SSHS senior receives national character award

SEELEY LAKE – Every day before football practice started, senior Sawyer Shelmerdine would go get the keys from Head Coach Jay Crum and go unload the equipment shed for the team. He would have been the quarterback again this year but due to a knee injury he was sidelined. Because of his love of football and desire to stay involved he was the captain and team manager.

"I just wanted to be there and try and help them out as much as I could," Shelmerdine said.

Shelmerdine's dedication and leadership was recognized with the Burlsworth National Character and Sportsmanship Award. The Burlsworth Award honors players who represent the ideals and values that Brandon Burlsworth had - to give 100% on the field and to stand as a moral example to his team. SSHS is the only school in Montana that has received this national award. Shelmerdine shares the honor with SSHS graduates Eric Lorentz who received it in 2020 and Dakota Wood who received it in 2019.

Head Coach Jay Crum has coached high school and college football teams including Division 1 players that have gone on to play in the National Football League. He has coached Shelmerdine for the past four years, the last three years as the Blackhawks' head coach and said he has one of the best arms he has ever seen.

"I don't know if I have seen anyone match [his work ethic]. He has done everything he could to get good and to be able to perform at an outrageous level," Crum said. "He is just real positive, never turned on other players, he was the first one to go up and check on players from other teams that were injured."

Crum continued, "He is just well liked by everybody including the opposing team. That says a lot about his character and how he is on the field. I think everybody realizes his athleticism and his potential."

At practice, Shelmerdine made sure the cooler and waters were filled, got all the equipment out on the field and helped players with their equipment. Because he could still throw, he helped run defensive back and wide receiver drills while on crutches.

Shelmerdine was always with the team at games. If they were struggling mentally, he would ask permission to talk to the team without the coaches.

"I just would focus on telling them we need to be like a brotherhood, stick by each other's side and work for everybody else, not just for yourself, but for the team," Shelmerdine said.

"This kid is the epitome of what you want on a football team. It was unreal what he brought to us even being hurt," Crum said.

When he received the award at the Nov. 9 SSHS Fall Awards Banquet, Shelmerdine had no idea he had even been nominated.

"I was kind of surprised," Shelmerdine said. "It means a lot especially because I'm from a small town. Some of these things you would never think would come into play, especially nationally. It is just nice to have a little pat on the back, support coming back, even though the community gives so much support,"

"I was really happy he got that award. It is a really big deal. Those guys deserve it and he follows two other stud kids that we had get it, Dakota Wood and Eric Lorentz."

As the 2021 Burlsworth Award winner, Shelmerdine offered a little encouragement to his peers, both on and off the field, "Give it your all and stick by each other's sides."