The Team
Paul Becker Memorial Award
The Paul Becker Memorial Award was created in 2013 in memory of Paul Becker, a 30 year member of the Backwater Gamblers. It is given to a member of the team who demonstrates a passion for the sport, the team and other members, dedication or longevity in helping the team grow, thrive, and succeed, and a positive attitude at the site on and off the water that makes others want to step up and make the organization better than ever. The award recipient typically displays an ability to fulfill and accomplish tasks and/or head up and take leadership of one or several aspects of the organization.
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Mark Van Osdel |
| 2023 | Trista Foster |
| 2022 | Susan Michelle Jepsen |
| 2021 | Scott Allender |
| 2019 | Randy Thompson |
| 2018 | Tagen Tipton |
| 2017 | Jon Ricketts |
| 2016 | Keith Berger |
| 2015 | Dennis Heggen |
| 2014 | Gene Hast |
| 2013 | Brint Burrill |
Keith Berger Excellence Award
The Keith Berger Excellence Award was created in 2024 in memory of a Keith Berger, a 15 year member of the Backwater Gamblers. Keith was passionate about teaching people, specifically the youth of the organization, so it is presented to a member 16 or under that excelled that season both in skiing and in being a good teammate.
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Leilani Lindell |
Directors' Award
The Directors' award is given by the Board of Directors and Show Directors to a member who has excelled at helping the team during the year. This could be additional help during shows, practices, or anything that is above and beyond for the team as a whole.
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Mark Van Osdel |
Best Duo or Group
The Best Duo or Group award is given out a duo or group that excelled as a team (example: stage crew, ballet line, jump team, boat driving team, etc).
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Jump team |
Most Versatile
The Most Versatile award is given to the male and female members who are able and willing to adapt to many different conditions, positions, or jobs for the show.
| Year | Male Award Recipient | Female Award Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pat Braet | Kayla Clawson |
Best Showmanship
The Best Showmanship award is given out to the male and female who are the ultimate performers by smiling, acknowledging the crowd, and putting on the best show possible every time. The winner typically also has a positive attitude, helps out wherever possible, and works with other members to make the show better.
| Year | Male Award Recipient | Female Award Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pat Braet | Kierstin Moore |
| 2023 | Collin Ridgley & Conor Naab | Jenna Bennison |
| 2022 | Colby Ridgley | Megan Obenauf |
| 2021 | Dennis Heggen & Bill Obenauf | Jenna Martel |
| 2019 | Collin Ridgley | Leighton James |
| 2018 | David Claver | Tagen Tipton |
| 2017 | Michael Becker | Charlie Vandersnick |
| 2016 | David Claver | Melissa Birdsell |
| 2015 | Pat Braet | Mindy Becker |
| 2014 | Randy Thompson | Jenna Martel |
| 2013 | Bill Obenauf | Mindy Becker |
| 2012 | Tim Knipper & Bob Schultz | Trista Foster |
| 2011 | Michael Becker | Tagen Tipton |
| 2010 | Garrett Conway, Sebastian Einfeldt, Zack Schultz, Skyler Tipton & Tyler Varner | Bridget Berger |
| 2009 | Todd Conway | Tagen Menzer |
| 2008 | Tim Knipper | Elisabeth Cross |
| 2007 | Nate Broghammer & Tim Knipper | Melanie Anderson |
| 2006 | Tim Knipper | Melanie Anderson |
| 2005 | Kevin Strauss | Val Thompson |
| 2004 | Randy Thompson | Alison Oppel |
| 2003 | Dennis Heggen | Val Thompson |
| 2002 | Larry Anderson | Chris Ridgley |
| 2001 | David Claver | Taryn Menzer |
| 2000 | Dennis Pauley | Tagen Menzer |
| 1999 | David Claver | Melanie Anderson |
| 1998 | Larry Anderson | Deb Anderson |
| 1997 | Bob Harkey | Susan Michelle |
| 1996 | Adam Strupp | Melanie Wilson |
| 1995 | Dennis Heggen | Trista Menzer |
Most Improved
The Most Improved award is given to the male and female who worked hard at improving their skills from the beginning of the season until the end, whether they are a boat driver, announcer, skier, or any other role on the team.
