RESSEL, MEHNER GARNER TOP NOTRE DAME AWARDS

Jonathan Ressel and Katie Mehner received the top honors Sunday evening during the annual Notre Dame High School Booster Club Awards Banquet.

About 500 athletes, coaches, teachers, parents and boosters saw Ressel and Mehner presented with the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog of the Year awards.

The Bulldog and Lady Bulldog awards are given to the senior male and female athletes who best exemplify Notre Dame sports by virtue of their athletic achievement, character, attitude, teamwork, practice ethic and leadership qualities.

Ressel, a 6-foot-4 forward for Notre Dame's basketball team, was surprised at receiving the award.

"It is definitely an honor to be chosen," said Ressel, also an academic all-stater. "I was shocked when my name was called."

Named the Southeast Missourian Player of the Year, Ressel led the Bulldogs to a Class 2A, District 2 championship during the 2000-2001 season.

"It was one of my goals to be a leader and get one of those (district championship) here at Notre Dame," he said.

Besides leading the Bulldogs in scoring, the versatile Ressel also received the team's Defense Award, presented to the player who had the most impact on defense.

Mehner, a three-year letterwinner in soccer as a midfielder who had participated in basketball before a back injury cut her career short, expressed astonishment at receiving the honor.

"I was so surprised," said Mehner. "I had no idea."

In some other highlights of the banquet:

* Juniors Lisa Millham and Deana McCormick, members of Notre Dame's state runner-up girls basketball team, were honored as first- and second-team all-staters, respectively.

* Notre Dame athletics director Chris Janet announced that two new sports, track & field and dance, will be added during the next school year.

* The Notre Dame family bade farewell to Wayne Nenninger, a long-time Notre Dame teacher and coach who is resigning to relocate to Texas to be closer to his children.

Nenninger, a member of the Notre Dame Hall of Fame, has served as boys soccer coach, boys and girls cross country coach and assistant basketball coach in his 31-year tenure at the school.