Simley Student Kristen Mertens Wins Athena Award

Simley High School senior Kristen Mertens has earned a 2013 Athena Award in honor of her athletic achievements in varsity soccer, hockey and track.

Simley High School has more on Mertens' achievement:

The St. Paul Area Athena Awards program honors female high school seniors for their athletic achievements. There are 39 St. Paul-area high schools that honor one female athlete as the Athena Award winner. Other young ladies receiving consideration at Simley were Sarah Birkelo, Anna Groebner, Roda Mena, Jenny Willaert and Kim Wreh.

Mertens lettered in soccer for the Spartans for three years and was named captain during her senior season. She was a member of the section soccer teams that won a Silver Academic Award each of her three years on varsity.

In her senior season of Spartan hockey, Mertens was named the Spartan athlete and Scholar athlete. She lettered five years at Simley. "(Kristen was) one of the best athletes I have ever coached. She is a very respectful, honest, hard-working and dedicate athlete," said Coach Ashley Stewart.

Kristen is a track captain this year and is a four-year letter winner. She has been named All Conference twice and was the Conference champion in 2012. Kristen is school record holder as a member of the 4X200 and 4X400 meter relay teams in 2012. She was also on the section team that was named Academic All State with a GPA of 3.981 last season.

Mertens will be honored with her peers in April at an awards luncheon at the Prom Center in Oakdale.

Inver Grove Heights student Caitlyn Russell also won the award, Patch reported earlier in the week.