Salem-Keizer booster club recognizes 2026 Beacons award winners

The Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Club continued its annual tradition of recognizing top area high school athletes but also coaches, educators and community members who have made significant contributions in athletics.

The 2026 Beacons were held June 9 at Elsinore Theatre.

The Booster Club launched The Beacons events in the summer of 2017 “to honor those who have positively impacted high school athletics in Salem-Keizer.”

The Beacons’ organizing group is “dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate because Salem-Keizer high school athletics focuses on excellence in academics, leadership, character development and competition as vital components in student achievement.”

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The Booster Club donated $2,500 to each of the Salem-Keizer district’s high schools in an effort to increase and ensure athletic participation.

Athletes of the year include North Salem’s Braxton Singleton (football and boys track and field), Sprague’s Brooke Friesen (girls volleyball), McNary’s Fernandez Zepeda (boys soccer), McKay’s Mayela Victoria (girls soccer), West Salem’s Anders Hagen (boys cross-country), North Salem’s Nelida “Neli” Dalgas (girls cross country), North Salem’s Maximus Rodriguez (boys wrestling), McNary’s Marlina Martinez (girls wrestling), West Salem’s Jarrod Coy (boys swimming), West Salem’s Odelya Laroya (girls swimming), West Salem’s Teagan Scott (boys basketball and baseball), South Salem’s Emma Burlison (girls basketball), West Salem’s Courtney Gills (softball), West Salem’s Madelyn Miller (girls track and field), Sprague’s Aubrey Sorensen (girls golf), South Salem’s Jacob Case (boys golf), Sprague’s Mariela Hajdaravic (girls tennis), South Salem’s Josiah Smith (boys tennis) and South Salem’s Logan Scott (boys volleyball).

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Coach of the year is North Salem wrestling’s Andrew Pickett.

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School Beacons were awarded to Derek Sawser (McKay), Craig Nicholas (McNary), Chris Lee (North Salem), Jeri Nored (Sprague), Phil Webb (South Salem) and Damien Ramirez (West Salem).

Receiving Community Beacons were Dave Fehler, Mike Maghan, Rick Wallace and Tom Pickens.

Find the Statesman Journal’s gallery of photos at statesmanjournal.com/sports.

Community members gather to celebrate Salem-Keizer School District athletes in the annual Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Community members gather to celebrate Salem-Keizer School District athletes in the annual Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Ben Greer, a nominee for Football Athlete of the Year, walks the red carpet before the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Lucy Jones, member of the Sprague High School marketing team, right, interviews North Salem head coach Andrew Pickett before the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Community members attend the annual Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Mark Gilman, known for one of the most recognizable voices in local radio while calling football, basketball and baseball games, who passed away in early 2026, was honored during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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North Salem’s Braxton Singleton is awarded Football Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Mike Maghan, former assistant principal and athletic director at McNary High School, right, is awarded the Community Beacon during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Sprague’s Brooke Friesen, right, is awarded the Girls Volleyball Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Jeri Nored, former teacher and coach at Sprague High School, is awarded the Community Beacon during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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McKay’s Mayela Victoria, right, is awarded Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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McNary’s Fernando Zepeda, right, is awarded Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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North Salem’s Nelida Dalgas, right, is awarded Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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West Salem’s Anders Hagen, right, is awarded Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Rick Wallace, a former wrestling official, right, is awarded the Community Beacon during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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McNary’s Marlina Martinez, right, is awarded Girls Wrestling Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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A 2026 Beacon Award is seen during the ceremony at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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North Salem’s Maximus Rodriguez, left, is awarded Boys Wrestling Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Dave Fehler, a former official, right, is awarded the Community Beacon during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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West Salem’s Odelya Laroya, right, is awarded Girls Swimming Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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West Salem’s Jarrod Coy, right, is awarded Boys Swimming Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Lieutenant Colonel Derek Sawser, a former McKay High School student-athlete, right, is awarded the Community Beacon during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Emma Burlison is awarded Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Logan Scott, left, accepts the Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year award on behalf of his brother, Teagan Scott, during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Phil Webb, right, a South Salem High School graduate recognized for his commitment to building what was needed for South Salem athletics, is awarded the Community Beacon award during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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West Salem’s Courtney Gills, right, is awarded Softball Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Chris Lee, right, a former baseball and football coach at North Salem High School, is awarded the Community Beacon award during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Logan Scott, right, accepts the Baseball Athlete of the Year award on behalf of his brother, Teagan Scott, during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Craig Nicholas, a former coach and teacher at McNary High School, left, is awarded the Community Beacon award during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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West Salem’s Madelyn Miller, right, is awarded Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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North Salem’s Braxton Singleton, right, is awarded Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Damien Ramirez, a football coach and teacher at West Salem High School, right, is awarded the Community Beacon award during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Sprague’s Aubrey Sorensen, right, is awarded Girls Golf Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Jacob Case, right, is awarded Boys Golf Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Dan Pickens, right, accepts the Community Beacon award on behalf of his father, Tom Pickens, a Salem educator, leader and mentor who passed away in 2016, during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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Sprague’s Mariela Hajdaravic, right, is awarded Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Josiah Smith, right, is awarded Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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South Salem’s Logan Scott, left, is awarded Boys Volleyball Athlete of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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North Salem head coach Andrew Pickett, right, is awarded Coach of the Year during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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The Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Club donated $2,500 to each of the athletic programs at McKay, McNary, North Salem, South Salem, Sprague and West Salem high schools during the 2026 Beacon Awards at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

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The 2026 Beacon Awards winners gather for photos at Elsinore Theatre on June 9 in Salem.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer high school athletes recognized with Beacons awards