Schmitz, Wolsky named as top CHS athletes for '23

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 2022-23 season Tuesday evening, March 28.

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, Hudson Schmitz and Haley Wolsky were named CHS' Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year, and Tom and Sharon Paintner were named to the Honorary 'C' Club.

Hudson Schmitz

Hudson Schmitz has always carried himself with poise and quiet confidence in whichever sport he's currently playing, and is one of those who definitely "leads by example," as the phrase says.

He is a three-sport participant at CHS, playing football, basketball, and high school and American Legion baseball.

In football, Schmitz has made a name for himself as a sure-handed receiver and inviting target for contested passes, with his 6'3", 220-pound frame and impressive reach and leaping ability. He also lined up at tight end on occasion, and his coaches and teammates alike have marveled at his positive attitude and work ethic.

Schmitz has been a starter on the basketball team for four years as well, successfully guiding the program on the floor through a handful of lean years in the win column to start out, and helping building them into a District 5 and dark horse Region 3 contender by his senior year.

This past year, he scored his 1,000th career point, and was the offensive Most Valuable Player. He led the team in rebounds (7.1 per game), and was the top shooter from the field at 58.8 percent. He was selected to the Stutsman County All-Tournament and District 5 teams.

The diamond also afforded Schmitz a chance to shine, as he was the team leader in batting average last season. In addition, he is a strong defensive catcher, and has also logged key innings on the mound for both the high school and Legion teams. Last year, he was an All-Region 3 performer.

Hudson is the son of Jim and Kim Schmitz. His future plans are to attend UND, and is leaning towards a major in education, with the possible goal of becoming a high school principal or administrator.

Haley Wolsky

Growing up with seven siblings in her immediate family, it takes a good amount of hard work, dedication and love of athletics for Haley Wolsky to distinguish herself.

She is a three-sport athlete for the Cardinals, competing in volleyball, basketball and track, and added a fourth sport last spring when she went out for girls' softball.

This past year at the net and on the court, Haley was the offensive MVP for the Cards, earning the most kills with 298, and was also named to the All-District 5 team in that sport.

Wolsky was also a multi-year starter for the CHS basketball team, and won fans on the floor for her tenacity and heart, and fearlessness towards the basket. She was recognized this year with the "Best Defense" Award.

In track, she was briefly the school record-holder in pole vault at 9 feet, seven inches, and has also qualified for the state meet for several years in the 100-meter hurdles.

Haley is the daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Wolsky. She will be attending Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and is leaning towards studying marketing, along with playing for the Cobbers volleyball program.

Tom and Sharon Paintner

Tom and Sharon Paintner are this year's Honorary 'C' Club winners.

Both of the Paintners have been a vibrant part of the Carrington community for many years, with both working in the educational field as teachers at the school at various times.

Tom taught nine years of history and accounting classes in the Carrington school district, and later worked in the accounting department at Erickson Implement (now High Plains Equipment) for almost 40 years.

He was a founding member of the Quarterback Club in the 1970's, is a member of the Lions Club along with Sharon, and is a past member of the Chamber, hospital and township boards.

Sharon was the Carrington High school Librarian/Media Specialist for 40 years, and also taught English at CHS during that time. She started in the school district in 1967, teaching third grade and later sixth grade, and was the co-founder of Caring-TON Preschool during the time she was away from teaching to raise a family.

A full list of award honorees for each completed varsity sport to date this season, along with sports from the 2022 spring season, are as follows:

