DAYTON–Athletic Director for Dayton Schools, Sam Korslund, has been named the District 9 A.D. of the Year. The honor makes Korslund eligible to be considered for State A.D. of the Year by the Wash. State Athletic Administrators Association when it meets in late April.

Korslund started his A.D. apprenticeship with the Dayton-Waitsburg Athletic Combine just as COVID-19 was wreaking havoc with high-school athletics seasons in the 2020-21 school year, and worked amid "the every-shifting" COVID landscape. "This made for a steep learning curve," Korslund said.

He steered that program through turbulent times and initiated and implemented a number of improvements for involvement, communication and forward planning.

Through those experiences, Korslund realized that the situation between the Dayton and Waitsburg administrations and board members pointed to a dissolution of the combine, which occurred in November, 2022.

Since then, Korslund has continued to implement and develop the Dayton Bulldog programs, with marked success.

At the end of the winter sports seasons, Korslund counted 57 students involved in at least one sport this school year. A year ago, Dayton student participation was only 13 students. "Fifty-eight percent of our total student body has been involved in a sport this year," Korslund said. "For reference, the national average for participation in high-school sports is about 33%."

Both Dayton Bulldog basketball teams qualified for the WIAA Distinguished Team Award, the girls compiling a 3.394 G.P.A. and the boys boasting a 3.300 G.P.A., Korslund reported.