Senior Cooper Johnston named 2025 state winner of Russ Bakko Award!
In 2003, the Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association (MAAA) established the Russ Bakko - Most Outstanding Bowler Award to honor the student athlete that exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship, effort, and excellence in competition in Adapted Bowling.
Minnesota River Strike Force adapted bowling coach Kris Voeltz, who oversees the combined program between St. Peter and Le Sueur-Henderson, recently announced that Strike Force team member Cooper Johnston was named the 2025 winner of the Russ Bakko Award. Johnston, who is a senior at Le Sueur-Henderson High School and the son of Kristen and Jason Johnston, is the Strike Force program’s first-ever winner of this prestigious award.
“Cooper is one of the top bowlers on our team. He is competitive and strives to do well,” Voeltz said. “He is also a repeat state medalist (during his career with the Strike Force). There is no one more deserving of this award than him. Congratulations, Cooper!”
The criteria for the award includes:
The athlete needs to have competed at the highest level.
The athlete needs to have demonstrated play that was vital to the success of his/her team’s success.
The athlete needs to have demonstrated good sportsmanship.
The athlete needs to have demonstrated positive leadership.
Consideration will be given to positive school contributions.
The athlete needs to be a senior.
About Russ Bakko
Russ Bakko served the MAAA from its inception as a board member, schedule chair, vice chair and chairperson. It was during his tenure as chairperson that the MAAA was sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, making it the only program for student athletes with disabilities sanctioned by a State Activities Association in the United States.
He was chairperson when bowling, the only individual sport sponsored by the MAAA, began. He served as the Minnesota State Bowling Tournament manager for its initial years.