Watch a Dunsmuir Tigers’ basketball game and you’ll notice a presence—a player that demands your attention. That player is Erin Kirch.

A senior, Erin leads the Tigers in scoring and rebounding. He has 14 games in double figures for scoring and nine in rebounds. His high point total is 25, and his high in rebounds is 13. Erin has recorded eight double-doubles. And, oh yeah, he plays defense, too.

While Erin’s Impact Player Award is for basketball, he could also have won one for football. Erin led the Tigers in receiving yards and sacks. He was second in tackles and third in rushing (615 yards on a team that amassed 3168 yards total).

Add it all up and it equals an Impact Player Award.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches.

A total of four awards are given each month and are not school specific; they can go to a player at any school that Siskiyou Youth covers. Winners receive Impact T-shirts that were designed by Golden Grotto. The T-shirts and award are cosponsored by Siskiyou Youth and NorCal Classic Hits radio 102.3/101.7.

Erin Kirch joins Weed basketball player Aaron Power-Bearden and Yreka soccer player Ross Perry as a January award winners. I’ll announce another winner in a few days. It will be a girl. Any guesses?