Voting opens for Lake County’s Athlete of the Year

Lake County Leader | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO

Cast your vote for the athlete of the year. (Christa Umphrey and Caroline Roesch photos)

Koda King looks on during a successful wrestling season. (Christa Umphrey photo)

Polson's Samantha Rensvold looks to get the out during last week's game against Ronan. (Christa Umphrey photo)

Ryan Sharbono prepares to launch the discuss. (Christa Umphrey photo)

The Lake County Leader is initiating its first ever “High School Athlete of the Year,” voted on by you, our readers.

The nominees were submitted by athletic directors in Polson, Ronan, Charlo and St. Ignatius, based on the athletic achievements of the 2024-2025 seasons. Two Eagle River School and Arlee High School were also invited to participate, but did not submit nominations via our guidelines.

The nominees are:

GG Hawk, Charlo: GG Hawk was a star as a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and softball. She's an absolute standout whose achievements are made even more impressive by the fact that she is the youngest of the nominees for this year's award as a sophomore. She earned all-conference honors during the 2024-2025 season in volleyball and all-state in softball and helped her team in the outfield and at the plate to a strong state tournament finish, falling just outside of the top three places in softball.

Koda King, Ronan: There are few athletes who can compete in three sports, let alone four. Koda King, a standout wrestler, took second at the state tournament, losing by a narrow margin in overtime in the championship match while also helping his team claim the Western A Divisional title. This spring, King added a solid track season where he finished sixth in the javelin at the Western A Divisional meet while also competing in cross country and tennis this past season.

Samantha Rensvold, Polson: One might be a bit or very afraid to see Samantha Rensvold on the other side of the court, net, or in the batter's box and it’s not hard to see why. Rensvold earned all-conference nods in volleyball and basketball and was an all-state pick in softball. She also was a pivotal member both at the plate and in the pitching circle for a team that captured second at the state tournament in softball in 2025.

Ryan Sharbono, St. Ignatius: This all-around athlete could likely throw a discus a country mile if given the chance, and at state this year he more than proved that. Sharbono did it all, earning all-conference recognition on both sides of the ball in football, gaining a fifth-place medal at the state wrestling tournament despite it being his first year ever doing the sport and capturing first place at state in the discus by an inch, shattering a personal and school record.

To vote for the Leader Athlete of the Year visit https://dailyinterlake.secondstreetapp.com/Lake-County-High-School-Athlete-of-the-Year/ Voting runs from June 13-27 and the winner receives a special plaque for their achievements. GG Hawk prepares to make a catch in the outfield. (Caroline Roesch)