I have only known and coached Katie Detert for two seasons, but I am confident enough to say that I have never seen another female hockey player with the unique skill set that she possesses. Not only is Katie a superior hockey player with admirable puck handling skills, skating ability, and tactical sense, but she is also a superior student and citizen in her community.

On the ice, Katie can handle the puck in any situation. For example, I know that when she has the puck on her stick and she is being challenged that she will come away from any battle with possession of the puck. Not only does she win battles, but she also can stick handle around players with great ease. Katie is fantastic at skating the puck up the ice and walking around any player, which is quite clear as she is the team’s leading player in both goals and points on the team (40 goals, 16 assists, 56 total points). In four years as an offensive player on the team, Katie has 230 total points. Also, this year, she accrued nine total points in one game, which no other player has ever accomplished on the team. Not only is Katie a fantastic puck handler and skater, she is also a play-maker and has remarkable tactical sense during game play. She can see what needs to happen during a game and reacts quickly to make the correct decision on the ice. Whether the team is at full strength, on a power play, or short-handed, Katie can always be relied on, by both her teammates and coaches, to make great things happen on the ice both offensively and defensively. What I really admire about Katie is that she attempts to involve newer skaters during game play, too. This year, she has helped several girls score their first varsity goal, which shows that she is selfless and does not simply care about points.

In addition to Katie’s remarkable skills on the ice, she also possesses superior skills in the classroom and in the community. I have not had the pleasure of having Katie in my class, as she is a student at Rhinelander High School, but I have heard from her teachers that she always gives one hundred percent in the classroom. As a junior and senior, Katie has taken several Advanced Placement classes while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.3. Katie is also involved in many activities at RHS, including softball, swimming, key club, captains club, Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA), and student council. In terms of community service, Katie is always at the ice rink helping young athletes learn to skate and play hockey. Whenever she can, she attends Rhinelander Youth Hockey Mite practice because all of the kids love being with her on the ice. Katie has also dedicated a fair amount of time volunteering outside of the rink, too. She has helped at the GRABAAWR Bike Across Wisconsin event for five years, helped raise money for four years to fund mission trips to Mexico, and has helped out at the local food pantry for five years. Even though Katie is quite busy with sports and school, she still finds time to give back to her community.

Katie Detert’s ability to skate, handle the puck, and make smart decisions on the ice, as well as her performance and positive involvement in school and in the community, make her a superior hockey player and person, one whom I will miss very much after the season is over. As a result of her distinctive talent, she has earned a spot on St. Cloud State’s girls hockey team, and I believe that her ability should also earn her the title of Miss Hockey 2015/2016 for the state of Wisconsin.