Casey Holm shares his success after graduation
Dakota County Technical College held its annual soccer celebration on Dec. 12, 2012, at the Eagan Community Center in Eagan, Minn. Every year, players, along with their family and friends, look forward to gathering at this event to celebrate the season and recognize individual accomplishments.
“It was a fun time and a good last hurrah for the season,” said Kim Hoang, a sophomore midfielder on the Blue Knights women’s soccer team. Hoang is from Savage, Minn.
Casey Holm
Casey Holm, this year’s guest speaker, was the first recruit to the men’s soccer team and in the first class to graduate from DCTC’s Exercise and Sport Science program. Holm played as a Blue Knight for two seasons, racking up 40 goals and 19 assists, as well as a slot on the NJCAA All-Region 13 team. He received a scholarship to play NCAA Division II soccer at Upper Iowa University. Holm is now a social studies teacher and head coach of men’s soccer at North St. Paul High School.
The highlight of the banquet for many of the players was when the sophomores took the stage to give out the Team Sophomore Awards, which are custom awards made to fit each freshman player.
Sophomore Awards
“These awards were really exciting to put together,” said Hoang. “They fit the funny moments we all had together as a team.”
Some of the honors included the Peacock Award, Most Likely to Buy New Knees Award and Most Likely to Be Caught Texting Award.
“My favorite award went to Nale Yang,” laughed Hoang. Yang is a freshman outside midfielder from Holmen, Wis. “We gave her the Most Likely to Get Blamed Award.”
Kim Hoang | Blue Knight Award
Head Soccer Coach Cam Stoltz gave out individual awards at the banquet, including the prestigious Blue Knight Award, which went to Kim Hoang.
“I was surprised and honored to receive the Blue Knight Award,” said Hoang. “I really look up to the girls who received this wonderful award in the past.”
Leadership Award
Leadership is the name of the game when the chips are down.
Nale Yang | Freshman |
Holmen, Wis.
Sergio Garcia | Sophomore |
Belle Plaine, Minn.
Lateef Bakare | Freshman |
Chicago, Ill.
Rookie of the Year
This award goes to the player on each team who stepped up and blew away all expectations.
Daniela Zavala | Freshman |
Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Kazeem Okedokun | Red Shirt | Chicago, Ill.
Golden Boot Award
This award is bestowed on the most prolific scorers on the men and women’s teams.
Kendra Drew | Freshman |
Burnsville, Minn.
Sikiru Kareem | Freshman |
Chicago, Ill.
Most Improved Player
Both squads featured players who made the most dramatic improvements in play from preseason to the playoffs—and this award recognizes this very important achievement.
Carissa Allen | Freshman |
Savage, Minn.
Dalton Cunningham | Freshman | Rosemount, Minn.
Most Valuable Player
This award recognizes the players that make the most valuable contribution to their respective teams.
Nicole Schram | Sophomore |
Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Kenny Ibrahim | Freshman |
Chicago, Ill.
Blue Knight Award
Considered the most prestigious award in DCTC Soccer, the Blue Knight Award recognizes extraordinary athleticism, leadership both on and off the field, and citizenship.
Kim Hoang | Sophomore |
Savage, Minn.
Martin De la Fuente | Sophomore | Eagan, Minn.
Individual Award Winners
2012 Soccer Banquet Gallery
[HTML1]For more information about Blue Knights soccer, contact:
- Cam Stoltz
Athletics Coordinator and Head Soccer Coach
651-423-8462 - Nicole Meulemans
Student Life Director
651-423-8403
