Staff photo by Travis Rosenau The 70th annual New Ulm Club Athletic Appreciation Banquet took place Saturday at Martin Luther College, with six senior athletes from each New Ulm high school being honored as their school’s Male and Female Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year. Pictured are the winners. Front row (l-r): Afton Hulke (NUHS), Mackenzie Merseth (MVL) and Jenna Hotovec (CHS). Back row (l-r): James Osborne (NUHS), Ben Pearson (MVL) and Jevan Wilfahrt (CHS).

NEW ULM — The 70th annual New Ulm Club Athletic Appreciation Banquet took place Saturday at Martin Luther College, with six senior athletes from the three New Ulm high schools being named as their school’s Male and Female Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year.

Each high school had a female and male athlete letter winner chosen as an Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year. New Ulm High School’s selections were Afton Hulke and James Osborne, Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s were Mackenzie Merseth and Ben Pearson and New Ulm Cathedral’s were Jenna Hotovec and Jevan Wilfahrt.

The guest speaker at the banquet was former New Ulmite Frank Whitcomb, who is the Public Address Announcer for the Minnesota State High School League state tournaments.

Whitcomb focused his speech on the difference of knowledge and wisdom, saying wisdom is what each student-athlete in attendance will gain after graduating. Whitcomb also encouraged the senior athletes to go their own path and learn from the mistakes they make along the way.

Last but not least, Whitcomb urged the senior athletes to do things, “the New Ulm way,” representing the city as good athletes and better people.

Here is a brief write-up for each athlete honored as an Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year.

Afton Hulke

New Ulm High School

New Ulm High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the year is Afton Hulke. Hulke is the daughter of Dustin Hulke and Jill Hulke. She is a two-sport athlete who has participated in Volleyball and Hockey. She has earned three letters in Volleyball and five letters in hockey, giving her a total of eight letters in her high school career.

Each Fall, you can find Hulke on the court, competing in volleyball. She has been a member of the varsity volleyball for the past three seasons, lettering in each of those three seasons while earning All-Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore, and All-Conference her junior and senior years. During her senior season, she was also voted team MVP by her teammates. She finished her career with 617 digs, 303 kills, 130 aves, 17 solo blocks, and 16 set assists.

Eagles head volleyball coach Christine Skoglund called Hulke a fantastic player and true leader.

“Afton is a fantastic volleyball player and as our season progressed this year, she became a true leader on the court,” Skoglund said. “Afton lead the volleyball team in stats in many areas this year, but what she demonstrated to the younger players is what makes her a terrific all around person.

“She demonstrated grit and teamwork on the court, leadership in huddles, perseverance throughout the season and especially after losses, responsibility by keeping her academics in the forefront by getting good grades. Afton will be truly missed next volleyball season for her on and off the court achievements.”

Come Winter, you can find Hulke in a rink, competing in hockey. She has been a member of the varsity hockey team for five seasons. She has lettered in each of those five seasons, while earning All-Conference twice and Honorable Mention once. During her senior season, she was also an all-state nominee and voted team MVP by her teammates. Hulke finished her career with 114 career points.

Eagles girls hockey head coach Jeremy Reed said Hulke was a team-first player.

“Afton is a fantastic student-athlete, and even a better person,” he said. “She thrives off putting her team first, and making personal sacrifices for the betterment of her team. Her maturity, personal growth, and leadership was on full display this year, in her interactions with her teammates. Watching her have individual conversations with teammates between games, to pick teammates up and ensure they are all on the same page, was simply impressive.

“Let’s not forget she’s a really good athlete as well, during the hockey season, she played in all situations, eating up huge minutes of playing time. For example, during an overtime game in Rocori, she played 7 of the 8 minutes in the overtime period, and was effective. As she navigates her future, one thing’s for certain, she has set the bar high for the future athletes.”

Hulke is currently undecided on her post-high school plans.

James Osborne

New Ulm High School

New Ulm High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the year is James Osborne. Osborne is the son of Linda and Scott Osborne. He is a three-sport athlete who has participated in football, basketball, and track and field. He has earned two letters in football, four letters in basketball, and three letters in track and field, giving him a total of nine letters in his high school career, with a 10th letter likely coming after this spring’s track and field season.

Each fall, Osborne can be found on the football field, as a two-way player. He made significant contributions to the varsity football team during his junior and senior years, lettering in each of those seasons. As a senior he was also nominated to the 2023 All-Journal Football Offensive Team and was a 2023 South Central All-District player. He finished his varsity career with 53 receptions for 665 yards with 8 receiving touchdowns, 117 yards rushing for three more scores, and 44 tackles.

