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Friday, 10 September 2010 22:00

The process to determine the recipients of the 12th annual Minnesota Multisport Awards has begun. MMA Selection Committee Members will be attending their first of several meetings next week. One of the eight categories they will be discussing is 2010 Minnesota Junior of the Year. The competitive resumes of more than twenty 19-&-under athletes will be scrutinized and four kids will ultimately receive JOY nominations. This is a coed category.

The Committee will look at how often and how well each athlete raced. The quality of the competition they faced will be evaluated as well as the time differential between their efforts and that of elite adults in the same racing environment. They will also be compared with those athletes who have set the junior performance standards in years past. It's not enough to win one's AG on a regular basis. The times must also be impressive and the effort must compare with those of past champions.

The kids who have set the highest standards in the past include four-time JOY Beth Zirbes (2004, 2003, 2002, 2001), two-time JOY Runner-Up (2009, 2008) Sarah Daniels for the girls, and Jason Liebsch (2004 JOY) and Michael Williams (2008, 2007, 2006 JOY) for the boys. These athletes have "held their own" competitively with elite adults.

The four athletes who will receive 2010 nominations will be those who have raced often enough, consistently enough and fast enough to be compared with the aforementioned standard setters.

So, who will the 2010 Selection Committee be considering? Here, in alphabetical order are some of the kids whose successes this year have captured their attention:

* Mata Agre, 17, Corcoran

* Michael Crabtree, 17, Owatonna

* Greta Danielson, 16, St. Cloud

* Thomas Edwards, 14, Waconia

* Joshua Frei, 16, Rochester

* Luke Gruhlke, 17, Monticello (photo L- blue shirt)

* Tyler Hecht, 17, Somerset, WI

* Jeff Hoernemann, 19, Andover

* Krista Humbert, 18, Mound

* Kale Karstens, 19, Mankato

* Gabby Keller, 18, Maple Grove (photo below)

* Anton Knack, 17, Prior Lake (photo R--yellow shirt)

* Emma Lee, 19, St. Paul

* Lindsay Lee, 18, White Bear Lake

* Kate Lowrey, 15, Chaska

* Micah Nelson, 15, Rochester

* Brandon Onopa, 18, Long Lake

* Molly Peichel, 17, Rice

* Jake Pittman, 19, Hudson, WI

* Kyle Serreyn, 19, Lakeville (top photo)

* Alexander Vogel, 17, Maple Grove

* Shelby Woodworth, 18, Hutchinson

NOTE: The Vukovich brothers--Jacob and Caleb--from Brookings, SD, may also receive consideration if they raced often enough (3 or more times) on Minnesota soil.

Coming next......Rookie of the Year considerees.