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By Cynthia Scott
The North Branch Vikingsí inaugural season in the North Suburban Conference culminated last week with the announcement of all-conference selections in football, volleyball and cross country.
The teams also announced their annual intrasquad honors.
Football
Junior Justin Novak and senior Jake Smith were named to the all-conference team and senior Matt Carlson received an honorable mention.
Novak was a spark for the Vikings on both sides of the ball and on special teams, where he returned punts and kicks. He averaged 6 yards per carry on the ground and 11.5 yards per reception. Defensively, he averaged 8 tackles a game.
Smith, a wide receiver/cornerback, led the team in tackles with 81. Carlson was third in tackles with 56.
Other honors were:
Unsung Hero Award, selected by team members: senior Terrence Salminen and junior Alex Nelson. Coach Joel Swanson said Salminen was one of the hardest-workers in the weight room who never complained and constantly kept working to improve his skills. ìHe doesnít have as much God-given athletic ability as others, but he made an impression on his teammates,î Swanson said.
Nelson was the teamís long-snapper, a position where ìNobody notices you unless you have a bad snap,î Swanson said. He also covered punts and played on the junior varsity. ìWhen someone was hurt, heíd say, ìIíll go try that [position],î Swanson said.
Viking Pride Award (given to the player who won the team training competition in running and weightlifting), senior Mike Carlson.
Viking Award, selected by the coaches: junior D.J. Charley. ìD.J. is a role model for the younger kids on and off the field. He has certain characteristics you canít measure,î Swanson said. ìHe understands the overall picture of the game. Heís the hardest worker in the weight room, and is more than willing to try other positions.î
Most improved varsity player, sophomore center Brad Stepp; most improved junior varsity, Mike Oseth. These awards were chosen by team members.
The football team ended the season with a 2-7 record.
Volleyball
The Vikings were named the North Suburban Conferenceís Academic Conference Champions
Junior Megan Ranger and senior Kaia Nyberg were named to the all-conference team. Senior Kelsey Vichorek and junior Kacie Ramberg received honorable mentions.
The team ended the season with arecord of 14-14.
Cross country
All-conference honors went to Haley Hasleiet, Miranda Charley, Ali Zimmerman, Shayna Gray, Nick Ramberg and J.J. Koerber. Honorable mentions went to Brandon Nagle, Ryan Norman and Tiffany Peterson.
Most valuable runners (those who won first place in the most meets during the season): Hasleiet, Ramberg, Tom Toohey and Tiffany Peterson.
Viking Awards to runners who exhibited exemplary team spirit, selected by coaches: Miranda Charley, J.J. Koerber.
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