Head Coach Derek Lieser had this to say about James: “My coaching staff was very fortunate to coach James Osborne in football the past two seasons. James grew tremendously as a football player over the last two seasons, earning himself individual accolades he should be proud of, as well as helping our football program to the most wins in a season in nearly two decades. More importantly, James has been a fantastic representative of what it means to be a student-athlete: performing well in the classroom, participating in three sports, demonstrating leadership and sportsmanship, and earning the respect of his teammates and opponents through his performance on the playing field.”

Come Winter, you can find Osborne on the court, competing in basketball. He was a four-year starter and catalyst for the recent successes of his teammates and our program. James is a three-time All-Conference athlete and was selected as a KNUJ Athlete of the Week in both his junior and senior seasons. Osborne finished his varsity career second all-time in scoring in New Ulm High School boys history with 1,518 points. His career averages are 18.9 points, 4.6 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.

Eagles boys basketball head coach Matt Dennis highlighted Osborne for his all-around ability to impact the game and also said he was an outstanding young man on and off the court.

“Jimmy Osborne is an explosive player that has electrified crowds with game-changing dunks,” Dennis said. “James has become an elite level defender as well. He drew the top scorer responsibility on defense for many games this year. Jimmy was an elite passer. He had an assist to turnover ratio of 1.46. He made a mark for himself during his sophomore year taking over games from behind the arc. As he evolved as a player through the years, he was nearly unstoppable going downhill to the rim. He would make plays where our coaches and I would just look at each and shrug, as if saying, “That’s just Jimmy being Jimmy.” More importantly, Jimmy is an outstanding young man. He is kind-hearted and conscientious of others. He is caring and humble. He is fierce and competitive while still being a great human that looks out for the greater good. Jimmy is soon a path toward greatness no matter what path he chooses. James is a great choice for this award.”

Each spring, you can find Osborne competing in track and field. His versatility is showcased well throughout the season, where he competes in a variety of events, including, but not limited to high jump, sprints, and relays. He has lettered three times, with a fourth likely. Osborne is an All-Conference performer and a state qualifier in the high jump.

Eagles track and field head coach Andrea Hanson had this to say about Osborne.

“Last season as a junior, James led our team with the best 400-meter time of 53.75 and the best high jump height of 6 feet, 2 inches,” she said. “He was second at Sections with a jump of 6 feet, 2 inches, which qualified him for state. He was a second-place medalist at conference in the high jump and third-place conference medalist in the 4X400 relay. His 400 time is the ninth best in school history. His 4X400 team has the second fastest time in school history. His high jump best is second in school history. We look forward to his senior year.”

Osborne is currently undecided about his future plans after high school.

Mackenzie Merseth

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete is Mackenzie Merseth. Merseth is the daughter of Jeremy and Angela Merseth. She is a three-sport student-athlete who has participated in volleyball, basketball and golf all four years at MVL. He has earned seven letters and will earn her eighth this spring in golf. Mackenzie has been named Tomahawk Conference Honorable Mention in volleyball and basketball. Last year she earned a place on the Tomahawk All-Conference Golf Team and Honorable Mention All-Journal.

Each fall, Merseth took the volleyball court.

Merseth’s volleyball head coach Amy Pearson called her the team’s most versatile player.

“Mackenzie Merseth is a two-year varsity letter-winner in volleyball and one of our most versatile players,” Amy Pearson said. “She did it all for our team. She played every position from right side to outside to libero and even finished her senior season back where she started her volleyball career as a middle hitter. Mackenzie led the team in digs with 374 in her senior season and 492 in her career. Her other notable career stats include 192 kills, 41 blocks, and 34 ace serves. Mackenzie was always willing to play the position we needed and do what had to be done to help her team win.

“Being that kind of a team player made her a desired asset on our team and this versatility was recognized by the conference coaches where she received honorable mention accolades and her teammates and coaches voted her best defensive player.”

During the winter season, Merseth plays basketball. Over her two-year varsity career, she pulled down 368 rebounds and scored 306 points. This season she led the team in blocked shots with 15.

MVL girls basketball head coach Hailey Santos said Merseth battled injuries and tough matchups over the past several years but still stepped up to play a vital role in many ways.

“Mackenzie has played a vital role as a two-year starter,” Santos said. “Despite battling numerous injuries as a three-sport athlete, Mackenzie’s presence on the court made her a challenge to guard by numerous teams. At 5-foot-9, Mackenzie was smaller than most of the non-conference posts we played, yet she made up for what she lacked in height with her physicality and quick feet. Mackenzie is a vocal leader who strives to lead others to success. She is receptive to constructive criticism and holds herself accountable for daily growth. It has been a joy to coach and cheer for Mackenzie in all her sports and extracurricular activities at MVL. She will surely be a blessing in the future to teams that she may coach.”

