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Midland Roundtable announces 2018 Athlete of the Year finalists

Posted at 6:00 PM, May 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-05 15:46:44-04

BILLINGS – The Midland Roundtable has announced the five boys and five girls finalists for the 2018 Athlete of the Year awards.

Billings Senior leads the way with six of the 10 nominees. West has three, while Skyview has one. Billings Central did not have a nominee for this year’s awards, which are limited to graduating seniors among the four Billings high schools.

BOYS

GABE SULSER – Billings Senior

Sulser was named the 2017 Montana Gatorade Football Player of the Year after leading Senior through its second consecutive undefeated state championship season. He is a three-time all-state first-team wide receiver, cornerback, and returner, and also won the 110-meter hurdles state title as a sophomore in track. Sulser will attend the University of Montana on a football scholarship.

NOLAN ASKELSON – Billings Senior

Askelson is a two-time all-state first-team linebacker and the 2017 Class AA Defensive MVP for Senior’s championship team, as well as a first-team quarterback his senior year. He will attend Montana State University on a football scholarship.

CHARLIE KLEPPS – Billings Senior

Klepps became the 32nd wrestler in Montana history to win four state titles back in February, winning the 132-pound title to cap his career. Klepps is also a two-time all-state soccer forward. He had scholarship offers in both sports, but announced Wednesday night that he’s accepted a wrestling scholarship at Iowa State.

JOEY MOORE – Billings West

Moore is a two-time Class AA individual state golf champion and four-time all-state performer. He finished second in the State AA tournament as a freshman and again as a sophomore, before winning the title his final two years, including setting a new Class AA record of 133 as a senior. Moore will attend San Diego State on a golf scholarship.

BROCK BUSHFIELD – Billings Skyview

Bushfield is a two-time state champion wrestler and was named an all-state second-team safety in football his senior season, as well as an all-state honorable mention quarterback for Skyview. He recorded two other top-three wrestling finishes in his four-year career, as well. Bushfield will attend Rocky Mountain College on a football scholarship.

GIRLS

RAEGAN STEINER – Billings Senior

Steiner was named the 2017 Montana Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, as well as an AVCA and Under Armour first-team all-American, after leading Senior to the Class AA state championship match for the second straight season. Steiner played on the Broncs’ 2014 state championship team as a freshman. She will attend Idaho State University on a volleyball scholarship.

COURTNEY BAD BEAR – Billings Senior

Bad Bear was a second-team all-state setter for Senior’s volleyball team her senior year and was named academic all-state in both volleyball and basketball. She played with Steiner on Senior’s 2014 state championship team and will attend Montana Tech on a volleyball scholarship.

PAYTON MEYER – Billings Senior

Meyer was a first-team all-state softball player as a junior and again has Senior on track for the state tournament this season. She earned four varsity letters on the diamond and will attend MSU Billings on a softball scholarship to continue her career with former teammate, and 2017 Athlete of the Year winner, Brittanee Fisher.

MADDIE BROCKEL – Billings West

Brockel has won six individual state track and field titles and has been a part of five more relay championships at West during her outstanding career. Brockel has won the 200 meters all three years so far and ran the anchor leg on West’s all-class record-setting 400-meter relay team in 2016 and ’17. Brockel will attend Montana State University on a track scholarship.

CATHERINE FOLLETT – Billings West

Follett was named a second-team all-state volleyball player in 2017 and earned academic all-state honors her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Follett has decided not to continue her athletic career in college.