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The most accomplished hockey team in Chisago Lakes history held its awards banquet this past Monday, February 22 at the Gallery in Lindstrom. The Wildcat girls' team celebrated winning the consolation championship at this year's state hockey tournament and also recognized individual accomplishments.

Wildcat head coach Jason Mahlen, who was named the Section 7A coach of the years, credited his three senior captains - Sam Lorr, Ashley Gibson and Jenna Dobosenski - with leading the team to a high level of accomplishment. "We were very young at certain positions going into this season," he said. "And we had some ups and downs. But we had no dustups between players this year, which meant we weren't distracted by off-ice problems between teammates. And that's attributable to the great leadership we got from our seniors. In addition to being terrific team captains, they were good role models as students - all three of the made Academic All-Conference - and in the community off the ice. This was a fun season made even better by this great group of seniors."

Center Sam Lorr was named All-State Honorable Mention, All-Conference, Academic All-Conference and the Most Coachable Wildcat. Lorr is a player who never took a shift off in all her years of playing hockey - she gave one hundred percent every time she stepped on the ice. Her combination of talent, understanding of the game and hard work provided a great example to her teammates. Lorr said that two of the things she enjoyed the most this season were "going to the state tournament and getting interviewed at the Xcel Center after the opening game against Warroad. I love the atmosphere in the locker room and I'm close to a lot of the girls. It's like being in a family and that's one of the things I love about team sports." Lorr is a member of the National Honor Society and will study nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point next year, where she has also been recruited to play hockey.

Forward Ashley Gibson was named All-Conference Honorable Mention, Academic All-Conference and Playoff Most Valuable Player. Gibson, always a solid player for the Wildcats, stepped her game up to a new level in the playoffs. She scored the winning goal in overtime to beat Silver Bay in the opening round of the section tournament and went on to score eight goals and six assists in the Wildcats' six playoff games. What caused her to emerge as a superstar at the end of her senior season? "We weren't playing well against Silver Bay," she said, "and I knew we had to score. I was able to make a play and get the team going for the next game. I really wanted to make it to the state tournament and I knew I would have to play my best to help the team get there." Gibson will attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the fall. Her goal is to get an education degree and become a third grade teacher. Why third grade, specifically? Gibson said "I enjoyed third grade so much and loved my teachers." She plans to try out for the varsity soccer team and to play club hockey.

Forward Jenna Dobosenski was named Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference, and Hardest Worker. She also received the Hobey Baker Sportsmanship Award. Dobosenski's senior season should be an inspiration to anyone trying to succeed in sports or in life. Even though she was a senior and a captain, Dobosenski began the season on the JV with no assurances from coaches that she would get regular playing time on the varsity. But Dobosenski didn't complain. She showed leadership by working hard and keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity. After a dozen JV games, Dobosenski earned her way up to the varsity, skating a regular shift on the third line for the rest of the season. "I guess the positive attitude s just part of my personality," said Dobosenski. "I always want to do my best and try to improve as much as I can." Mahlen said "To be frank, when Jenna first joined or program I didn't know if she would ever be a varsity player. But she showed how hard work can pay off, improving enough during her senior season to earn a shot at varsity and then playing better and better when she got there." Jenna, who also plays tennis and likes camping, will join her sister Kristen at St. Scholastica next year and plans to go into medicine or the environmental field.

The team voted sophomore goaltender Jamie Dobosenski its Most Valuable Player. Last year, with Dobosenski injured, the Wildcats were knocked out in the semifinals of the section playoffs. This season, Dobosenski played through pain once she returned from injury six games into the season. Her solid play gave her teammates the confidence they needed to succeed. Speedy sophomore Megan Lushanko, the team's leading scorer, and emerging start Allison Borgstrom, an eighth-grader, provided excitement nearly every time they hit the ice. Junior Allison Tossey and freshman Allison Ives joined Jenna Dobosenski on a third line that did a good job grinding it out against. Sophomore forwards Laura Monson and Marisa Petersen were the unsung heroes of their respective lines - working hard, not making mistakes and doing the dirty work necessary to help their teammates score. Sophomore defenseman Katie Johnson provided a wicked slapshot and an intimidating presence on the ice to lead a young Wildcat defense. The rest of the Wildcat defense - junior Mary Burch, sophomores Ashlee Ricci and Miranda Beimert and freshman Miranda Krumm -- matured throughout the season nad will give the Wildcats a solid experienced defensive dorps going into next season. Eighth grade defenseman Rikki Waldoch got some quality minutes late in the season and in the playoffs, giving the Wildcats even more defensive depth for next season.

Section 7A Academic Champions - Chisago Lakes Wildcats

State and Conference Awards

All-State Honorable Mention - Senior Sam Lorr

Academic All-State - Senior Jenna Dobosenski

All-Conference - Senior Sam Lorr, Sophomore Megan Lushanko

All-Conference Honorable Mention - Senior Ashley Gibson, Eighth-Grader Allison Borgstrom, Sophomore Jamie Dobosenski

Academic All-Conference (seniors only) - Jenna Dobosenski, Sam Lorr, Ashley Gibson

Team Awards

Most Valuable Player - sophomore goaltender Jamie Dobosenski

Playoff Most Valuable Player - Senior Ashley Gibson

Most Improved - Junior Danielle Tossey

Hardest Worker - Senior Jenna Dobosenski

Total Points Leader - Sophomore Megan Lushanko

Plus/Minus Leader - Sophomore Katie Johnson

Rookie of the Year - Eighth-Grader Allison Borgstrom

Most Coachable - Senior Sam Lorr

Hobey Baker Sportsmanship Award - Senior Jenna Dobosenski

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