Taran Hermanson, Kyson Fant and Olivia Braun honored as state champions at Aberdeen School Board meeting

The Aberdeen School Board on June 8 recognized several student-athletes who won state championships this year, highlighting both athletic feats and classroom success. Students Taran Hermanson and Kyson Fant were introduced by board members and their coaches, and members of the girls golf team — including two-time state champion Olivia Braun — received public praise from coaches and the board.

Taran Hermanson, a state girls track and field champion, was credited by her coach for repeatedly breaking her own school records and for setting a new state-meet record in her event. "Hard work when no one's watching, probably," Hermanson said when asked about the secret to her success. Coach Apple told the board Hermanson also threw a personal record in discus and placed third in that event at state.

The board also introduced Kyson Fant, who won the 300-meter hurdles and set a state meet mark while running into an 18 mph headwind, according to a board member. "Throughout my whole career, I fell only once," Kyson said when reflecting on setbacks and resilience, a theme board members and coaches emphasized. Several students described their post‑high-school plans, including athletic scholarships and intended college majors such as exercise science.

Coach Zimmerman, introducing the girls golf team, described players’ athletic and academic accomplishments: multiple all-conference and all-state honors and academic all-state recognition for the three seniors. Zimmerman and board members said the students’ success reflected strong community and parental support as well as district resources for athletics and academics.

The recognition segment closed with board members thanking coaches and families and wishing the students well as they move to college and other next steps.