Skye Kramlich (8th, 107), Dru Carr (4th, 114), Nic Garber (6th, 139), Corbin Clifton (1st, 145), Callen Garber (5th, 215), Brody Weisenburger (6th, 285)
State Qualifiers: Skye Kramlich (107), Dru Carr (114), Gabe Clifton (133), Nic Garber (139), Corbin Clifton (145), Vinnie Ruppell (152), Max Ciubotareanu (172), Callen Garber (215); Brody Weisenburger (285)
Girls' Wrestling
Most Takedowns: Jazmyn Ybarra, 84
Most Near Falls: Jazmyn Ybarra, 27
Most Pins: Khendra Garcia, 32
Most Wins: Jazmyn Ybarra, 48
Most Improved (Grades 7-9): Jamisyn Schroeder
Most Improved (Grades 10-12): Jazmyn Ybarra, Ashley Lindberg
Courage and Guts: Taya Lura
Most Valuable Wrestler: Khendra Garcia
Leadership Award: Taya Lura
Hardest Worker: Jazmyn Ybarra
State Placers: Jazmyn Ybarra (7th, 124), Khendra Garcia (2nd, 130), Ashley Lindberg (2nd, 250)
State Qualifiers: Taya Lura (106), Jazmyn Ybarra (124), Kelsi Neuman (124), Khendra Garcia (130), Kendall Kovar (136), Karlee Lesmann (170), Ashley Lindberg (250)
Academic All-State: Kendall Kovar, Karlee Lesmann, Kelsi Neuman, Jazmyn Ybarra
Cardinaires
Best Smile: Tesslin Lura
Best Fame: Reagan Wolsky
Best Leaps: Reagan Wolsky
Best Jumps: Sydney Friedt
Best Turns: Tessa Mittleider
Best Kicks: Sierra Friedt
Best Splits: Tessa Mittleider
Most Spirited: Sydney Friedt
Hardest Worker: Sierra Friedt
Most Improved: Macy Fiebiger
Leadership Award: Tessa Mittleider, Sydney Friedt
Most Valuable Dancer: Tessa Mittleider
Archery
Most Valuable Archer (Male): Hayden House
Most Valuable Archer (Female): Hailee Weber, Anna Freeman
Most Improved Archer (Male): Grant Johnson
Most Improved Archer (Female): Nela McKibben
2023 Spring Award Winners
Track and Field
Boys
Most Valuable Track Athlete: Logan Weninger
Most Improved Track Athlete: Jaxon Schaefer
Hardest Working Track Athlete: Logan Weninger
Most Valuable Sprinter: Logan Weninger
Most Valuable Jumper: Kael Kovar
Most Valuable Thrower: Ryder Bickett
Most Valuable Distance: Joe Lindberg
Girls
Most Valuable Track Athlete: Madison Johnson
Most Improved Track Athlete: Mercedes Lura
Hardest Working Track Athlete: Madison Johnson
Most Valuable Sprinter: Mercedes Lura
Most Valuable Jumper: Isabel Wendel, Haley Wolsky
Most Valuable Thrower: Olivia Threadgold
Most Valuable Distance: Madison Johnson
Baseball
Most RBI: Grady Shipman, 22
Highest Batting Average: Grady Shipman, .533
Highest On Base Percentage: Grady Shipman, .608
Most Stolen Bases: Kael Kovar, 18
Most Wins: Grady Shipman, 5
Staff ERA Award: Josh Bickett, 0.84
Team Leadership Award: Jack Erickson
Most Improved: Owen Hagel
Gold Glove Award: Grady Shipman
Team MVP Award: Grady Shipman
Softball
Most RBI: Kennedy Wendel, 12
Highest Batting Average: Kennedy Wendel, .565
Most Wins: Calleigh Hewitt
Staff ERA Award: Calleigh Hewitt
Most Improved: Tesslin Lura
Gold Glove Award: Brynn Smith
Team MVP: Kaydence VanRay
All-Region 3 Team: Kaydence VanRay, Brynn Smith
Honorable Mention: Isabel Wendel
Boys' Golf
Lowest Average: Grady Shipman, 82.7
Most Pars: Carter Larson, 34
Most Birdies: Grady Shipman, 6
Hardest Worker: Gabe Ricter
Most Improved: Luke Page
