NEWS

August 23, 2013


Big Sky State Games Athletes of the Year


BILLINGS - The Big Sky State Games 2013 Athletes of the Year are Jen Reiter of Laurel and Bryan Brosious of Frenchtown. The Youth Athlete of the Year is Ethan Harder of Billings. The Big Sky State Games Team of the Year is "Dinosaurs of Doom" of Billings and Bozeman, which participated in the Adult Soccer competition. These awards are designed to recognize individuals who best personify the ideals of the State Games movement: participation, sportsmanship, effort, and positive attitude.

Jen Reiter has been a participant in the Big Sky State Games since 1992. She has won a total of 20 medals (8 Gold, 6 Silver, 6 Bronze) in the 5K Road Race, Biathlon, Triathlon, and Volleyball 6-on-6 and Grass Doubles. At this year's Games, Reiter received a Bronze medal in Co-Ed Volleyball, a Gold medal in her age group for the 5k Road Race and took the Gold as overall female winner in Triathlon.

The first sport that defined Reiter as a true standout athlete was Volleyball. She played high school volleyball for Laurel, college ball for Rocky Mountain College, and continues to play in the Big Sky State Games. She also ran track and cross country in high school. Reiter has since participated and medaled in the Big Sky State Games 5k on a regular basis. She also added biathlon and triathlon to the list of sports she excels at and consistently medals in.

While Reiter participates in the State Games every year, she also remains a strong competitor in other races throughout the state and surrounding areas, such as Montana Women's Run, Heart and Sole Run, Peaks to Prairie, Chief Joseph Run, Deadwood Mickelson Trail Half-Marathon, and Montana Marathon. One of her greatest accomplishments was qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon. She has recently developed a genuine fondness for triathlon, competing in the event not only at the Big Sky State Games but also in Helena, Bozeman and Great Falls. Reiter also volunteers her time coaching and assisting with local sporting events.

Jen Reiter's spirit of volunteerism and dedication to sports make her a standout athlete. Her constant positivity and dedication inspires all who know her, young and old, skilled and novice.

Bryan Brosious is a multisport athlete. He has earned a total of 52 medals in the Big Sky State Games: 42 Gold, 4 Silver, and 5 Bronze in the sports of Triathlon, Road Race, Swimming, and Cycling. This year was especially exceptional for Brosious: two of his medals were for overall wins in the triathlon and 12-mile Cycling Road Race, as he competed and medaled in a total 15 events.

Brosious has participated in the Big Sky State Games since 2008. With each year of participation he continues to add events and, indeed, medals. His passion for sports is clearly not all about winning. He recognizes that the Games are a chance for participants of all levels to set goals and achieve them. "There is nothing more pure and honest than the competition and people of the Games," said Brosious. His appreciation of other participants could not be more evident than it is with his good deeds in the 12-mile Cycling Road Race. Here Brosious has been known to help others, young and old, finish the ride when they otherwise may not have. This is sportsmanship at its best.

While he cycles, runs and swims, it is the combination of all three where Brosious finds his true passion as an athlete - as a triathlete. He competes in numerous triathlons each summer, winning most. Bryan Brosious is a true standout on the road, on the bike, in the water, and as he does his part to make sure others achieve their goals and dreams, too.

Ethan Harder is the Big Sky State Games Youth Athlete of the Year. Harder, age 13, has won a total of 46 medals in the Games. He won 45 of his medals in swimming events, and the other in team triathlon where he was the swimmer - and the first out of water.

Harder fell in love with the water at his first swim lesson, and he has been swimming ever since. He swims ten months out of the year and is an active member of the local Billings Aquatic Club. His intensive swim schedule and dedication to the sport is evident in the seven Big Sky State Games records he holds in Boys (9-10 and 11-12) Freestyle and Backstroke events.

In addition to competing in the Big Sky State Games, Harder has also represented his swimming club at the Northwestern Sectionals four times, an event that he has qualified for since the age of nine. He placed 3rd and 4th in backstroke events. His great showing there qualified him to represent Montana swimming at the highly competitive Western Zones. There he placed 7th in the 100 backstroke.

While Harder is a dedicated and talented swimmer, he also enjoys his time on bikes, skis, and spending time with friends. A great student, Harder looks forward to starting 7th grade at Lewis and Clark Middle School this fall. He also volunteers at local running events with his family.

Out of the water, Harder is indeed an exceptional, well-around young man. In the water, Ethan Harder is a commendable young athlete.

Dinosaurs of Doom is the 2013 Big Sky State Games Team of the Year. Dinosaurs of Doom participated in the Adult Co-Ed Soccer competition for the seventh time this year. The team is comprised of players from Bozeman and Billings:

Abbey Keene, Ginger Terry, Madison Schwarzkoph, Abby Paulson, Kris Angel, Brittney Dockler, Amanda Crawford, John Pertuit, Ryan Holm, Adam Keene, David Hernandez, Flo Ramirez, Levi Wicks, Randall Russo, Tyler Ashley, Andy Gravage, Victor Sargent, and Sarah Olsen.

The team was competitive throughout the tournament, winning a gold medal in the sport. In its seven year history, the Dinosaurs of Doom have won a total of four gold medals and one silver. Team Captain Abbey Keene of Bozeman describes this is a special group of people because, while they remain competitive, they always have fun. The Dinosaurs of Doom just enjoy the sport and each other.

Jen Reiter and Bryan Brosious will be nominated for the National Congress of State Games (NCSG) Athlete of the Year Award and Ethan Harder will be nominated for the Youth Athlete of the Year. The national winners will be selected from a field of over 500,000 athletes of all ages and abilities who participate in one of the forty recognized State Games programs in the United States. No team award is offered at the national level. The national individual winners will be announced at the NCSG Symposium Wednesday, October 22 in San Antonia, Texas.

The Big Sky State Games is a multi-sport Olympic-style festival for Montana residents (and bordering states without State Games) of all ages and abilities. The 28th Annual event included 37 sports. Finals were held July 19, 20 and 21 in Billings. The 2014 Big Sky State Games Finals will be held July 18, 19 and 20 in Billings.

Major sponsors of the Big Sky State Games are First Interstate Bank, Kampgrounds of America and Montana Cycling and Ski. Wendy's sponsors Opening Ceremonies.

OTHER NEWS

March 26, 2015 - Florida’s Sunshine State Games Online Registration is now open for select sports of its 2015 Calendar of Events. Now in its 36th year, the Sunshine State Games (SSG) has become an amateur sports tradition in Florida and nationwide. Read more...

November 18, 2014 - The Meijer State Games of Michigan release details for the 2015 Winter Games. The Winter Games will offer 20 sports with the new additions and are expected to host over 2,000 athletes. The Meijer State Games of Michigan continuously adds events that allow individuals of all ages and ability levels the opportunity to compete. Read more...

November 13, 2014 - The Florida Sports Foundation introduces a new look for the Sunshine State Games logo, a new sport and a new Summer Games Festival location in 2015. Read more...

November 3, 2014 - The National Congress of State Games has awarded the Athlete of the Year awards for the 2014 Male, Female and Youth Athlete of the Year at their Annual Awards dinner in conjunction with the NCSG Symposium. Read more...