Live at 17th annual Rochester Sports Banquet with Ben Leber

(ABC 6 News) – On Monday night, many are gathering to celebrate and honor some of the best in high school and junior college sports as part of the 17th annual Rochester Sports Banquet.

Ben Leber, former Minnesota Vikings linebacker who spent 10 years in the NFL, playing for the San Diego Chargers (’02-’05), Minnesota Vikings (’06-’10), and St. Louis Rams (2011) is the guest speaker at the banquet. Leber currently works in Minneapolis/St. Paul media market as a radio and television personality.

ABC 6 Sports reporter Richard Denson spoke with former Minnesota Viking Ben Leber before the event.

Here are more details on the finalists: 

Team of the Year

• Century girls track
• Chatfield softball
• Hayfield boys basketball
• Rochester Lourdes girls tennis
• Chatfield football

Coach of the Year

• Jerry Chase, Chatfield softball
• Charro Coleman, Byron gymnastics, and girls track and field
• Chris Mensink, Fillmore Central football
• Tage Puetz, St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura girls soccer
• Ben Maes, Rochester Lourdes girls tennis.

Female Athlete of the Year

• Claire Springer, Chatfield softball
• Hannah Hanson, Mayo volleyball, basketball, track
• Lilly Meister, John Marshall basketball
• Anika Reiland, Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostander/Kingsland track
• Rylee Nelson, Zumbrota-Mazeppa volleyball

Male Athlete of the Year

• Noah Billings, Rochester Nordic ski team, mountain bike team, triathlete
• Bennett Berge, Kasson-Mantorville wrestling
• Gavin Gust, Dover-Eyota wrestling
• Jarod White, Pine Island track and field, football
• Joe Sperry, Rochester Lourdes baseball

Adaptive Athlete/Team of the Year

• ZED Zorros, bowling
• Tyler Gunnarson, track and field
• Rochester Raiders adapted floor hockey
• Goodhue County, ASD bowling
• Will Adamson, Rochester Raiders adapted floor hockey