Yelm High School senior Samantha Blank was named the 2024 High School Sports Star of the Year in the girls sports category at the 2024 Thurston County Sports Awards Thursday, Nov. 7. Blank was the runner-up in the 135-pound category at the Mat Classic XXXIII in February, and she is also her class president and a student representative on the Yelm Community Schools Board of Directors.
The YHS powerlifting team, which won the state championship May 4, won the Sports Moment of the Year award during the ceremony as well. The Tornados, led by head coach Thomas Hoghaug, were state champs in their first year as a program. Tucker Myszkowski, Andrei Buban and Mason Embrey each won an individual state championship as well.
Embrey was nominated for High School Sports Star of the Year in the boys category. The Prairie Days Charity Mushball Tournament, held on June 23, was nominated for the Sports Moment of the Year honor.
