May 30, 2024
Congratulations to the six MPA students who were celebrated on College Athlete Recognition Day! Izzy Espinosa, Jay Green, Else Kunze-Hoeg, Ben Murr, Nora Pederson, and David Steinberger will all continue on to the collegiate level to compete in their respective athletics. Aiming to capture some of the emotions shown through on the day of celebration, the six shared sentiments from the day.
Jay Green
School: Macalester College
Sport: Football, track and field
Why did you choose Macalester College? “I chose Macalester because, right away, I think I’m going to be able to play, and the academics are really good.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m feeling really excited and good about it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I want to thank my parents, family, and all my coaches. They always pushed me and got me to where I wanted to be.”
Ben Murr
School: Luther College
Sport: Cross country, track and field
Why did you choose Luther College? “It felt like a really good fit for me. The opportunities to have a flexible cross country program where I could still pursue academics and my other interests pretty heavily is something that really interested me and made me want to choose the school I did.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “It’s pretty exciting. This is something I wasn’t expecting going into my college search, and it’s pretty incredible that I get to do it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I’d like to thank my parents for always encouraging me to do running and track and my coaches, coach (Adam) Pettipiece, Declan (Dahlberg ’18), and Ms. (Bev) Docherty, especially, for really pushing me through these past couple years of cross country despite the pandemic messing with things.”
Nora Pederson
School: Luther College
Sport: Basketball
Why did you choose Luther College? “I really liked the team. All the girls were super nice there when I visited, and it’s just a really good community. Plus, the campus is really pretty.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m excited, and I’m excited to play sports at the college level. It’s sentimental and exciting.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position?
“My family, especially my parents, and all the coaches that I’ve had. My grandparents and my great aunts too. They come to all my games.”
Else Kunze-Hoeg
School: Wellesley College
Sport: Volleyball
Why did you choose Wellesley College? “I chose Wellesley because of the amazing community it is; it being an all-woman, it gives me a lot of opportunities not just in sports but academically, and it’s produced a lot of great alumni, like Hilary Clinton.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “Excited! It provides me with a lot of great opportunities that I wouldn’t get at another school.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I’d like to thank all my family. Obviously, my parents because they played the biggest role in my life and the biggest role in my sports journey. They’d drive me to practice and bring me home; they were the best help. I’d also like to thank my grandparents; they show up for every game, and they even go out of their way to watch live streams when I’m out of state. I thank all my friends and supporters, too.”
David Steinberger
College: Skidmore College
Sport: Rowing
Why did you choose Skidmore College? “I like the rowing program there. I talked to the coach, and he made an impression on me, and my brother goes there.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m excited to get to work.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I’d like to thank my family and my coaches.”
Izzy Espinosa
College: Williams College
Sport: Swimming
Why did you choose Williams College? It’s a really good school academically. I felt really at home with the team when I visited, and I knew I wanted to continue to swim not only because it gives me a family, but it gives me something to do.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m very excited for me and my classmates to be pursuing athletics in college. I think it’s a really good opportunity and really exposes us to opportunities that we might not have had.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “Coaches, families, friends, classmates, directors, staff, everyone I have ever talked to day in and day out because they are really the ones that have seen me through everything.”
