St. Thomas athletics welcomed 59 student-athletes in its first class of Division I signees to sports other than football during the university’s first National Signing Day Wednesday, with more decisions expected in the coming days and weeks. These commits represent 12 states and collectively average a 3.75 high school GPA on a 4.00 scale.

The Tommies anticipate that more than a dozen varsity sports will be represented in the first round of signings and about 65 high school graduates from the 2021 class are expected to sign in November, according to an article on Tommie Sports.

“Historically, as a Division III school, we would operate almost a year behind Division I in terms of commits,” Baseball coach Chris Olean said. “We would now just be getting started with getting serious commits from class of ‘21 kids instead of being done.”

Volleyball

Volleyball coach Thanh Pham indicated that the pandemic has added another obstacle to his first D-I recruiting process.

“During the quiet period and the COVID era, I think it was hard for all D-I coaches. We couldn’t see players play live, we’re basing a lot of things off of videotape,” Pham said. “It’s definitely a learning experience, but for the first time around, I’m very happy with the results and the class that we ended up with.”

Pham will continue to recruit academic-minded athletes, but also those who go above and beyond on the court.

“They might have to jump a little higher or hit a little harder,” Pham said. “But in terms of what kind of kid we are looking for, it’s the same kid we’ve always been looking for, which is a really smart, intelligent, young person that we know can succeed at St. Thomas and hopefully help our volleyball program.”

Volleyball signees include:
Grace Bengford, 2021, Sioux Falls, SD/O’Gorman, 5-10 OH
Lander Friederichs, 2021, Fargo, ND/Shanley 6-0 MH
Lauren Galvin, 2021, Woodbury, MN/East Ridge 5-9 OH
Libby Mattila 2021, Brooklyn Park, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong 5-10 OH
Alexa Moulzolf 2021, Naples, FL/Faith Baptist Academy 5-10 OH
Ella Wheatcraft 2021, Lakeville, MN/Lakeville North 5-6 DS
Payton Willman, 2021, Lakeville, MN/Lakeville South 5-7 DS

Men’s basketball

The men’s basketball team only solidified two recruits on National Signing Day, but coach John Tauer expects more will commit in the spring.

“I think it remains to be seen, but probably not a whole lot more in the early signing period,” Tauer said. “I think we will be pretty active in the spring, potentially with high school and transfers.”

With St. Thomas men’s basketball becoming the second D-I program in the state, Tauer emphasized the importance of recruiting local prospects.

“I think one of the things we are positioned to do– as the second Division I school in Minnesota– is to really put an emphasis on keeping our local talent home, both in the state and the region,” Tauer said.

Basketball signees include:
Ryan Dufault, 2021, Waseca, MN/Waseca 6-0 G
Ben Nau, 2021, Brookfield, WI/Brookfield Central 6-2 PG

Baseball

Because of the transition to D-I, Olean said this year’s recruiting class reached many regions of the country.

“This year we have a Colorado commit, a California commit and a Texas commit, so just some places that we hadn’t historically gone before,” Olean said.

With the pandemic affecting how Olean recruits, he emphasized how scouting position players is different from scouting pitchers.

“Baseball is a sport that you can do a little bit online, if you’re watching a position player, you’d love to go see him play a bunch of games to get a better idea,” Olean said. “From a pitching standpoint, that’s fairly easy. You got a kid on film, stuff is stuff, there’s not a lot of ways to hide it. If a kid is throwing 92, he’s throwing 92.”

Olean is optimistic about this year’s pitching class.

“We do have a good group of arms that we think are going to have a chance to be very good. They are guys coming in that are upper 80’s, low 90’s out of high school, which is very different from what we are accustomed to getting.”

Baseball signees include:
Colin Dailey, 2021, Cedarburg, WI/Cedarburg, RHP, 6-0 175 R/R
Tommy Golbranson, 2021, Newport Beach, CA/JSerra Catholic, Inf., 6-1 185, R/R
Tucker Huhn, 2021, Plano, TX/Jesuit College Prep,, RHP, 6-3, 205, R/R
Bryce Leedle, 2021, Markesan, WI/Markesan, RHP, 5-11, 175, R/R
Brigs Richartz, 2021, Menomonie, WI/Menomonie, C, 5-9 175, L/R
Ben Vujovich, 2021, Inver Grove Heights, MN/Simley. OF, 6-0 170, L/R
Tanner Marsh, 2021, Mondovi, WI/Mondovi, OF, 5-10, 180, L/L
Deacon Nagy, 2021, Lone Tree, CO/Valor Christian, RHP, 6-2, 190, R/R
Walker Retz, 2021, Boyceville, WI/Boyceville, RHP, 6-2, 180, L/R
Carl Cano, 2021, Green Bay, WI/Bay Port, RHP, 6-1 175, R/R
Evan Esch, 2021, St. Paul, MN/Mounds Park Academy, LHP, 5-10 180, L/L

Softball

Coach John Tschida looks forward to gaining signees at a steady pace.

“It’s going to be spread out this year because of COVID, a lot of schools shut down,” Tschida said. “The player’s whole plan for signing has been shut down.”

The program is hoping to reach a more national demographic of athletes.

“Our goal is to get way more national,” Tschida said. “We want to take care of our local and regional kids, but we also want to expand and get more national.”

Though the reach is farther, the type of people the program recruits remains the same.

“First thing we look at is character, our program has never been all about winning,” Tschida said. “It’s been more about the character and work ethic, the winning will come.”

