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Salem-Keizer booster club recognizes 2026 Beacons award winners

The Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Club continued its annual tradition of recognizing top area high school athletes but also coaches, educators and community members who have made significant contributions in athletics.

The 2026 Beacons were held June 9 at Elsinore Theatre.

The Booster Club launched The Beacons events in the summer of 2017 "to honor those who have positively impacted high school athletics in Salem-Keizer."

The Beacons' organizing group is "dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate because Salem-Keizer high school athletics focuses on excellence in academics, leadership, character development and competition as vital components in student achievement."

North Salem's Braxton Singleton, right, was the winner of Beacons for athlete of the year in football and boys track and field.

The Booster Club donated $2,500 to each of the Salem-Keizer district's high schools in an effort to increase and ensure athletic participation.

Athletes of the year include North Salem's Braxton Singleton (football and boys track and field), Sprague's Brooke Friesen (girls volleyball), McNary's Fernandez Zepeda (boys soccer), McKay's Mayela Victoria (girls soccer), West Salem's Anders Hagen (boys cross-country), North Salem's Nelida "Neli" Dalgas (girls cross country), North Salem's Maximus Rodriguez (boys wrestling), McNary's Marlina Martinez (girls wrestling), West Salem's Jarrod Coy (boys swimming), West Salem's Odelya Laroya (girls swimming), West Salem's Teagan Scott (boys basketball and baseball), South Salem's Emma Burlison (girls basketball), West Salem's Courtney Gills (softball), West Salem's Madelyn Miller (girls track and field), Sprague's Aubrey Sorensen (girls golf), South Salem's Jacob Case (boys golf), Sprague's Mariela Hajdaravic (girls tennis), South Salem's Josiah Smith (boys tennis) and South Salem's Logan Scott (boys volleyball).

Sprague's Aubrey Sorensen, right, is awarded the Beacon for girls golf athlete of the year.

Coach of the year is North Salem wrestling's Andrew Pickett.

Craig Nicholas, a former coach and teacher at McNary High School, left, is awarded a School Beacon.

School Beacons were awarded to Derek Sawser (McKay), Craig Nicholas (McNary), Chris Lee (North Salem), Jeri Nored (Sprague), Phil Webb (South Salem) and Damien Ramirez (West Salem).

Receiving Community Beacons were Dave Fehler, Mike Maghan, Rick Wallace and Tom Pickens.

Find the Statesman Journal's gallery of photos at statesmanjournal.com/sports.