Osseo football standout Bridgeport Tusler is finding his many talents have attracted an equally diverse number of postseason awards.

Last week Tusler, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, was named both the Associated Press and Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year. He was named Monday to the Minnesota Vikings' all-state team.

Tusler rushed for 1,173 yards and 16 touchdowns. He caught 18 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He added four additional touchdowns through passing (one), punt returns (two) and on one of his eight interceptions.

"Bridgeport Tusler is the best player we saw this year and the best I've seen in recent memory," Totino-Grace coach Jeff Ferguson said in a release from Gatorade. "In addition to his obvious physical talent, he is an extraordinary competitor and he plays with an effort and physicality that is very unusual. He is outstanding in three phases as a running back, a defensive back and a returner. He is incredibly versatile."

Bross to coach Blaine softballDon Bross, a 1992 graduate of Blaine High School, returns to coach softball at his alma mater.

In his 16th year as a physical education teacher at St. Paul Johnson, Bross brings a wealth of coaching experience.

From 1997-99 he served as an assistant baseball coach at Blaine. From 2000-03 he was as an assistant baseball coach at Johnson. In 2003 he became the badminton coach at Johnson and guided the team to four state championships. He also has spent several seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Johnson.

Bross graduated from Minnesota State Mankato in 1997 with a degree in physical education. He received his masters degree in education from St. Mary's University in 2001.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574