EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — An area middle school athlete has been nominated for Youth Athlete of the Year.

Eighth-grader Bear Pollert from East Grand Forks Sacred Heart competes in basketball, football, trap shooting and fishing.

Off the playing field, he’s a student of character, drive, energy and always brings his best effort to whatever task he has.

Pollert has advanced through every voting round since the beginning of August and is one round away from making it to the quarterfinals.

The grand prize is $25,000 and an appearance in a three-brand advertisement in Sports Illustrated magazine.

“Bear has always been a team first guy. He will do whatever role that I ask him or the other coaches ask him to do. No role is ever too big or small for him. He knows that a role is not limiting,

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