Westonka honors senior athletes, academic all‑state honorees at June meeting

Activities Director Jeff Peterson invited student athletes to the podium at the Westonka Public School District board’s June meeting to recognize season results, academic honors and college commitments.

Peterson said the district recognized 15 seniors who are moving on to compete at the collegiate level, including 14 three‑sport seniors and one four‑sport senior. He said 19 seniors were recognized as academic all‑state in their respective sports.

Peterson presented the Yost Heddorf Leopold award (top male athlete) in a tie. He introduced Cole Drill, whose parents were identified as Steve and Mara; Peterson summarized Drill’s athletic roles — football, basketball, baseball and boys volleyball — and said Drill had a 4.0 GPA and multiple all‑district selections. When Peterson asked Drill to share a word about being a student‑athlete, Drill said, “It was fun.” Peterson also introduced another recipient, Cole Munster Tiger, a multi‑sport athlete with a 3.993 GPA who will wrestle at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Peterson introduced Audrey Kirsch as the district’s Athena (top female athlete) recipient. Peterson said Kirsch will attend the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and noted her cross country and track state participations, team captaincies and a 3.95 GPA.

Peterson highlighted team and individual state finishes: boys tennis third last year, jazz and kick teams fifth this year, gymnastics fifth, girls swim and dive fifth, and the cross country team finished 14th at the state meet. He named student athletes who represented the district at state competitions and thanked coaches, staff and families for support.

These recognitions were presented as part of a “share the success” agenda item and did not require board action.