MVL golf head coach Craig Morgan said sharing the game of golf with Merseth over the years was an honor.

“Each spring it has been an honor for me to share the game of golf with Mackenzie,” Morgan said. “She has grown in the sport from a freshman who had barely touched a club to a young lady who loves to learn and improve her game. She is a true competitor who is never satisfied with her scores or her game. She is always looking for ways to improve and get better. You can usually see her working a little longer each time or going out and practicing after practice somewhere else.

“Mackenzie has been one of four seniors who will be hard to replace and have been great role models for our younger golfer. I will miss her attitude and determination and never quit attitude will be missed. She has been a real pleasure to coach.”

Next year Merseth will attend the University of Wisconsin Stout and study interior design.

Benjamin Pearson

Minnesota Valley Lutheran

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year is Ben Pearson. Pearson is the son of Matt and Amy Pearson. He is a three-sport student-athlete who has participated in basketball and golf all four years at MVL and football the past three years. He has earned eight letters and will earn his ninth this spring in golf.

In the fall, Ben Pearson took to the gridiron. During his career, he had 27 catches for 372 yards, 13.8 yards per catch, six Touchdowns, and three 2-point conversions. He also accumulated 64 tackles and 2 interceptions on the defensive side.

MVL football head coach Jim Buboltz thanked Ben Pearson for his efforts on the field and great attitude.

“MVL Football would like to thank Ben Pearson for giving Charger Football a great effort in his football career,” Buboltz said. “Ben was an excellent route runner who had a knack for making the big catch. Often a highlight-reel catch for sure. … Ben came to practice with a great attitude and played hard to the very last game versus Jackson County Central with a couple of amazing grabs. It was a real pleasure to work with Ben and I know he’s got a bright future ahead of him. Thanks and congratulations, Ben.”

Basketball is where Ben Pearson etched his name in the MVL record books in 19 categories where he placed anywhere from first to 10th. He owns the school record for the most points scored in a game with 46 in the team’s 2023 section championship against Maple River, where he surprised others by also scoring his 1,000th career point. He ended his career with 1,685 points which is good enough for third place in MVL history. He also made 260 career shots. In 2022-23, he set three more school records: Points in a single season 680, 3-pointers attempted in a season 221 and 3-pointers made in a season with 96.

MVL boys basketball and golf head coach Craig Morgan called Ben Pearson an outstanding player on both ends of the court.

“Ben was an outstanding player for us,” Morgan said. “Many will remember him for his scoring, but I’ll always remember his long arms and legs on defense, stealing opposing point guards blind with his quick hands and going down for a layup, or making an unbelievable pass to a sprinting teammate for the score. I especially enjoyed watching him grow as a player and person. It has been a true privilege to coach this young man for the past three years.”

Morgan also called Ben Pearson the best golfer he’s ever coached.

“In the spring, Ben Pearson’s attention turns to golf where he has been very successful,” Morgan said. “In his freshmen year, he earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. By the next years, his game improved drastically where he earned All-Conference honors in both his sophomore and junior years as well qualifying for state each year. His work ethic and love for golf have shown through him, but also our younger golfers. Ben can not only be seen working on his own game, and having fun with his friends on the team, but also has time to help some of the younger golfers enjoy this game. As a coach, when you walk and talk with your golfer throughout a season and through two state tournaments, you learn a lot about a person and this young man is not only the best golfer I’ve ever coached but also one of the finest young men, who with the help of God will be successful in whatever he does.”

Next year, Ben Pearson has decided to attend Martin Luther College and play basketball and golf while studying to become a teacher.

Jenna Hotovec

New Ulm Cathedral

Cathedral High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete for 2024 is Jenna Hotovec. Hotovec is the daughter of Kelly & Joel Hotovec. She is a three-sport athlete who will earn 13 letters during her high school career: four in volleyball, five in basketball, and four in softball. Jenna also excels in the classroom with a cumulative GPA of 3.909.

Hotovec was a four-year letter winner in volleyball. She was also a volleyball team co-captain as a senior. She has been a big part of the volleyball program’s success over the past four years. Her career totals include 88 ace serves, 580 kills (6th in school history), 49 block kills, 87 digs (fourth in school history), and a 89.2 serving percentage. She earned All-Conference honors as a junior and senior.

Greyhounds volleyball head coach Becky Wilfahrt said Hotovec is a success in every sport she plays because of her hard work.

“It has been said that the road to success and greatness is always paved with consistent hard work,” Becky Wilfahrt said. “Jenna is one of those athletes who has achieved great success in every sport she participates in because she has consistently been one of the hardest working players on the floor every practice and game. It is this work ethic that helped Jenna achieve great success in her four years as a varsity volleyball player. Jenna exemplifies exceptional leadership skills. She is highly respected by her teammates and has proven to be a natural leader both on and off the court.

