Southland graduates Ashton and Maggie May are members of the women’s track and field team at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Both former area standouts were in action Tuesday at the Wartburg Twilight Meet in Waverly, Iowa. Ashton May is a sophomore specializing in jumps and sprints, while Maggie May is a freshman specializing in hurdles.
Ashton May had a fantastic performance, placing third in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 18 1/4 inches. Ashton May also placed fifth in the 100 dash with a time of 12.64.
Maggie May turned in a solid effort in the 100 hurdles, finishing fourth with a time of 15.62. Maggie May also was third in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:06.64. UW-La Crosse is back in action this weekend at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Southland graduate Scott Hanson is a member of the baseball team at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Hanson is a senior catcher who has lettered three times for the Norse. Hanson has started two games this season and played a total of four games. He’s hitting .400 in those games, with a double and two RBIs. Hanson is stuck behind the team’s top player, catcher Jake Waddle, who leads Luther with a .427 batting average, three triples, eight doubles and 22 RBIs. Luther is 11-13 this season.
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•Former Hayfield standout Dan Bennett is a member of the baseball team at Bemidji State. Bennett is listed as a sophomore catcher for the Beavers. He’s started just one game so far this season, but he collected two hits and two RBIs in that appearance. Bemidji State is 12-17-1 overall.
• Austin High graduates Nate Johnson and Joe Kroc are members of the baseball team at St. Cloud State University. Kroc is a junior middle infielder, and Johnson is a junior outfielder. Johnson has been one of St. Cloud’s top hitters this season. He’s started 27 games for the Huskies and played in 33. Johnson is hitting .330 with 21 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs and a team-best 15 stolen bases. Kroc also is playing well, hitting .290 with seven runs scored, four RBIs and two stolen bases. He has started 10 games and played in 21. St. Cloud State is 21-15-1 this season.
• Pacelli graduates Josh Gunderson and Chris Bergstrom are members of the St. John’s University men’s track and field team. Bergstrom is a junior specializing in sprints, and Gunderson is a sophomore specializing in distance running. Both local athletes were in action April 19 at the Carleton Relays. Gunderson placed 14th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:30.48. Bergstrom was 22nd in the 100 dash with a time of 11.75.
• Austin High graduate Keri Feller is a member of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls softball team. UW-River Falls is in a bit of a slump recently, dropping its past five games. The Falcons had started the season 22-3 overall, but the slump has left them 22-8, including 5-5 in the WIAC. Feller, a junior catcher and first baseman, is one of the team’s top players. She has started all 30 games for the Falcons this season. Feller is hitting .388 with nine runs scored and 11 doubles. She has a team best seven home runs and 37 RBIs. In 30 games, Feller has made just one error and has a slugging percentage of .714, also a team best. Feller is averaging 1.32 RBIs per game, which puts her 14th in the entire nation among Division III softball players. The Falcons will try to get back on track during an eight-game homestand, which began Wednesday night against UW-Eau Claire.
Is your son or daughter participating in college athletics? How about your neighbor's kid? If you know of former area standouts who are participating in college athletics and who have not appeared in this column, please contact Ben Pherson at bpherson@postbulletin.com
