BARAGA — Baraga Vikings girls basketball senior Martina Jahfetson was recently named to the Detroit Free Press’ All-State Division 4 honorable mention list. This news comes after a busy March where she was named Most Valuable Player in the Copper Mountain Conference, earned conference Elite Team honors, Copper Country Division First Team honors, and also was named to the All-U.P. Second Team by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

She will be playing for the Finlandia Lions women’s basketball team in the fall for the 2019-20 season.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Jahfetson. “I would’ve never thought (this would happen). I worked really hard and I thank everybody who helped me (throughout) my years. When I saw it, I was in shock. It means so much. All my hard work actually payed off.”

Jahfetson is one of the six-player Vikings’ squad that finished the 2018-19 basketball season with a record of 21-4, competing in six postseason matchups, including the heartbreaking season-ending loss to the St. Ignace Saints in mid March. Jahfetson is proud of her team’s success and looks forward to fostering new relationships with next year’s Lions basketball team.

She will be one of an increasing number of locals who should make the Lions fun to watch over the next few seasons under coach Maria Lapointe-Dunham. The Lions already feature local faces such as Hancock native Molly Berg, who will be a senior next season, Houghton’s Harlee Froberg, who is entering her sophomore season and Hancock’s Taylor Pertile, who will be a senior.

A number of players with local ties are also coming in next season as L’Anse’s Bailey Froberg just committed to join Baraga’s Carsyn Osterman and Houghton’s Casana Ryynanen.

Jahfetson is looking to pursue a degree in criminal justice and forensic science.

“This means a lot to me (and) to my school because being not that not many people go (on, but) it’s an incredible opportunity and I had a lot of support from my team and a lot of help,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for this and how far we’ve come this year. I couldn’t have wished for a better season.

“It means a lot to stay close to home. I mean I can have my family come up (to see me play). I can even have local people. I means a lot to me to (attend Finlandia) in a place where people can still come and see me play and watch me succeed some more in my future.”

She also wants to continue getting stronger as a student athlete.

“I really want to work on my strengths and my weaknesses and (focus) on becoming a better player overall, seeing the court, working with different girls and making new relationships,” Jahfetson said. “I think that is something that I’m really looking forward to doing at Finlandia. (I want) to improve my game and be a better player.

“It’s still unbelievable, (but) if you work hard, you get what you want. Some days I feel like it was never going to pay off, but it did, and I’m very thankful and blessed.”