Athletics: 3-sport athletes claim top honors - Brainerd Dispatch

The two seniors were chatting it up about who might win the Brainerd Warriors Athletes of the Year honors presented annually to a male and female athlete who exemplify the Warrior Way.

Storbakken was persistent it would be Lelwica. The three-sport captain brushed it off as humbly as he could. Little did they know both their names would be called Sunday, May 16, at the new Gichi-Ziibi Center for the Arts at Brainerd High School at the Senior All-Sports Recognition.

What a great event today in the new Gichi-Ziibi Center for the Arts! Congratulations to all of the athletes that were honored and a huge congratulations to @MLelwica for being Warrior Male Athlete of the Year! https://t.co/CADFB4xpup
— Brainerd Warriors Boys Basketball (@BHSWarriorHoops) May 16, 2021

“I knew he was going to get it,” Storbakken said. “I called it. I told him he was going to get the athlete of the year. He said, ‘No I’m not.’ and I said, ‘Yes you are.’ He’s such an amazing athlete. Just all-around. He’s in three sports and he’s really good at all of them. Yeah, I knew he was going to get it.”

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Storbakken expected to hear the name of classmate Taylor Larson, who excelled at both soccer and hockey.

“I didn’t think I had any chance at all of getting this so I was just super excited that I would even be nominated considering that I’m not going to a D1 college or anywhere,” she said. “I’m just going DIII for my athletic career. I was just super surprised that I was even considered.”

Lelwica had a lot of names running through his mind of who he thought might get the honor.

“Ryan Cady, Erik Stoxen, Griffin Rushin, I mean, a lot of my friends that I know are really good athletes so I was surprised,” Lelwica said.

Lelwica’s respect for his fellow honoree was also evident.

“Emma is an awesome athlete,” Lelwica said. “I mean she totally earned it. She totally deserved it. She’s worked really hard. I know her siblings, too, and her family for a long time. She’s always had that in her. She’s always pushed herself and she’s super humble, too, so I’m really glad she won it because she’s not the loudest person, but she definitely deserved it.”

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Lelwica and Storbakken are endangered species.

The two Brainerd Warriors seniors are in a rare class of athletes who not only contribute, but excel in three sports. That accomplishment wasn’t overlooked by the varsity coaches who vote on the honor.

“Three-sport athletes are becoming much rarer in today's youth sports culture,” Brainerd activities director Charlie Campbell said. “The demands placed on student-athletes and their families to progress to the varsity level are enormous. Today we honor Emma and Max with the Warrior Athlete of the Year award and both are outstanding three-sport athletes. This is a testament to one of our deepest held beliefs — that the multi-sport, multi-activity experience is good for kids."

Emma Storbakken

Storbakken’s list of varsity accolades starts with four letters earned on the cross-country running team. She was a captain, scholar all-conference and an individual section award winner.

This past fall, she placed 78th to help the Warriors to ninth in the Section 8-2A final.

From there Storbakken enjoyed a five-year varsity career in Nordic skiing, culminating in a state meet appearance. Storbakken was Brainerd’s second scorer as the team finished 15th.

She earned all-conference and scholar all-conference honors. She was an All-Section 8 meet honoree.

"Emma Storbakken is a well-rounded athlete who demonstrates the ‘core values’ of Warrior athletics as well as any student-athlete,” said one of her coaches. “She would be a valued player on any team, in any activity and in any classroom because of her leadership, work ethic and maturity."

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Storbakken’s storybook athletic career will end this spring as a member of the girls’ track and field team. She’s currently Brainerd’s top 400-meter dash sprinter as well as helping the Warriors relays to success.

She’s a four-time letterwinner and captain.

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"Emma is a true leader on and off the track,” said one of her track coaches. “She consistently leads the pack in workouts and steps up to challenges. She is a rock for her teammates, exemplifying hard work and perseverance. She is a well-rounded, quiet leader. As the anchor on the 4x400 meter relay (the final track event at each meet), Emma confidently embraces the pressure of providing a strong finish for her team at each competition. She has been a captain in all of her sports, and has embraced her final track season with a clear sense of purpose that her teammates respect."

And that’s exactly what she wants to be known for -- creating a team atmosphere.

“Probably my inclusivity and my personality and just trying to bring everyone together as a team,” Storbakken said when asked what she wanted to be remembered for.

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Max Lelwica

Not only is Lelwica an athletic specimen as he demonstrates each time he hits the track and field, but he was also a three-sport captain and a good one according to all of his coaches.

"Max is the best team leader that I have coached, hands down,” said one of his coaches. “He leads on the court, by always giving his best effort, by being the most coachable and by holding himself and others accountable for their effort and attitude. He leads off the court, by being a tremendous student, by being kind, respectful and inclusive to everyone that he encounters.

“If we are recognizing a student-athlete who leads by positive example in practice, play, and in school life, there is no question to me that Max is worthy and deserving of this award."

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Lelwica was the leader of the Warriors boys soccer team’s daunting defense that helped Brainerd to the Central Lakes Conference title and a 9-1-2 overall record. In 12 games, Brainerd allowed just 0.5 goals a game while scoring 2.3 goals a game.

He was a two-time letterwinner, team MVP, captain, All-Central Lakes Conference and a scholar all-conference athlete.

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“This means a lot,” Lelwica said. “I love sports. They are a really big part of my life and it’s something that I’ve always loved to do and I’ve really worked hard at. It’s nice to see it pay off, but there are a lot of other people who could have earned it, too.”

The sky was the limit for the leaping Lelwica in basketball. The forward averaged 8.5 points a game and led the Warriors with 62 assists. He was third on the team with 79 rebounds as Brained won 14 straight games and earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 8-4A playoffs.

He was a three-time letterwinner, captain, all-conference honorable mention and Academic All-State athlete.

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In track, he’s a four-time letterwinner, captain and scholar all-conference athlete, who excels in the long, triple and high jumps and just this year turned his talents toward the hurdles to help the Warriors fill a need. And that is what he wants to be remembered for.

“Just a leader, winner, good person and a good teammate,” Lelwica said. “I’ll do anything to win a game or win a meet. That’s about it.”

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.

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