Coach Tschida also had very high praise for the newest recruiting class.

“This year’s class was fun to recruit, almost all of them were 4.0 GPA or close,” Tschida said. “They are certainly St. Thomas-type kids.”

Softball signees include:
Sydney Albaugh, Kirkwood (Iowa) CC 2021; Elkhart, IA/North Polk 2019, 5-4 Inf.
Abby Boxrud, 2021, Red Wing, MN/Red Wing, 5-2 Util.
Sydney Hockett, 2021, Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove, 5-6 OF
Kaitlyn Raymond, 2021, Chicago, IL/Loyola Academy, 5-6 Util.
Miki Snyder, 2021, Hampshire, Ill/Hampshire, 5-9, Util.

Women’s basketball

Though much has changed in St. Thomas’ transition to D-I, Sinn emphasized that the types of athletes they are recruiting haven’t changed.

“We’re still targeting these athletes that believe in comprehensive excellence, understand the value of the classroom and understand that St. Thomas is a great place for professional development,” Sinn said. “Those things aren’t going to change.”

Maple Grove’s Jordyn Lamker and daughter of former St. Thomas basketball player Amy Bot Lamker will join the Tommies.

“Jordyn is following in mom’s footsteps, but she’s going to create her own path and help partner with us as we help build this new future,” Sinn said.

Sinn says this recruiting class is fortunate to embark on the first few years of D-I competition.

“Everybody talks about leaving their legacy, and sometimes you don’t get the opportunity to,” Sinn said, “and now here you get to be on the groundwork of building something special.”

Women’s basketball signees include:
Jade Hill, 2021, Minneapolis, MN/Mpls. South, 5-8, G
Gabby Johnson, 2021, Freedom, WI/Freedom, 5-8, G
Jordyn Lamker, 2021, Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove, 6-0, F
Johanna Langbehn, 2021, Elk River, MN/Elk River, 6-2, C
Sammy Opichka, 2021, DePere, WI/Notre Dame Academy, 5-11, G

Men’s soccer

Though St. Thomas is the first and only D-I Men’s soccer program in Minnesota, coach Jon Lowery hopes to expand his recruiting outside of the state and country.

“We do want to be looking after the players in our market, but at the same time we want to look after the footprint that St. Thomas is moving across the country.” Lowery said. “Players from overseas that have a good soccer background that fit the culture of St. Thomas … I think that’s one space that we’ve definitely put a lot of time and energy into recruiting,” Lowery said.

The men’s soccer team signed one player today, Faris Colic from Anoka.

“He brings a dynamic skill set and most importantly he just brings a really great attitude and perseverance, and just has a great story as a human being that’s really going to be impactful on our campus and in our program,” Lowery said.

Women’s soccer

Women’s soccer coach Sheila McGill was able to build relationships with some prospective recruits before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down campus.

“The nice thing is we were able to get out and watch a lot of teams play before everything shut down, so we had a great list of players that we were interested in that all kind of transpired the way we wanted it to,” McGill said. “It’s been a great relationship builder from that side.”

McGill is looking forward to the challenges the team will face next year in D-I.

“I think that the biggest thing that we have is we’ve always been a competitive team who looks forward to the big challenges,” McGill said. “We love stepping up the level so that’s what we’re looking to do again is with a new class coming in with our great returning class.”

Women’s soccer signees include:
Annie Bantner, 2021, McHenry, IL/McHenry East, GK
Marli Bertagnoli, 2021, Eden Prairie, MN/Minnetonka, F-MF
Abby Brantner, 2021, Medina, MN/Wayzata, F
Annika Eckroth, 2021, Edina, MN/Edina, D-MF
Emma Fournier, 2021, Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove, F-MF
Lexi Huber, 2021, Lakeland, MN/Stillwater, F
Lissa Mizutani, 2021, Excelsior, MN/Minnetonka, D-MF
Camryn Rintoul, 2021, Apple Valley, MN/Shattuck-St. Mary’s, D-MF
Arianna Sanchez, 2021, Castle Rock, CO/Rock Canyon, F-MF
Ellie Tempero, 2021, Omaha, NE/Westside, MF
Sofia Caballero, 2021, Maple Grove, MN/Providence Academy, MF
Kendell Ellis, 2021, Billings, MT/Billings West, GK

Women’s swim and dive

Four-time swim and dive conference coach of the year Scott Blanchard said he is confident in his new recruiting class.

“I think that we’ve got something already set in place for this incoming class and with the team that we currently have, where we can be competitive right away,” Blanchard said.

Despite the transition to D-I, Blanchard said his team is not going to change the ultimate goal for its student-athletes.

“We’re all trying to give opportunities where our student-athletes can achieve success in whatever facet they’re trying to get,” Blanchard said.

Women’s swim and dive signees include:
Kiara Bissen, Madison, WI/ Madison Memorial
Elizabeth Bonneville, Lakeville MN/ Lakeville South
Sophie Curran, 2021, Minneapolis, MN/ Edina, Back-Free
Skyler Leverenz, 2021, Lakeville, MN/ Home School, BR-IM
Ashley Plantenberg, 2021, Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie, BR-Free
Abby Larson, Faribault, MN/ Faribault, BR-Free

Joey Swanson can be reached at swan5350@stthomas.edu.
Justin Amaker, Annie Terry, Scout Mason and Sam Larson contributed to this report.