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Logan Baggett from SIU! logan graduated a little over a year ago, he was the president before me, but I swear he helped more once he graduated than he did when he was on the team. This season Logan constantly volunteered his 1987 mastercraft to use for practices, this was a big help to us because our main practice boat was down for repairs. Logan never hesitated to help and he was always my go to person when I needed a hand working on our site. This year we’ve installed a slalom course, jump course, and done lots of work to our jump. There’s been lots of days where logan and I go to the lake with his boat just to work for a few hours and we don’t even get to ski. He’s now working for Varatti boats and always talks about how he wants to give back to the team. We owe a lot to Logan and he never ask for anything back.
I would like to nominate Samantha Varness from SIU. Sammy is a freshman who joined the team in the fall. She only knew how to wakeboard a little when she joined the team, but was our highest scoring female by the end of season (she also started trick skiing, because she realized wakeboarders are lame). However, her scores aren’t what’s the most important about her. It’s hard to find someone as dedicated as Sammy. She already has a position on the team as secretary, she volunteers her car for tournaments, she’s always at practice, and she has bought her own gear already. I believe she’ll help keep the club alive and bring a new energy to the team. She’s asked me a few times what she can do to help on projects and help the team progress, this kind of initiative isn’t common out of rookies and I appreciated it a lot. I’m confident leaving the team when there’s freshman like sammy to take over one day.
I have to nominate Sam Tasche for this. There wasn’t many good side curtain crashes this year, which is probably a good thing, but Sam got as close as you can get. I saw him take an unbelievably late cut then proceed to break position crossing the wake, not a good thing. I can’t believe he decided to take the jump but he did and probably only got one ski on the ramp. While skiing back down the lake after his fall his ski essentially blew up, and within the allowed time he got a new ski and still sent a 100+ jump.
Emily O’Connor deserves Most Outstanding Senior Female. Emily is a veteran to the KU team and has been heavily involved for the past 3 years. Unfortunately, KU was unable to compete the entire 2021 fall season due to university problems, but Emily took over as president that following spring and completely turned KU around. Thanks to her help, KU was than able to host a tournament that spring and resume competing in all of the tournaments to come. During her time as president KU went to D1 nationals and placed 9th! She also obtained a trailer for the team, which was not easy. I got to directly hear from her what a nightmare it was to have the school purchase it, insure it, and license it. It was a complicated project that took her a lot of time, but in the end it greatly helped the team. Also during her presidency KU grew in members, obtained thousands in donations, regained a healthy relationship with with the school, and so much more.
Emily wasn’t president this season, but she still had a big impact on the team. She’s someone the newer members can easily reach out to and ask questions. Emily is very knowledgeable about the sport of waterskiing and helps out as an assistant judge. Not to mention her impactful scores! At regionals this year she took 5th place overall, earning her team a ton of points!
There’s so much more Emily has done for her team and that I haven’t mentioned or haven’t even noticed. She’s an invaluable senior and she’ll be missed by her team.For most improved skier I believe Alex Graves from SIU takes the cake. In one year he went from only being able to side slide to tricking 960 points at conference, not being able to ski a course to running into 34mph 15off, and improving his jump from 40ft to 66ft. We used to argue if he deserved A team or not, well now he is the teams best overall skier tournament after tournament.
Alex has also improved off the lake more than anyone I know. He helps me run the team so much, without him we wouldn’t have accomplished most of the things we’ve done this season. He has read our schools hand book cover to cover to try and find loop holes and low hanging fruit. He’s revived our alumni group and gained sponsors. He watches every pro tournament and could tell you the first and last name of all the skiers and what gear they use. But most importantly he has become a coach and supplies his personal boat for the team. And the best part about all of this and I don’t have to tell him to do any of it. He as grown a true love for the sport and the people involved. The real MVPSIU deserves the most improved team this year!! Last year we did not even qualify for regionals and this year we took 6th at conference and qualified with room to spare. We have also gained access back to our ski lake for the first time in over 10 years and we’re in the process of making it tournament ready. Some other things worth mentioning: we have doubled in size, created an alumni group and reached out to lost alumni, gained sponsors, and have improved relations with the university. SIU is coming back to the top. GO DAWGS!