Football

Team Most Valuable Player: Hudson Topp

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Josh Bickett

Most Valuable Defensive Player: Hudson Topp

Most Valuable Offensive JV Player: Mark Thomas

Most Valuable Defensive JV Player: McKade Zink

Most Improved: Maverick Zink

Hardest Worker: Logan Weninger

Top Rock: Kael Kovar

Most Valuable Defensive Lineman: McCoy Beckley

Most Valuable Offensive Lineman: Brock Jungels

Most Valuable Special Teams Player: Jack Paulson

Teamwork Award: Hudson Schmitz, Luke Christianson

All-Region: Hudson Topp, Logan Weninger, Kael Kovar, Brock Jungels

Honorable Mention: Grady Shipman, Josh Bickett, Carson Ova

Cross Country

Girls' MVP: Kenadie Pazdernik

Most Improved: Macy Fiebiger

Hardest Worker: Baylee Lura

Boys' MVP: Trace Hoggarth

Most Improved: Trace Hoggarth

Hardest Worker: Joe Lindberg

Volleyball

Offensive MVP: Kennedy Wendel, Haley Wolsky

Defensive MVP: Mya Schroeder

Most Kills: Haley Wolsky, 298

Most Aces: Kacie Rexin, 57

Most Assists: Isabel Wendel, 455

Most Blocks: Emma Hone, 123

Most Digs: Mya Schroeder, 510

Most Improved Player: Bailey Ness (C-squad), Brynn Smith, Kenadie Pazdernik (JV), Edyn Hoornaert (varsity)

Hardest Worker: Mya Sch-roeder, Allison Jarrett

Cardinal Spirit Award: Sydney Friedt, Allison Jarrett

JV MVP: Kaydence VanRay

C-Squad MVP: Lauren Hendrickson

Girls' Golf

Most Birdies: Kacie Rexin

Most Pars: Kacie Rexin

Lowest Scoring Average: Kacie Rexin

Most Improved: Molly Hansen, Sage Patzer

Hardest Worker: Kacie Rexin, Molly Hansen

Girls' Basketball

Most Assists: Isabel Wendel, 3.1 apg

Most Steals: Isabel Wendel, 2.9 spg

Best Free Throw Percentage: Kacie Rexin, 88%

Most Rebounds: Edyn Hoornaert, 6.8 rpg

Hardest Worker: Madison Johnson

Best Defense: Haley Wolsky

Most Improved: Kacie Rexin

JV Most Improved: Kenadie Pazdernik

Best Spirit: Emma Hone

MVP: Madison Johnson

All-District 5 Team: Madison Johnson, Isabel Wendel, Edyn Hoornaert

Stutsman Co. Tournament Team: Madison Johnson, Isabel Wendel, Edyn Hoornaert

Boys' Basketball

C-Squad MVP: Peyton Harrington

JV MVP: Ryder Bickett

Most Improved: Jack Erickson

Teamwork Award: Jack Erickson

Defensive MVP: Grady Shipman

Offensive MVP: Hudson Schmitz

Marksman Award (highest 2-pt. field goal percentage): Hudson Schmitz, 58.8%

Deep Threat Marksman (highest 3-pt. field goal percentage, minimum 36 attempts): Josh Bickett, 34.3%

Best Free Throw Percentage: Josh Bickett

Most Steals: Grady Shipman, 3.5/game, 80 total)

Most Assists: Grady Shipman, (2.43/game)

Most Rebounds: Hudson Schmitz (7.1/game)

All Stutsman Co. Tournament: Hudson Schmitz

All-District 5 Team: Jack Erickson, Hudson Schmitz

Captains: Hudson Schmitz, Jack Erickson

Boys' Wrestling

Most Takedowns: Trace Hoggarth, 72

Most Escapes: Corbin Clifton, 30

Most Reversals: Nic Garber, 24

Most 3-pt. Near Falls: Trace Hoggarth, 20

Most 2-pt. Near Falls: Dru Carr, 12

Most Wins: Trace Hoggarth, 47

Most Pins: Trace Hoggarth, 27

Most Decisions: Kael Kovar, 12

Most Major Decisions: Trace Hoggarth, Corbin Clifton, Gabe Clifton (4)

Most Technical Falls: Trace Hoggarth, Skye Kramlich (2)

Best Winning Percentage: Trace Hoggarth, 47-3 (94 percent)

Most Improved: Kael Kovar, Dru Carr

Hardest Worker: Trace Hoggarth, Skye Kramlich

Courage and Guts: Nic Garber, Corbin Clifton

Lance Koenig Most Valuable Wrestler: Trace Hoggarth

Al Larson Leadership Award: Trace Hoggarth

Region 2 Champions: Skye Kramlich (106), Trace Hoggarth (120), Corbin Clifton (138), Kael Kovar (152)

State Placers: Dru Carr (6th, 113), Trace Hoggarth (1st, 120), Corbin Clifton (3rd, 138), Kael Kovar (5th, 152)

