The 62nd Annual Player of the Year Event has come to an end, and KNUJ has announced its 2023-2024 Winter Athletes of the Year. Out of 44 nominees, three athletes stood out for their exceptional performances in their respective sports.
In girls basketball, St. Peter’s Rhyan Holmgren was named KNUJ’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year for her outstanding performance in the Class AAA State Tournament and season averages of 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Holmgren’s impressive play on the court earned her this prestigious award.
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Area’s Nick Slater received the title of Wrestler of the Year for his contributions to taking LCWMA to the team state tournament and finishing second at the individual state tournament at 189 pounds. Slater’s impressive record of 47-6 during the season solidified his position as one of KNUJ’s top wrestlers for 2023-2024.
Colton Benson from New Ulm was awarded his second KNUJ Boys Basketball Player of the Year honor for his impressive stats of 27.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game during the season. Benson finished his high school career with a total of 2,207 points and has been recognized as one of KNUJ’s top boys basketball players for several years now.
During the event, KNUJ also recognized five state tournament teams: the New Ulm boys hockey team, LCWMA wrestling team, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart girls basketball team, St
