Ruttger, Smith, Anderson athletes of year

"Meeting the Challenge," the theme of Monday night's Brainerd Warriors All-Sports Banquet, was something that Thomas Ruttger, Samantha Smith and Jared Anderson attained throughout their careers in their various athletic endeavors.

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That was among the reasons the three, who earned 35 letters among them, were named the Warrior Athletes of the Year.

Ruttger earned 12 letters in cross country running, Alpine skiing and track and field.

Thomas Ruttger (left) Samantha Smith and Jared Anderson smiled after being named the 2009 Warrior Athletes of the Year at the Brainerd High School All-Sports Banquet Monday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.

"It's a lot of hard work that's paid off," Ruttger said when asked what the award meant to him. "It was kind of unexpected but you put in the hours and I guess you get rewarded.

"When I was younger I had a friend who got this award. It's kind of been one of my goals since I was a little kid. Now it's a (dream) come true. It's been kind of cool."

Ruttger, who plans to attend Minnesota-Duluth and compete in track and cross country, was a captain in all three sports. He was a two-time team most valuable player, four-time all-conference performer, three-time all-state selection and six-time state meet competitor.

He set school, conference and section records. He was a state runner-up in track and is a scholar athlete with a 3.5 grade-point average. He tentatively plans to major in biology.

Smith, who plans to attend Winona State and compete in gymnastics, earned 14 letters in diving, gymnastics and track and field.

"This means a lot," she said afterward. "There's like a ton of amazing athletes in this class. It's really nice to receive this with all those amazing athletes.

"Being a Warrior is amazing, all the spirit that the school has. Everyone's rooting for everyone. The hard work definitely pays off."

Smith was a captain, two-time team MVP, six-time all-conference selection and two-time conference champion.

She earned all-conference honors in all events in gymnastics. She was a five-time all-state selection, section champion in two sports, holds two school records in two sports and is a seven-time state competitor. She plans to major in secondary education with a degree in science and maintains a 3.67 GPA.

Anderson, who will swim for the University of Minnesota and tentatively plans to major in English, is a nine-time letterwinner.

"It just means a lot because Warrior athletics has been such a big part of growing up, maturing as a person," he said of the honor. "It's really cool to be honored for something you love to do and that you're so proud to be part of.

"It's been amazing, the connections you make with people. Thinking back through all the years, the people that I swam with and played tennis with, it's just awesome that you have these memories, friendships and connections that you can take with you."

Five times Anderson was a team captain, three times he was team MVP and he set four school records.

He was a five-time conference champion, 10-time section champion, holds three section records and is a scholar athlete with a 4.2 GPA.

Anderson was all-conference 11 times, all-state eight times, a four-time All-American, a two-time state runner-up and a state champion.

Award winners

• Silent Warrior awards were given to P.J. Smith, Jim Kramer, Steve and Lynne Sexton and Bob Joyce.

• Scott Parsons received the Bud Schmid Award given to an outstanding assistant coach.

• The first Erwin Thiesse Award, honoring service to the athletic department, was accepted by Glenda Kunde on behalf of her deceased uncle, Erwin Thiesse.

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.