| Year | Male Award Recipient | Female Award Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Caden Ridgley | Leilani Lindell |
| 2023 | Kyle Konrad & Caden Ridgley | Jenna Bennison |
| 2022 | Zack Schultz | Kiera Shillinger |
| 2021 | Jordan Allender | Audrey Foster |
| 2019 | Collin Ridgley | Kiera Shillinger |
| 2018 | Patrick Hathaway | Leighton James |
| 2017 | Jordan Allender | Olivia Uhde |
| 2016 | Zack Schultz | Kayla Clawson |
| 2015 | Prestyn Woods | Kennedy Scott |
| 2014 | Garrett Van Osdel | Kennedy Scott |
| 2013 | The Jump Team | Kaitlyn Mayes |
| 2012 | Bob Schultz | Jenna Martel |
| 2011 | Chad Uhde | Connie Chapman |
| 2010 | Dakota Einfeldt | Bridget Berger |
| 2009 | Christopher Heggen | Tanner Thompson |
| 2008 | Todd Conway | Elisabeth Cross |
| 2007 | Seth Mullen | Angela Mullen |
| 2006 | Curt Oppel | Emily Buckwalter |
| 2005 | Josh Burkhead | Tristan Thompson |
| 2004 | Pat Braet | Tristan Thompson |
| 2003 | Zack Blaszczyk | Alison Oppel |
| 2002 | Sam Heggen | Rebekah Geffert |
| 2001 | Dave (Cowboy) Requet | Trista Menzer |
| 2000 | Brian Dennison | Kara Bailey & Pam Poulos |
| 1999 | David Claver | Amy Chapman |
| 1998 | David Anderson | Brittany Lewis |
| 1997 | Chris Gustafson | Tagen Menzer & Gretchen Post |
| 1996 | Jeff Lanum | Kellie Vogt |
| 1993 | David Claver | Tracey Bailey |
Most Helpful
The Most Helpful Award recognizes a member most willing to help out other members and the team. The person is often at the ski site longer hours than a typical member, does work for the ski team at home, or just puts in a lot of additional time and effort for the team.
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Teresa Hofmann & Susan Michelle Jepsen |
Gambler Award
The Gambler Award was started to recognize a member of the team who was dealt a bad hand, but made the best of it. It has often been presented to members who were hurt in skiing accidents and still continued to help the team out in other ways, but has been presented to members for dealing with a variety of other hardships as well and still putting their time and effort into the team.
| Year | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Berger family |
| 2023 | Elisabeth Cross |
| 2022 | Deb Anderson |
| 2021 | Larry Anderson |
| 2019 | Chad Uhde |
| 2018 | Austin Roberts |
| 2017 | Michael Becker |
| 2016 | Pat Braet, Teresa Hofmann, Susan Jepsen & Randy Thompson |
| 2015 | Dakota Einfeldt & Megan Obenauf |
| 2014 | Scott Allender |
| 2013 | Michael, Mindy and Matthew Becker & Emily Birdsell |
| 2011 | Chris Heggen & Susan Michelle Jepsen |
| 2010 | Nick Foster |
| 2009 | Mindy Becker & the Horton family |
| 2008 | Tim Place |
| 2007 | Brint Burrill & Gene Hast |
| 2006 | Kevin Vogt |
| 2005 | Alison Oppel |
| 2004 | Adam Place |
| 2003 | Marsha Place |
| 2002 | Becky Pauley & Mark Van Osdel |
| 2001 | Mark Poulos |
| 2000 | Justin Brandt |
| 1992 | Randy Heggen |
Think that's impressive?
Come to a show and you'll see several of these recent award winners perform!