State Qualifiers: Skye Kramlich (106), Dru Carr (113), Trace Hoggarth (120), Nic Garber (126), Corbin Clifton (138), Kael Kovar (152), Max Ciubotareanu (170), Callen Garber (195)

Girls' Wrestling

Most Takedowns: Mercedes Lura, 58

Most Near Falls: Kennedy Wendel, 21

Most Pins: Trisa Schroeder, 30

Most Wins: Trisa Schroeder, 38

Most Improved (Grades 7-9): Nevaeh Sorensen, Kenzie Jost

Most Improved (Grades 10-12): Kendall Kovar, Kennedy Wendel

Courage and Guts: Taya Lura

Most Valuable Wrestler: Trisa Schroeder

Leadership Award: Taya Lura, Kennedy Wendel

Hardest Worker: Trisa Sch-roeder, Kennedy Wendel

State Placers: Mercedes Lura (6th, 120), Kennedy Wendel (3rd, 135), Khendra Garcia (7th, 140), Trisa Schroeder (5th, 145)

State Qualifiers: Kenzie Jost (105), Kylie Skadberg (115), Mercedes Lura (120), Kendall Kovar (125), Madalina Ciubotareanu (130), Kennedy Wendel (135), Khendra Garcia (140), Trisa Schroeder (145), Karlee Lesmann (155), Chloe Hovdenes (190), Ashley Lindberg (250)

Academic All-State: Kylie Skadberg, Mercedes Lura, Kendall Kovar, Madalina Ciubotareanu, Kennedy Wendel, Trisa Schroeder, Chloe Hovdenes

Cardinaires

Best Smile: Tesslin Lura

Best Fame: Reagan Wolsky

Best Leaps: Jazmyn Ybarra

Best Jumps: Sydney Friedt

Best Turns: Tessa Mittleider

Best Kicks: Sierra Friedt

Best Splits: Sierra Friedt

Most Spirited: Sydney Friedt

Hardest Worker: Madalina Ciubotareanu, Sydney Friedt

Most Improved: Reagan Wolsky

Leadership Award: Tessa Mittleider

Most Valuable Dancer: Tessa Mittleider

Archery

Most Valuable Archer (Male): Braden Kruse

Most Valuable Archer (Fe-male): Hailee Weber

Most Improved Archer (Male): Alex Braaten

Most Improved Archer (Fe-male): Anna Freeman

2022 Spring Award Winners

Track and Field

Boys

Most Valuable Track Athlete: Logan Weninger

Most Improved Track Athlete: Logan Weninger

Hardest Working Track Athlete: Jacob Rexin

Most Valuable Sprinter: Logan Weninger

Most Valuable Jumper: Kael Kovar

Most Valuable Thrower: Ryder Bickett

Most Valuable Distance: Jacob Rexin

Girls

Most Valuable Track Athlete: Madison Johnson

Most Improved Track Athlete: Sierra Friedt

Hardest Working Track Athlete: Madison Johnson, Isabel Wendel

Most Valuable Sprinter: Mercedes Lura

Most Valuable Jumper: Haley Wolsky

Most Valuable Thrower: Olivia Threadgold

Most Valuable Distance: Madison Johnson, Kenadie Pazdernik

Baseball

Most RBI: Lucas Hendrickson

Highest Batting Average: Hudson Schmitz

Most Wins: Lucas Hendrickson

Staff ERA Award: Lucas Hendrickson

Most Improved: Owen Hagel

Gold Glove Award: Grady Shipman

Team MVP: Lucas Hendrickson

Leadership Award: Lucas Hendrickson

All-Region 3 Team: Lucas Hendrickson, Hudson Schmitz, 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

Varsity Lowest Average: Jacob Rexin, 88.3

Varsity Pars: Jacob Rexin, Wyatt Walker, 40

Varsity Birdies: Wyatt Walker, 6

JV Lowest Average: Ean Hovdenes, 95

Varsity Hardest Worker: Jacob Rexin

Varsity Most Improved: McCoy Beckley

JV Hardest Worker: Wyatt Weninger

JV Most Improved: Charles Jorgensen