“She has put to use these leadership skills by serving as a team captain, helping run our youth camps and super spiker programs, and most recently she has taken on the responsibility of serving as a JO coach for our high school team. Jenna’s team-oriented approach is evident in everything she does. She consistently puts the needs of the team ahead of her own and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of the group.”

Hotovec was a five-year letter winner in basketball. She was also a basketball team co-captain as a senior. She has been a big part of Cathedral’s basketball success over the past three years. Her career totals include 1,228 points (second in school history), 596 rebounds, 203 steals, and 212 assists. She was selected to the All-Conference Honorable Mention team as a junior and All-Conference team her senior year.

Greyhounds girls basketball head coach Dave Wilfahrt said Hotovec was a valuable asset to her teams in many ways.

“Jenna has been a five-year member of the Greyhounds basketball team,” he said. “She has been a valuable asset to her teams, demonstrating her competitive spirit and providing outstanding leadership. Additionally, Jenna has achieved significant milestones in her basketball career, including scoring over 1,000 career points. Her contributions will be greatly missed by the Greyhounds’ girls basketball team.”

This spring Jenna will be playing her fourth softball season at the varsity level. Hotovec’s career totals at the plate include a .391 batting average, 81 RBIs, 74 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, and 15 career home runs. She earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore and All-Conference honors her junior season. She has been a big part of the Greyhounds winning conference titles in 2021 and 2022 and a section 2A championship in 2023. Hotovec already has some impressive career numbers and will continue to add to those this spring.

Cathedral head softball coach Jamie Kuehn had the following to share about Hotovec.

“Jenna is an exceptional athlete whose talent, work ethic, leadership and positive attitude are evident on the softball field,” Kuehn said. “As coaches, we have been blessed to witness her transformation from a loud seventh grader to a fine tuned softball player and exceptional young woman. As a center fielder, Jenna grew into her leadership role and can now be counted on to mentor younger players.

“She is always willing to lend a hand to other players, and cheer on her teammates’ successes. Her determination to improve herself and those around her is evident in everything she does. Her resilience in the face of adversity is inspirational. Jenna’s God-given abilities have left a mark on Cathedral softball and she will greatly missed next year.”

Jevan Wilfahrt

New Ulm Cathedral

Cathedral High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete for 2024 is Jevan Wilfahrt.

Wilfahrt is the son of Dave and Becky Wilfahrt. He is a four-sport athlete who will earn 10 letters during his high school career: three in football, four in basketball, one in track and two in baseball. He is also an exceptional student who has earned a 3.542 cumulative GPA.

Jevan Wilfahrt lettered in football his sophomore through senior seasons and was a co-captain of the team as a senior. In his career, he rushed for 523 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a quarterback, he threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he finished with 82 career tackles and seven interceptions. He earned all-district honors as a junior and senior for the Greyhounds. He has been a big reason for the team’s success over the last three years.

Greyhounds football head coach Denny Lux said Jevan Wilfahrt was a driven player that played a big role in the football team’s successes.

“Jevan was a huge asset to our program the past four seasons,” Lux said. “Especially this past season as we changed classifications within the High School League. His role as captain and QB led us to a successful season, but more importantly Jevan’s drive to succeed is being played out in our younger players. Jevan is a special young man with a great future.”

Jevan Wilfahrt was a four-year letter winner in basketball and was also a basketball team co-captain as a junior and senior. He has been a big part of Cathedral basketball’s success over the past four years. His career totals include 1,783 points (most in school history), 838 rebounds (second most in school history), 374 assists, 251 steals, and 176 blocks. He earned All-Conference honorable mention honors his freshman year and All-Conference honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

Jevan Wilfahrt has shifted his focus a few times in the spring from baseball to track and back to baseball again for his junior and senior season. He lettered in track his sophomore season and lettered in baseball his junior season. He fills a variety of different roles on the baseball field and is willing to do whatever is needed to help our team be successful.

Greyhounds boys basketball and baseball head coach Alan Woitas said Jevan Wilfahrt was a great role model that always looked for ways to keep improving.

“Jevan has been a great role model for Cathedral student athletes to follow,” Woitas said. “His work ethic in preparation for his different sports seasons is unmatched at Cathedral. Jevan has dedicated himself to the weight room and put the time in when no one was looking to improve as an athlete throughout his career.

“He is a very coachable athlete who is always looking for ways to improve as a player and the team as a whole. He is the ultimate competitor who will do whatever it takes for his team to be successful. Jevan has taken his God-given talents and, through hard work and dedication to athletics, has made himself one of the best athletes in the area.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to limited space in Tuesday’s edition of The Journal, this story and photo will publish in Wednesday’s paper.