Sports

Braaten, Korynta named All-State

Tyler Ohmann

12/04/2012

Two Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux players added to their successful season by being named to the Class A All-State team.

Junior Hunter Braaten was named as the First team All-State on offense at quarterback. Senior Devin Korynta was named to the First team All-State on defense at defensive lineman.

Braaten was happy his hard work paid off.

“It’s awesome making the first team all-state,” Braaten said. “It takes a lot of hard work to get there, and I tried my best to make it, and I did.”

Braaten was a do-it-all type player for the Sioux this past season as he played quarterback on offense, kicker, kick/punt returner and long snapper on special teams and safety/linebacker on defense.

Braaten was one of only three junior named to the Class A first team All-State squad. He said he has always enjoyed playing against older competitors.

“I don’t know how much it says about me, but I always like to go against competition older than me,” Braaten said. “I always have since I was younger, and that has probably helped me up to this point.”

Braaten led the Sioux in most categories on both offense and defense. His statistical highlights include:

  •  110-for-220 for 1,459 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games
  •  198 carries for 1,210 yards and 20 touchdowns
  •  139 tackles, 65 assists, 14 tackles for a loss, five interceptions and six deflections
  •   19 kick returns for 397 yards and a touchdown, eight punt returns for 84 yards

For Braaten, it was his teammates that encouraged him to be great and helped him when he was down.

“They just encouraged me the whole way, whenever I did something they’d pick me up,” Braaten said. “They had my back in anything like that.”

Also helping Braaten lead the Sioux to the Dakota Bowl final against Hazen was Korynta.

The lineman was a large part in the blocking scheme for the Sioux on offense during the season and was also a leader on defense.

He finished with 44 tackles, 43 assists and 13 tackles for a loss. He also had five fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and a blocked extra point.  

The Sioux completed the season with a 9-5 record and made their first ever Dakota Bowl appearance after a series of playoff comeback wins.

They will drop back to nine-man next season after two years at Class A.