The Bismarck Quarterback Club instituted the Roger Higgins Award - named for the beloved former University of Mary sportscaster - four years ago to honor those who have given long-standing service to the Bismarck-Mandan athletic community.

Having combined for early seven decades of coaching Bismarck athletes, Dan Smrekar and Dwite Gorder certainly fit the bill.

Smrekar and Gorder received the award at the annual Quarterback Club annual banquet on Wednesday.

Also honored were the club's athletes of the year. Century's Weston Leutz and Brittany Jossart were chosen as the top high school boys and girls athlete, respectively.

On the college level, Wes Spotted Bear of Bismarck State was picked as the top men's athlete, while Isabella Ferreira of the University of Mary was chosen as the top women's athlete.

A former North Dakota State University football player, Smrekar has been coaching for 36 years, 33 of them at St. Mary's. He has been the head football coach for 29 years and athletic director for 22.

Under Smrekar the Saints have had great success, winning three state championships and finishing second four times. He has guided St. Mary's to nine WDA titles and 18 playoff berths.

Gorder, a Bottineau native, played football and baseball at Minot State, where he graduated in 1964.

After a couple of years in Glendive, Mont., and Kent State University, Gorder retuned to North Dakota to teach and coach basketball.

Gorder coached for three years in Mohall, three in Dickinson and two in Rugby before settling in for a 15-year run at Bismarck High School. Gorder was head coach of the Demons for 12 years, and still teaches economics at BHS.

Gorder also served as an assistant at U-Mary for 14 years.

Leutz won three events at last year's state track meet, placing first in the 100 meters (10.91), 200 (22.00) and 110 hurdles (13.97). He also took third in the high jump (6-5).

Leutz was also a starter on the Century football and basketball teams.

Jossart was an all-stater in volleyball and a standout on the basketball and soccer teams.

Spotted Bear was a second-team NJCAA All-American, averaging 18.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Mystics.

Ferreira was a four-year starter at setter for the Marauder volleyball team.

Other nominees for athlete of the year awards:

COLLEGE

U-Mary

Men - Basketball: Jordan Engelhardt. Football:Rod Samuel. Wrestling:Aric Tarr. Track: Josh Obrigewitch. Cross country:Kurt Rettig. Baseball:Mike Feldman. Soccer:Ljubomir Djurovic. Tennis:Jackson Opperud.

Women - Basketball:Kayla Rogers. Track: Cassie Blazer. Tennis:Chelsey Stark. Volleyball:Isabella Ferreira. Softball:Meghan Ward. Soccer: Shanda Lester and Jessica Janusz.

Bismarck State College

Men - Basketball:Wes Spotted Bear. Baseball:JoshStanding Elk. Golf:Jared Herman.

Women - Basketball:Kasey Schlosser. Volleyball: Kasey Schlosser.

HIGHSCHOOL

Bismarck

Boys - Basketball:Jordan Wilhelm. Football:Luke Senger. Wrestling: Tyler Johnson. Track:Eric Stroh. Cross country: JoashOsoro and Andrew Reichenberger. Baseball:Darren Olson. Soccer: Jeremy Gunderson.

Girls - Basketball:Alex Feeney. Cross country:Taylor Pintar. Volleyball:Britlyn Sturlaugson. Soccer:Ciara Martel. Gymnastics:MacKenzie Keidel. Golf:Theresa Ebertz. Swimming:Amanda Gere. Diving:Megan Keidel.

Century

Boys - Basketball:WestonLeutz. Football:Tyler Schmidkunz. Wrestling:Brad Engbretson. Track:WestonLeutz. Cross country: Alex Redmann. Golf:Steve Wolf and Shane Feist. Hockey:Drew Flanagin and Cody Erhardt.

Girls - Basketball:Andrea LaFrance. Track:Steph Miller and Kaitlin Thiele. Cross country:Nikki Huelsman. Volleyball: Brittany Jossart. Hockey:Brittany Mayer. Gymnastics:Brittney Daniel. Golf:BrittanyKuntz and Kirsten Stromstad.

St. Mary's

Boys - Basketball:Eric Leet. Football:Adam Tescher. Wrestling: Austin Scholl. Baseball: Torey Bohan. Golf:Thomas Welk and Bryce Bohl. Soccer: Chris Keller.

Girls - Basketball:Kylie Messer. Track: Josie Reiner. Tennis:Steph Mahrer. Volleyball:Kylie Messer. Soccer:Jennifer Steckler.

Shiloh Christian

Boys - Basketball:Tanner Friesen. Football:Johnny Coleman.

Girls - Basketball:Tami Miller. Soccer:Samantha Adducci.