Christmas came a bit early for two Minnesota high school athletes this week. On Monday Shakopee's Ashley Wittman was named the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, and today Cretin-Derham Hall football player Seantrel Henderson was named USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year.
As Seantrel's father, Sean Henderson, told me this afternoon, "This is the best Christmas present of the year."
In both cases, Joe Mauer figures into the historical perspectives. Mauer (and another Cretin QB, Chris Walsh) are the only other Minnesotans to be named Gatorade National Players of the Year in any sport. Mauer also was named USA Today's Football Player of the Year as a senior at Cretin.
Henderson, a 6-8, 337-pound offensive tackle, has made official recruiting visits to Notre Dame, Southern California, Ohio State and Florida. NCAA rules allow five official visits (in which the colleges pay the expenses), and Henderson's fifth visit is yet to be decided among Iowa, Oklahoma, Miami and Minnesota.
He plans to announce his college decision on Feb. 3, which is the first day football recruits can sign letters of intent. Henderson will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 9 and make his final official college visit later in January.
Wittman has signed with the Gophers volleyball team, and in fact will begin classes at the university in January,
"For a kid from Minnesota to be taking home these honors, it's remarkable," Cretin-Derham Hall coach Mike Scanlan said. He was talking about Henderson, but the same sentiment can be expressed on the heels of Wittman's honor.
John Millea is on Twitter at twitter.com/stribjohn
