Gymnast Isabel Jirsa and basketball’s Dmitri Scares the Hawk are the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association-Avera Athletes of the Week for the week ending January 22.
Jirsa, a freshman, established a career-high and a qualifying score of 9.15 on the balance beam at the Pierre Invitational. Head Coach Rebecca Feller said of Jirsa, “Isabel is a quiet, hardworking gymnast. In practice and at competition, she shows respect to her coaches and the officials. She has beautiful form and consistently sticks a difficult aerial to back tuck series on the beam, earning her one of the top beam scores at nearly every meet this season. She has been determined to increase her individual score, as well as the team score by increasing her difficulty level and adding event requirements skills to her existing routines. In addition to her dedication in the gym, she maintains good grades in the classroom.”
Boys Basketball Head Coach Brianna Kusler lauded the work of Scares the Hawk: “Dmitri is the epitome of a team player and continues to make our program – athletes and coaches – better each day. While he has not suited up in a game yet this season, he has come with a positive, encouraging, committed attitude since the beginning of the season to every practice and game. As a senior, his unwavering commitment to his role in practice and games of bettering himself and his teammates demonstrates the type of person that he is. In a time where playing time and statistics have become the primary focus for many athletes and parents alike, it is rare for an athlete to remain entirely committed to the betterment of the team regardless of what their playing time looks like. Dmitri does just that. The way he celebrates his teammates, pushes himself beyond his comfort zone daily, and remains a positive, encouraging teammate despite knowing his opportunity to step on the floor may never come, tells you everything you need to know about who he is as a person and athlete. He continues to grow in his role, leads by a steady example of dedication and positivity, and is an incredible person who competes each day because he loves the game of basketball. This world is better because of people like him who are unselfishly committed to what they are passionate about. We all can learn from Dmitri – work hard, stay positive, celebrate others, and chase your passions wholeheartedly.”
Comments