Two South-West area female athletes claimed their St. Paul Area Athena Awards at their ceremony April 21. One award winner is chosen from the senior class of each participating high school.

South St. Paul High School student Brooke Alsides, Cretin-Durham Hall student Michelle Fischer of Mendota Heights, Simley High School student Natalie Walseth and Henry-Sibley High School student Anne Leuman received awards.

The Athena Awards Committee asks each school to submit its “best female athlete.” Schools often formulate their own additional criteria to encompass excellence in academics and extracurriculars as well, resulting in a group of award winners this year who excel in sports, academics and community involvement.

South St. Paul High School
Brooke Alsides
Packer Brooke Alsides shows her talents in volleyball, basketball and softball while staying active in her high school community and has achieved membership in National Honor Society.

A three-time letter-winner for volleyball, she received two all-conference honorable mentions. She was named captain and most valuable player twice, as well as Rookie Of the Year and “Miss Hustle.”

In basketball, Brooke was named captain and received four letter awards during her high school career.

As for softball, Brooke lettered five times and received an all-conference award. She was twice named captain of the team.

Outside of athletics, Brooke has been involved in Students Against Destructive Decisions, Diversity Leadership, the yearbook team, and both junior and senior councils. She was named homecoming queen last fall. Brooke has also volunteered her time in community youth basketball programming where she coached elementary school teams.

Next year, Brooke plans to study human resources at St. Mary’s University in Winona, and said she may try out for volleyball or softball.

This Athena Award winner is the daughter of Laura and Dino Alsides.

Cretin Durham Hall
Michelle Fischer
Michelle Fischer of Cretin-Derham Hall is also a three-sport standout, playing soccer, hockey and lacrosse at Cretin-Durham Hall.

As a soccer player, she received an all-conference honorable mention her senior year, when she also captained the team. She received “Hardest Worker” awards both her senior and junior years, and was voted most improved her sophomore year.

On the ice, Michelle was named captain both her junior and senior years, receiving an all-state honorable mention her senior year as well as a Hobey Baker Award.

In lacrosse, Michelle has been a captain three years running. She played in the Minnesota High School League All-Star game her junior year.

The National Honor Society and Cretin-Durham Leadership Council count her among their ranks. Outside of school, Michelle volunteers with Meals on Wheels and Dakota Communities, Inc., through which she has helped mentally or developmentally disabled athletes play hockey in the Minnesota Special Hockey League.

Michelle has used her 4.44 cumulative GPA and athletic feats to secure a place on the College of St. Scholastica’s inaugural women’s hockey team next year. She plans to major in business marketing.

Michelle is the daughter of Mike and Kaye Fischer.

Henry Sibley High School
Anne Leuman
Henry Sibley athlete Anne Leuman established herself as a hockey and golf standout for the Warriors, and also participated in cross-country running.

Leuman battled her way to captain this year as a leader of the Warriors hockey program. Having earned four letters on the ice, she also scored the Warrior Award as well as the Hobey Baker Character Award along the way.

On the links, Leuman lettered five times and also led the team as a captain. She was named Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player, and was named All-Conference three times. She took two trips to the state tournament for her efforts.

In the classroom, Leuman’s honor roll grades earned her a place in National Honor Society. She was also editor of the yearbook.

Outside of campus, Leuman volunteered at Dakota Woodlands and through Advent United Methodist Church.
She will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year, where she plans to play club hockey, and pursue her favorite hobby - scuba diving.

Anne is the daughter of Joe and Jan Leuman.

Simley High School
Natalie Walseth
Simley senior Natalie Walseth dominated the volleyball court during her high school career, and made notable contributions to her basketball and track teams along the way.

As a five-year letter winner she set the all-time kills record and the all-time blocks record in the high school’s history. Natalie also received three all-conference awards, one all-conference honorable mention and was named captain her junior and senior years. She was named to the all-state team by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association.

On the hardwood, Walseth lettered four times, earned three all-conference reports and one all-state honorable mention. She was named the team MVP her senior year and lead the team as a captain her junior and senior years. Walseth joined the elite ranks of 1,000-point scorers and is a member of the MSHSL coaches Association All-Star Team.

As for her track career, Walseth earned three letters, was named team captain this season and placed third all-time record in shot put.

In the classroom, Walseth secured a 3.5 GPA. She is a volunteer coach with Simley’s volleyball and basketball youth camps.

Next year, Walseth will attend the University of South Dakota where she plans to play volleyball.

Natalie is the daughter of Daniel and Annette Walseth.