Yetzer, Sietsema, Steinberg, Reuvers and Leichtnam honored for athletic accomplishments

Faribault High School honored a handful of top athletes on the same night as the rest of the senior awards May 8.

Along with numerous scholarships and academic accomplishments, a handful of prestigious Falcon honors were handed out to four hard-working athletes, who have excelled on and led their respective teams.

Rylee Sietsema was the Female Athlete of the Year. Sietsema was a captain on all three teams she played for. She received All-Conference honors in basketball and girls softball. She was captain on both teams for the past two years and led both of her teams on the field of play. She has also been a two-time Big 9 All-Conference selection and MVP of her team in softball. She’s been the only pitcher this year for a solid girls softball team and led her basketball team in scoring and rebounding. A pure athlete, she was also the captain on her volleyball team.

Isaac Yetzer was named Male Athlete of the Year. Yetzer was a standout football player and wrestler. He was a six-time varsity athlete in wrestling, two-time state tournament individual participant, and he was a captain in football, lettering three times.

Joey Steinberg was awarded the Bruce Smith Award for the male athlete who exemplifies, not only athletic excellence, but academic as well. Steinberg is a three-time letter winner in football and was team captain and All-District. He is also a Big 9 scholar athlete. He was in track and field for four years and was captain there as well. He was a state participant in DECA and a three-time international qualifier. He was also in the National Honor Society.

Hailey Reuvers was awarded with the AAUW Sportswoman of the Year, which is similar to the Bruce Smith Award, with excellence on and off the court/field factored in. Reuvers was a six-time varsity player and four-time captain of the girls tennis team. She was also the “Excel” nominee for Faribault High School as a junior and a Triple A nominee as a senior.

Sietsema and Cooper Leichtnam won an award for participating in three sports four years in a row. Leichtnam was a dominant football player and a state participant in wrestling for the Falcons. A three-year letter winner in track and field, too, Leichtnam was a fierce competitor on the field, mat and track for the Falcons. He was an All-State selection in wrestling and a Section 1AA individual champion.