2024-2025 Athletic Department Award Winners
The SPA Athletics Department gets to recognize student-athletes from the graduating class with four awards each year. They include the French Athletic Trophy, Girls’ Athletic Bowl, Frenzel Boys’ Athletic Bowl, and Colonel Griggs Trophy. The prestigious awards are named in honor of a few outstanding student-athlete alumni. This year’s winners were chosen with care and recognized at the Senior Awards Ceremony last month.
Below are the names of the athletic award recipients from the class of 2025, and details on the SPA alumna to whom the awards are dedicated:
French Athletic Trophy
Presented to an older girl, in memory of Richard French ’55, for the combined qualities of sportsmanship and competitive spirit.
Madelyn Moser ’25 embodied the French sportsmanship traits as a leader in the volleyball, basketball, AND track & field programs. In her capacity as a multi-sport captain, Moser demonstrated a high level of respect to her teammates, opponents, and coaches. All of her coaches named her dedication to any program of which she was a part, whether it was in an athletic space or beyond. Her work ethic and leadership were also highlighted by her ability to balance coaching the Middle School basketball program throughout her busy winter sports season. Through it all, Moser remained at the top of her class as an All-State Academic Honoree.
Frenzel Boys Athletic Bowl
Given in memory of Thomas Frenzel, Class of 1949, to a member/s of the boys’ varsity teams for exceptional performance and leadership.
In an era of sports specialization, few remain as 3-sport athletes. Oliver Thompson ’25 stands as one of those few bringing exceptional performance and leadership as a member of the Varsity cross country team, basketball, and track & field program. Thompson reached the pinnacle of High School track, earning the State Championship title in back-to-back seasons in the boys’ 400M race. He even PR’d in his final career meet, setting a new school record with a time of 47.77! Thompson also anchored the boys’ 4×400 relay team that earned 4th place at the State Meet this past season. He will continue his track career at the collegiate level next year at Harvey Mudd College.
Frenzel Boys Athletic Bowl
Given in memory of Thomas Frenzel, Class of 1949, to a member/s of the boys’ varsity teams for exceptional performance and leadership.
Caden Burns ’25 has garnered national recognition as an elite Alpine Skier. Burns stays busy all year while traveling across the country to compete in a competitive club schedule where he consistently finishes top 20 nationally. This past season, his schedule finally allowed him enough time to also ski high school races to qualify for the State Meet after finishing first in EVERY conference meet this year. Naturally, Burns was crowned the Individual State Champion and earned the Title of the Star Tribune’s Alpine Skier of the Year. However, it wasn’t his first State Championship this year. As a member of the Varsity Boys Soccer State Championship team. His exceptional performance as an elite athlete combined with his leadership on the slopes and soccer pitch, make him another deserving candidate of the Frenzel Boys’ Athletic Bowl. Burns will continue his athletic legacy on the Alpine team at Williams College.
Girls Athletic Bowl
Given to a member of the girls’ varsity teams for exceptional performance and leadership.
Sawyer Danielson ’25 dominated the soccer pitch during her tenure in the program. Danielson was instrumental in leading the team to a 2023 State Championship Title, 2022 State Runner-Ups, and the IMAC Conference Champions in 2021. During those campaigns, Danielson garnered State All-Tournament Team honors 2x, was named to the Star Tribune’s All-Metro 2nd Team, 3x All-State recognition, and 3x All-Conference honors! Being the elite athlete that she is, Danielson even earned a trip to the State cross-country meet in her first year with that Varsity program. Despite sitting out for her senior season due to injury, Danielson remained a leader and role model in the program, showing up to everything and cheering her team on to their third consecutive State Tournament appearance. She will continue her soccer career at the DI level as a Gopher at the University of Minnesota.
Colonel Griggs Trophy
Given in memory of Chauncey Wright Griggs, Class of 1922, to an older boy for the combined qualities of sportsmanship and competitive spirit.
Ezra Straub’s success in the boys’ soccer program is unmatched and his list of accolades is lengthy to say the least. After an incredible senior campaign, Straub even earned national attention and was named to the Great Lakes All-Region Team. During his tenure at SPA, Straub led the team to THREE consecutive State Championships, earned All-Tournament Team recognition every tournament appearance, All-State honors and All-Conference honors 3x, and much more. Beyond his undeniable competitive spirit as an elite athlete, there is also a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched. Varsity soccer coach, Match Lipset noted that “when things got hairy, the players stuck together and continued to support one another. The strong bonds allowed them to survive it all”. Those bonds across this tight-knit team were forged largely in part to Ezra’s leadership.
The Winfield Award
Given to graduating seniors from St. Paul who will receive financial grants that will assist them in furthering their education. This past year marked the 49th annual Winfield Award Ceremony the award—named in honor of former St. Paul Central and University of Minnesota student-athlete and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member David M. Winfield. The award recognizes student-athletes of color for their scholastic and athletic accomplishments, and their community involvement during their high school career.
