The Big Sky State Games 2023 Athletes of the Year are Samantha Sheridan of Billings and David Stauffer of Red Lodge. Youth Athlete of the Year is Natalie Rehklau of Billings. These awards are designed to recognize individuals who best personify the ideals of the State Games movement: participation, sportsmanship, effort, and positive attitude.
Female Athlete of the Year, Samantha Sheridan, began competing in Big Sky State Games Open Water Swimming competition at age 14 and has continued for the last six years. This year, she was the first place female and second overall in the 3,000 meter event. Since 2018, she has earned four Gold medals, one Silver, and one Bronze medal in Open Water Swimming. Additionally, she competed in the 2018 Big Sky State Games Swimming earning one Bronze in the 1650 yard Freestyle and one Gold in the 500 Free.
Sheridan is the fastest female swimmer in the history of Montana in the 1500 meter and 800 meter races as she holds these two Montana State records. Furthermore, Sheridan holds all of the Billings Aquatic Club distance race records from the 400 meter free all the way up to the mile. She has placed 8th and had other top 10 finishes at the USA swimming futures championships. Sheridan swims collegiately on a scholarship for Northern Arizona University while studying engineering.
The hard work and competitive spirit of Samantha Sheridan has allowed her to reach her goals to swim collegiately, break state records and have top finishes in futures, sectional and state championships.
Male Athlete of the Year, David Stauffer, has been participating in the Big Sky State Games for over 20 years in both Road Race and Track and Field. Stauffer has accumulated a total of 26 medals (Gold 19, Silver 7) and holds four Big Sky State Games Records, which include the half marathon age group of 70-74 in 2023, 5k age groups 65-69 and 70-74 and the 800 meter record in the 65-69 age group. Stauffer started running at age 49 by accident after deciding to walk to get into shape. He started walking on the treadmill and gradually increased to running outside and entering his first race in 1998, the Cherry Blossom 10k.
Stauffer's career was launched in Washington D.C., but Red Lodge has been his home for the last 25 years. A retired free-lance writer, Stauffer keeps himself busy training, running races and volunteering in numerous organizations in Red Lodge. He has served in Red Lodge's city government as a planning board president, city planning director, city council member, and assistant to the mayor. He also competes in local and national races. Stauffer was the 2023 Heart and Sole Run 5K Super Master Winner and runs two marathons each year, one of which is always Chicago, because it draws the worldwide fastest age 40+ runners. In 2019 he was first-place American in male 70-74.
Stauffer has a favorite mantra he recites to himself when he’s running tired and sore: “I run as incentive to keep healthy. I race as incentive to keep running. I compete as incentive to keep racing. And that says it all.”
The Big Sky State Games Youth Athlete of the Year, Natalie Rehklau, has competed in the Big Sky State Games Cycling Road Race and Time Trial for the last three years and accumulated five Gold medals. This year at age 16, she was the overall female winner in the 40 mile Cycling Road Race and was the third fastest female in the Cycling Time Trial. Rehklau also does Archery where she competed in the 2019 Big Sky State Games and received a Gold medal.
Rehklau has multiple family members that ride and race, but three years ago she decided to try the sport herself. She fell in love with Cycling and continues to get stronger and faster each year by winning local and national events. Rehklau was the U17 USA Cycling Esport National Champion in 2022 and 2023. Also, this year she won the Deschutes Double (200 mile individual time Trial) and finished 5th Baker City Cycling Classic that includes four different stages. Rehklau competes against more experienced and seasoned cyclists, but comes on top of the competition.
It will be exciting to watch Natalie as she continues to make accolades in the sport of Cycling.
