MUNCIE
When the mental attitude award for Class 1A was announced at the girls state volleyball tournament on Saturday, one of the most surprised persons in Worthen Arena was Hannah Sabotin.
Sabotin, a senior at Trinity Lutheran High School, had her emotions quickly change from sadness, after losing the Class 1A championship match to Cowan, to joy and excitement when her name was announced as winner of the mental attitude award.
“I was speechless,” she said. “Actually, I had no idea that that award was even available. I had no idea.”
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Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA’s corporate sponsor, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the school in Sabotin’s name.
Nominees must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability. Sabotin is an honor roll student, and this season topped 1,000-mark in career kills.
“I’m so honored. I couldn’t have done it without the team,” she said. “They were the ones that helped bring me here, the coaches and just being influenced by all of them.”
TLHS Principal Clayton Darlage said Sabotin is very deserving of the award.
“Hannah is a top-notch young lady,” he said. “She’s a student leader and she’s a team leader. On the floor she’s a little bit of an extrovert than she is off the floor, and she admits to that, but you know what, she is always leading by example, whether it’s on the floor or off the floor.
“She is a very fine Christian young lady, and she’s a very good role model and mentor to all of our students and our student body," he continued. "She is very deserving of this honor without question.”
Darlage said she is looking forward to helping the Cougars have a winning record on the basketball floor this winter.
“She is a multi-sport athlete, she’s a natural athlete," he said. "I think she picked up basketball last year for the first time in many years since she was younger, but she fit right in, and she was a huge help to our Lady Cougars basketball team.
“She’s an all-around good girl and a good athlete.”
Sabotin talked about the success of the team after the match.
“Our goal from the beginning of the season was to make it to state and that’s what we’ve done," she said. "The season’s meant the world to me, these girls, and the coaches. I’ve just had a great time. We’re a family and we all have each other’s back.”
Sabotin of the award, “Hopefully it will benefit the school in some way, in that they get new equipment or something else that helps them out. We have a solid program, solid coaches. We have great players, we all care for each other, want each-other to succeed, and do the best they possibly can.
“I am so proud of all of these ladies and all the work we put in this season.”