Congratulations to our 2026 Tom Spooner and Athena Award winners!

Congratulations to our 2026 Tom Spooner and Athena Award winners!

Tom Spooner Award Winner: Adin Inda

The Tom Spooner Award recognizes a senior male student-athlete for excellence in athletics, academics and citizenship. This year’s winner is Adin Inda. Adin has been a standout member of the Richfield Boys Basketball program, earning four varsity letters and serving as team captain for two years. He helped lead the Spartans to two conference championships and earned First Team All-Conference honors twice, with one Honorable Mention All-Conference selection. Adin was recognized as the preseason Section Senior Player of the Year, participated in the Minnesota Boys All-Star Game, and has been featured in the Spotlight on Scholarship program all four years. 

One of his most memorable performances came when he scored 36 points in a single game while missing only one shot, and he has now scored over 880 career points. In the classroom, Adin has consistently earned A and B Honor Roll recognition. A fun fact about Adin: he always plays games wearing two pairs of socks. After graduation, he plans to attend college, although he is undecided where yet.

Athena Award Winner: Maddie Friel

The Athena Award is presented annually to an outstanding female senior athlete based solely on high school athletic achievements, with the winner receiving a scholarship from the Spartan Foundation. This year’s Athena Award winner is Maddie Friel, a four-year member of the Richfield Swimming team. Maddie earned four varsity letters, served as team captain for one year and was named MVP twice. She received All-Conference honors all four years, competed at the Section AA level, qualified for the state meet twice, and is a two-time Section Champion in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.

Beyond athletics, Maddie demonstrates exceptional leadership and community involvement. She serves as President of the Environmental Club, helped organize the school’s annual Boundary Waters Canoe Area trip, and participates in Morgan’s Message, Letters of Love and Me to We. She has volunteered with the Center for Victims of Torture and Loaves and Fishes and organized a school clothing drive. In the classroom, Maddie has maintained a 3.998 GPA, earned A Honor Roll every semester, completed six AP courses and six University of Minnesota CIS courses, received the Dartmouth Book Award, earned the Spanish Platinum Seal of Biliteracy and has been recognized as an AP Scholar. She has also been featured in the Spotlight on Scholarship program every year. Maddie has been recruited to continue her swimming career at the University of St. Thomas while pursuing a major in Spanish.