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Newell honored with Athena Award
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008
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Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Following in the footsteps of former Rangers like Renee Frericks and Kristi Buerkle, the 2008 Forest Lake student-athlete to be chosen for the St. Paul Area Athena Award is Christy Newell.
Newell, the daughter of Tom and Donna Newell, was one of 41 young women representing St. Paul city and suburban high schools who were selected for outstanding achievement in athletics. The girls were recognized at an awards ceremony and luncheon on Wednesday, April 16.
When Newell was told she was the representative from Forest Lake High School, she was flattered and almost didn’t know how to respond.
“It’s an honor,” she said, days prior to attending the luncheon that was emceed by KARE-11 TV sports anchor Randy Shaver.
Newell planned to go with her parents, her high jump coach and Ranger track coaches Eric and Corrin Kaluza.
“Christy has been one of the best track and field athletes in Forest Lake history,” Eric Kaluza said. “She has hurdled, high jumped and done pole vault. She has been a two-time conference champ in the high jump and finished tied for second last year.”
Beyond Newell’s four letters in track and field, she has also collected two in soccer and one in cross country. She is an officer in the National Honor Society, volunteered as a vacation bible school teacher and earned an academic all-state award, just to name a few other highlights and achievements.
And next year?
“I’ll be going to the University of Minnesota and trying out for the track team,” she said.
Right now she’s undecided about a major, but anticipates she’ll target business and Spanish.
“She is very deserving of the Athena and I’m very proud of her accomplishments,” Kaluza shared.
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