CRESTON — The Osceola Sentinel-Tribune and the Creston News Advertiser are teaming up to provide another way of recognizing outstanding athletes in the area covered by the two newspapers.
This August, the two newspapers will select one male and one female high school senior as the inaugural winners of the South Central Iowa Athlete of the Year Award.
Athletes from the following schools will be eligible for the award: Central Decatur, Clarke, Corning, Creston, Diagonal, East Union, Interstate 35, Lenox, Murray, Mount Ayr, Nodaway Valley and Orient-Macksburg.
Rich Paulsen, publisher for the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune and Creston News Advertiser came up with the idea as a way to give back to the high school athletes in the area.
"I think it's a great way to give some recognition to some of the local, area athletes," Paulsen said. "An honor for the high school students is always well deserved, I think. It's our way of helping to give back to the high school sporting community. We're actively involved in the communities we cover, and we enjoy doing it."
Five male finalists and five female finalists will be announced in the Aug. 8 edition of the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, with the winner of each award being announced in the Aug. 15 edition.
The award will only be open to seniors in the coverage area. Judging for the award will be based mostly on the athletes' senior seasons, but the entire career of the athletes will be taken into consideration.
Contributions from local athletic directors and coaches will be taken into consideration in the selection process.