BEAR RIVER HIGH – By Cari Doutre – May 31, 2020
Publisher’s note: This year the Bear River High School Class of 2020 didn’t get the traditional senior awards ceremony that other graduating classes before them had.
The world-wide COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic that closed all public schools in Utah on March 16, 2020 meant high schools needed to find an alternative way to celebrate graduating seniors.
Bear River High administrators opted to do a surprise home visit for the four graduating seniors receiving the 2020 student athletes of the year awards. Working closely with parents to plan it all, administrators and coaches from Bear River High were able to honor these students in a way that meets social distancing guidelines.
Bear River Live and The Valley Headliner – BRVNEWS.com were both invited to capture those surprise moments and the award ceremonies.
Bear River Live produced videos for each of the four students and The Valley Headliner – BRVNEWS.com provided originally written articles and pictures for each of the students.
Find that video posted below the article.
It’s hard enough being a three-sport athlete in high school, let along a four-sport athlete with varsity experience all four years. But for Abbie Fuhriman, a senior at Bear River High School, she excelled in every high school sport she participated in – not to mention academically and in student government.
For those reasons, Abbie has been named the 2020 Female Athlete of the Year for Bear River High.
Abbie was presented the award, by surprise, at her home in Tremonton on May 13. This year COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions prevented Bear River High from having their traditional senior awards ceremony at the high school auditorium. Instead, they traveled to the students.
Bear River High Athletic Director Van Park presented the award. Together with the help of her parents, Brian and Katie Fuhriman, the surprise was a success.
“Abbie is very athletic and has great mental toughness. She is a quiet leader with a fun personality and is friendly to everyone,” Park said.
That friendliness was apparent during a Bear River High girls’ soccer banquet.
“At one of her end of season soccer banquets, I watched her take a handwritten note to everyone on the soccer team, from freshmen to seniors, which had to have been over 30 girls. In it she expressed her love and appreciation. This says volumes about what a great individual Abbie is,” Park said.
Other coaches at Bear River High echoed those thoughts including her cross-country coach, Dan Line.
“Abbie has had one of the most amazing careers for the varsity girls’ program,” Line said. “She is an amazing person and we love all that she brought to the team in helping the other girls find success and fun.”
Tyrell Neal, head coach of the Bear River High girls’ varsity basketball team also remarked on Abbie’s character.
“Abbie excels at many activities because of her grit and dedication. I have loved watching her be a positive teammate, improve herself and succeed at her chosen events and competitions. She has earned this award,” Neal said.
“Her cultured qualities, traits, talents and experiences will help her be successful as she moves on to the next level of competition. Abbie’s thoughtful consideration of individuals in her circle of influence has made a huge impact on everyone in our school,” Neal added.
In addition to all of Abbie’s many athletic accomplishments, she was recently awarded the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Student of the Year award. Abbie was just one of six Utah student athletes to earn the recognition.
Abbie then went on the UIAAA’s regional competition, which includes seven western states, and won that competition as well. She will now compete for the national award in the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association competition.
This fall Abbie will join the Utah Valley University track and cross-country teams.
More photo coverage can be found below.
Photos by Cari Doutre/The Valley Headliner - BRVNEWS.com
Abbie Fuhriman Athletic Achievements
Soccer:
· Four-year member of the team
· Three years starting varsity
· 2019 Team Captain
· October 2019 Female Athlete of the Month
· Utah High School Activities Association Academic All-State
Basketball:
· Four-year member of the team
· Three years lettered
· Junior Varsity Playmaker of the Year 2018
· BEAR Award 2019
· Utah High School Activities Association Academic All-State
Cross Country:
· Four year member of the team
· Cross Country Rookie of the Year 2016
· 2016 – 2nd place in Region
· 2017 – 3rd place in Region
· All-Region 1st Team 2017
· Cross Country Top Gun Award 2018 and 2019
· 2019 – 1st place at the Freedom Run 5K (Kailua, Hawaii)
· BYU All-Senior Team 2019
· 2019 – 1st place at the Cache/Box Invitational
· Utah High School Activities Association Academic All-State
Track:
· Four-year member of the team
· Four years lettered
· 2016 – 1st place at the Cache Box Invitational in the 800m event
· 2016 – 1st place Region in the 1600m and the SMR
· 2017 – 1st place in the Morgan Invitational in the 800m
· 2017 – 1st place at the Davis Invitational in the SMR
· 2017 – 1st place in Region in the medley relay and the 4x400m relay
· 2018 – 1st place at the Cache Box Invitational in the 800m event
· 2018 – 1st place at the Davis Invitational in the SMR
· 2018 – 1st place in Region in the SMR and the 4x400m relay
· 2018 – 1st place in the 4A State meet in the medley relay
· Currently holds the Bear River High school record in both the 800m and the 1600m
· Utah High School Activities Association Academic All-State
· Awarded a scholarship for the Utah Valley University track and cross-country teams – 2020
· Note: Only 1st place finishes are listed above. Other top five finishes are not listed.
Additional Achievements
· 4.0 GPA
· 32 ACT score
· 4-year member of the National Honors Society
· 2020 – Presidential Scholarship to Utah Valley University
· Bear River High Math Student of the Month – September 2019
· Kiwanis Club Student of the Month – January 2020
· Student Body 2nd Vice President – 2019-2020
· Junior 2nd Vice President – 2018-2019
· Sophomore 2nd Vice President – 2017-2018
· Maverick Ambassador 2018-2019
· Tremonton Youth City Council 2018-2019
· Key Club member
· Tough Club member
· Hope Squad 2016-2020