| *Indicates National Athlete of the Year | ||
| Year | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Female: Klaire Kovatch | Track & Field |
| Male: Dallas Redekopp | Table Tennis | |
| Youth: Tucker Rice | Swimming | |
| 2021 | Female: Linda Asleson | Billiards |
| Male: Micah Snodgrass | Track & Field | |
| Youth: Paige Gershmel | Weightlifting | |
| Team: 406 Lady Warriors | Softball | |
| 2020 | Female: Brenda Rose | Cycling |
| Male: Bob Sager | Track & Field | |
| Youth: Taylee Chirrick | Track & Field | |
| 2019 | Female: Lisa Reimer | Track & Field |
| Male: Dr. Gregory Dorow | Cycling | |
| Youth: Peter Thompson | Swimming | |
| Team: Wildwood Cloggers | Dance | 2018 | Female: Sharon Harris | Road Race, Cycling, and Swimming |
| Male: Sean Phelps | Road Race, Cycling, Triathlon, and Swimming | |
| Youth: Mallory Simons | Shooting | |
| Team: Hack Panthers | Curling | |
| 2017 | Female: Kamber Kelly-Brodock | Volleyball |
| Male: Dave Winslow | Bowling | |
| Youth: Hailey Poole | Track & Field, Volleyball, and Swimming | |
| Team: Team Rio Grand Casino/Bud/Pepsi/Midland Implement/Dale Construction | Mens Softball | |
| 2016 | Female: Mary Owen | Road Race |
| Male: Jim Wright | Armwrestling | |
| Youth: Colter Barnett | Ice Hockey, Triathlon, Cycling | |
| Team: Team Chase | Co-Ed Volleyball | |
| 2015 | Female: Bobbi Knudsen | Basketball |
| Male: Al Vietz | Road Race | |
| Youth: Torie Jamieson | Karate | |
| Team: NAPA | Flag Football | |
| 2014 | Female: Robin Hanel | Road Race, Track & Field, Cycling, Triathlon/Duathlon |
| Male: Brendan Murray | 5k Road Race, 10k Road Race | |
| Youth: Shea Esp | Swimming, Dance, Volleyball, Track & Field | |
| Team: Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears | Adult Volleyball | |
| 2013 | Female: Jen Reiter | 5K Road Race, Biathlon, Triathlon, Volleyball 6-on-6, Volleyball Grass Doubles |
| Male: Bryan Brosious | Triathlon, Road Race, Swimming, Cycling | |
| Youth: Ethan Harder | Swimming, Team Triathlon | |
| Team: Dinosaurs of Doom | Adult Co-Ed Soccer | |
| 2012 | Female: Anita Rawlinson | Road Race, Track and Field, Arm Wrestling and Swimming |
| Male: Ken Cottrell | Swimming, Cycling 25 mile, Triathlon, Track & Field | |
| Youth: Megan Sweeney | Shooting Rifle Pistol | |
| Youth: Hayley Moen | Track & Field | |
| Team: Northeast Montana | Boys 11th/12th Grade Basketball | |
| 2011 | Female: Lisa Minnehan | Road Race |
| Male: Cecil Pegram | Cycling, Road Race, Triathlon, Ballroom Dancing | |
| Youth: Keegan Kampschroer | Swimming | |
| 2010 | Female: Iona Stooky | Volleyball |
| Male: Steve Mysee | Cycling (Mt. Bike & Road Race), Triathlon, 5K Road Race | |
| Youth: Zach Holmes | Archery | |
| Team: Sure Shank Reception | Volleyball | |
| 2009 | Female: Kristen Holland | Fencing & Road Race |
| Male: Lorn Welch | Dance Sport Ballroom | |
| Team: GDR | Flag Football | |
| 2008 | Female: Marlene Tetrault | Road Race, Tennis, Swimming, Cycling, Triathlon |
| Male: Garth Kallevig | Handball | |
| Team: Montana Hoops | Girls 9th & 10th Grade Basketball | |
| 2007 | Female: Denby Gardiner | Swimming |
| Male: Alan King | Road Race, Track & Field | |
| Team: Karma | Flag Football | |
| 2006 | Female: Sarah Graves | Road Race, Cycling, Triathlon, Biathlon, Track & Field |
| Male: Bryon Johnson | Armwrestling | |
| Team: Res Gestae "Things Done" | Softball | |
| 2005 | Female: Pat Jaffary | Road Race |
| Male: Lewis Elliot | Road Race, Cycling, Triathlon | |
| Team: Onyx | Soccer | |
| 2004 | Female: Jen Allen | Track & Field |
| Male: Duane Cole | Road Race | |
| 2003 | Female: Jennifer Drinkwalter | Triathlon, Cycling, Road Race |
| Male: Dan Berry | Cycling | |
| 2002 | Female: Renee' Coppock | Cycling, Road Race |
| Male: Charles Jannings | Track & Field | |
| 2001 | Female: Laura Esp | Swimming, Cycling, Road Race, Triathlon |
| Male: Tony Banovich | Road Race | |
| 2000 | Female: Kathy Aragon | Cycling, Road Race, Track & Field |
| Male: Alfred Funk | Track & Field | |
| 1998 | Female: Sue O'Connell | Karate |
| Male: Trent Hartl | Swimming | |
| 1997 | Female: Cass Bauer | Basketball |
| Male: Dave Coppock | Road Race | |
| 1996 | Female: Debbie Magilke | Road Race |
| Male: John Collins | Archery | |
| 1995 | Female: Marjorie McLean | Swimming |
| Male: Lonn Saunders | Shooting | |
| 1994 | Female: Exel "Ekkie" Wedul | Road Race |
| Male: Glen Kapitzke | Shooting | |
