Athletic Department Awards
Visitation student-athletes excel on the playing field, in the community and in the classroom. The annual awards presented to our student-athletes reflect the accomplishments of young women who exemplify athletic excellence, are the embodiment of a Visitation education and live the values of our Salesian tradition.
- St. Paul Area Athena Award
- Excellence in Athletics Award
- Fink Sportsmanship Award
- Spanier Award for Leadership
St. Paul Area Athena Award
The St. Paul Area Athena Awards program was initiated in 1995 to honor outstanding female athletes. Each year, one student-athlete from every St. Paul area public and private high school is selected to receive this award. Each award recipient is invited to a banquet and awards ceremony honoring her accomplishments in downtown St. Paul. The Athena Awards Committee has only one standard for schools participating in the Athena awards program: “Send us your best senior female athlete.” Starting from that base, each school has developed its own selection process and standards.
Visitation Athena Award Recipients
1995: Kacey Williams
1996: Mollie McQuillan
1997: Mindy Michel
1998: Katie Bernabei
1999: Mollie Shearen
2000: Shannon Fitzgerald
2001: Jenny Murphy Carnival
2002: Larissa Williams
2003: Kelsey Ostberg
2004: Patty Devoy
2005: Margaret Knoedler
2006: Katie Bono
2007: Jessica Leiferman
2008: Courtney Kranz
2009: Martha Evans
2010: Becca Frenz
2011: Katie Moran
2012: Erin Anderson
2013: Anne Debertin
2014: Heather Farley
2015: Kate Hallett
2016: Abbie Dolan
2017: Maggie Conners
2018: Samantha Burke
2019: Sophie Kishish
2020: Mary Burke
2021: Margaret Dalseth
2022: Ella Sukup
Excellence in Athletics Award
First presented in 1985, the award for excellence in athletics is given to the student-athlete who achieves the highest level of success in athletics during a single academic year. The level of success is primarily based on regular season, section, and state competition. In addition, evaluation by her peers, coaches, school administrators, section, metro, and state selection committees is included in determining the level of success.
Excellence in Athletics Award Recipients
1985: Shari Sullivan
1986: Jessica Leahy
1987: Jessica Leahy
1988: Karin Goettl
1989: Kristin Mulrooney
1990: Cindy Makens
1991: Frances Baillon
1992: Katie Hetherington
1993: Katie Sirek
1994: Anne Marie Ihnot
1995: Kacey Williams
1996: Katie Bernabei
1997: Mindy Michel
1998: Katie Bernabei
1999: Mollie Shearen
2000: Jeannie Ortiz
2001: Emily Petschel, Colleen Traeger
2002: Larissa Williams
2003: Ellen Hartman
2004: Katie Bono
2005: Katie Bono
2006: Katie Bono
2007: Jessica Leiferman
2008: Courtney Kranz
2009: Martha Evans, Megan Weiss
2010: Breanna Herzog
2011: Katie Moran
2012: Anne Debertin
2013: Haley Housh
2014: Elsa Ayotte, Abbie Dolan
2015: Abbie Dolan
2016: Maggie Conners
2017: Maggie Conners
2018: Samantha Burke
2019: Nina Reamer
2020: Ella Hinkemeyer
2021: Margaret Dalseth
2022: Olivia Johanns
Fink Sportsmanship Award
The Fink Memorial Sportsmanship Award was created in 2004 by Jeffrey Fink as a tribute to the memory of his dearly departed parents, Bernard and Dolores Fink. The lessons and fulfillment that athletics imparted onto Jeff were magnified by his parents’ love and support. In that spirit, this award was designed to honor those Visitation student athletes who have best absorbed the educational objectives that athletics provide. Two student-athletes will each receive an award and a one-year scholarship of $1,500. Scholarship awards will name the awardee and their intended college/university.
Fink Award Recipients
2004: Marie Hickey, Allison Vetter
2005: Colette Finley, Jane Frenz
2006: Katie Bono, Theresa Evans
2007: Jessica Leiferman, Lindsey DeSutter
2008: Sarah Anderson, Peggy Dobihal
2009: Martha Evans, Emma Russ
2010: Claire Kranz, Clare Robinson
2011: Taryn Glynn, Paige Maxwell
2012: Erin Scallen, Katie Supplee
2013: Bailey Brown, Meredith Lawrence
2014: Elsa Ayotte, Marta Seitz
2015: Bergin Brown, Caroline Gaertner
2016: Cecilia Kulhanek, Jocie Zenner
2017: Lorelei Gaertner, Grace Snyder
2018: Samantha Burke, Meg Pryor
2019: Kira Johansen, Catherine Kerin
2020: Mary Burke, Lauren Kern
2021: Emily Groppoli, Julia Finn
2022: Kendall Oliver, Emily Wollan
Spanier Award for Leadership
This award is given in memory of Sandy Spanier, Visitation Athletic Trainer, who passed away during childbirth in August of 2000. In her almost ten years of service at Visitation, Sandy touched the lives of many coaches and student-athletes. She was a positive force in our lives, a caregiver, cheerleader, counselor, and mentor. It seems fitting to create an award for leadership and name it after someone who led by example so well.
Spanier Award Recipients
2002: Tiffany Finley, Katie Sullivan
2003: Claire McGoldrick
2004: Marie Hickey, Jackie Kelly
2005: Ellie Flood, Shannon Traeger
2006: Ann Gehrz, Katharine Pennell
2007: Emily Jackson
2008: Sarah Anderson
2009: Emma Russ
2010: Claire Kranz
2011: Paige Maxwell, Peggy Jackson
2012: Maggie Blaisdell
2013: Mary Kate Berigan, Bailey Brown
2014: Caroline Mulligan
2015: Kate Hallett
2016: Anya Gaertner
2017: Martha Koenig
2018: MaryKate Schoonover
2019: Kayla O'Keefe
2020: Lauren Kern
2021: Clare Kirchner
2022: Catherine Wollan