Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

She already owns four all-state awards, and raced to 10 more honors for all-conference. On Wednesday, April 18, Kristi Buerkle will be recognized at the St. Paul Area Athena Awards for her accomplishments in track, cross country and Nordic skiing.

Buerkle, the daughter of Jeff and Terri Buerkle, is one of 40 young women representing St. Paul city and suburban, public and private high schools, who were recently selected as winners of the Athena Award for outstanding achievement in athletics.

Joel Olson, the Activities Director at Forest Lake High School, recommended Buerkle for the honor, and after a committee discussed the different Ranger candidates, Buerkle was selected as the Forest Lake nominee.

Buerkle remembers Renee Frericks being chosen last year, but other than that, the whole procedure was an unfamiliar one.

“I really didn’t know a whole lot about it,” Buerkle admits, “so it was all kind of a surprise.”

Now in its 13th year, the Athena Awards salutes female athletes for their dedication and excellence in sports. Buerkle, however, is far from one dimensional. She is a National Honor Society officer, the Yearbook editor, and was consistently on the “A” honor roll.

This fall, Buerkle will attend Bemidji State University and major in Elementary Education, with a focus on science.

The awards committee is comprised of representatives of St. Paul city and suburban schools, parents of previous winners, and business volunteers.

The 40 high school seniors will attend an awards ceremony and luncheon on April 18 at the Prom Center in Oakdale. Randy Shaver, KARE 11-TV sports anchor, will emcee this year’s ceremony, and the keynote speaker is Ms. Linda Robert, St. Paul Central and University of Minnesota basketball star.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” Buerkle says. “It’s basically an all-day event.”

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