Gatorade Player of the Year Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Ty Hoglund Named Gatorade® SD Boys Basketball Player of the Year

March 17, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

CHICAGO (March 17, 2016)—In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Ty Hoglund of Dell Rapids High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Hoglund is the first Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Dell Rapids High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Hoglund as South Dakota’s best high school boys basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Hoglund joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.), Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.) and Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas).

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior guard led the Quarriers to a 20-3 record and the regional championship game this past season. Hoglund averaged 26.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game. A First Team All-State selection, he was also the Dakota XII Conference Player of the Year. Hoglund has maintained a 4.09 GPA in the classroom. Also a golf and track standout, he is a member of his school’s student council and has volunteered locally on behalf of a food pantry and youth sports programs.

“Any coach would love to have Ty Hoglund as the leader of his team,” said Alex Langner, head coach at Baltic High. “He has the ball-handling skills to run the show and he has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He’s progressed from being a good shooter as a young player to a complete, all-around player as a senior.”

Hoglund has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Dakota Wesleyan University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports,which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of

accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Hoglund joins recent Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Players of the Year Deng Geu (2014-15, Washington High School), Justin Decker (2013-14, Huron High School), Zach Hanson (2012-13, 2011-12 & 2010-11, TF Riggs High School), Jared Hannigan (2009-10, Central), Tony Fiegen (2008-09, Madison High School), Louie Krogman (2007-08 ,White River High School), and Dale Moss (2006–07, Brandon Valley) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Two other Dell Rapids HS students won this award recently. Cole Langer won the award for football in 2012, and Adam Wolff also won the award for football in 2002.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

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Dell Rapids High School Standout Named Gatorade® South Dakota Football Player Of The Year

November 29, 2012 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cole Langer TD

CHICAGO (November 29, 2012) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Cole Langer of Dell Rapids High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade South Dakota Football Player of the Year. Langer is the second Gatorade South Dakota Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Dell Rapids High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Langer as South Dakota’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December, Langer joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior linebacker and fullback led the Quarriers to an 11-1 record and the Class A state championship this past season. Langer rushed for 874 yards and 15 touchdowns on 102 carries, and recorded 71 tackles along with three forced fumbles. He is a two-time First Team All-State selection and a member of the Argus Leader Elite 45 team. Langer has maintained a 4.14 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of his church community and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has volunteered locally on behalf of youth sports programs and has served on his school’s student council.

“He can take over a game with just his hard running style,” said Craig Clayberg, head coach at Tea High. “When you have a player with his size, speed and body control, it’s very difficult for your defense to stop. One defensive player can’t bring him down—you need two, three or even four guys.”

Langer has verbally committed to play football on scholarship at South Dakota State University beginning in the fall of 2013.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Langer joins recent Gatorade South Dakota Football Players of the Year Alex Schultz (2011-12, Lincoln High School), Matt Hermanson (2010-11, Washington High School), Austin Sumner (2009-10, Brandon Valley), Dustin Lotzer (2008-09, Sisseton High School) and Riley Reiff (2007-08, Parkston) among the state’s list of former award winners. Adam Wolff, Dell Rapids, won the award in 2002.