The Bernie Saggau Award, plus the Female and Male Ram of the Year Awards were presented at Greene County High School on Tuesday night as part of Senior Awards Night. Emma Hoyle was named Female Ram of the Year and Jesse Miller received Male Ram of the Year honors. The Saggau Award went to Katrina Heupel.

The Saggau Award is named after the former Executive Secretary of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and is available to be awarded annually at every Iowa high school. It is presented to a graduating student who best exemplifies a patriotic spirit, with strong religious and moral convictions, living and professing the qualities of honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship, believing that both games and life should be conducted by the rules.

Heupel participated in the sports of volleyball, soccer, and in track & field as a State qualifier on multiple relays, and she’s been active in music and other school and outside of school activities.

Hoyle is a three sport athlete as a senior. She has earned All-State honors as a softball pitcher, as well as being honorable mention All-Conference in basketball. She also was the top discus thrower on the Greene County team and she threw the shot as well.

Miller is a three sport athlete who was All-District in football and will join the U. of South Dakota football team upon graduation. He was also first team All-Conference in basketball as a senior, and will be throwing both the shot and discus later this week at the State Coed Track & Field Championships.

The Ram of the Year was first presented in 1964 and was only given to boys until 1972 when an award for girls was added. This honor goes to seniors who have displayed athletic talent and personality, are leaders on and off the field, including the classroom.  An athlete cannot receive this award without at least one nomination from a head coach. An anonymous committee makes the final selections.