Hagen Earns Little Sullivan Award :: Senior adds another award to her long resume

May 5, 2008

Reprinted from the Billings Gazette

LEWISTOWN - Kroy Biermann and Danielle Hagen were honored as the Montana AAU Little Sullivan Award winners at a banquet Saturday night at the Yogo Inn.

Biermann, a Hardin native, was taken in last weekend's NFL draft in the fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons. The defensive lineman was the 154th overall pick. While competing for the University of Montana, he won the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He is the first-ever player from the state of Montana to win the award.

As a senior, Biermann led the Big Sky Conference with 15 sacks and registered 18 tackles for loss and forced a league-high five fumbles. He had 72 total tackles. He is second in school history with 32 sacks and 45 tackles for loss.

Hagen, a Sidney native, recently wrapped up her basketball career at the University of Northern Colorado. She is third in career rebounds, fifth in career assists and 10th in blocked shots at the school. She is tied for most points scored in a single game with 37. Hagen also tied for the UNC school record with 112 consecutive games played, starting all 112.

In high school, Hagen was a four-year letterwinner in basketball, volleyball and track. She was also valedictorian of her class with a 4.0 grade point average.

Other male nominees were University of Michigan wrestler Tyrel Todd, University of Great Falls wrestler Wayne French, Montana State track sprinter Dan Johnson and Cascade-Simms wrestler Ryan Leonard.

Other female nominees were MSU Billings soccer player Brittney Sandau, University of Montana track sprinter Loni Perkins-Judisch, Weber State basketball player Sara Tuomi and Rocky Mountain College golfer Rachel Warren.