(KNSI) – St. Cloud Cathedral participated in “National Signing Week” by having three future graduates sign their letters of intent to further their athletic careers while earning a degree.
The three seniors that participated in the small ceremony were (pictured above left to right) Icebreakers’ goalie and defender Ashlea Arvidson and Jordann Swingle and Cathedral pitcher, TJ Neu.
Arvidson will continue her playing career at St. Scholastica in Duluth and had more than athletics in mind when choosing what school to attend after graduation.
“I chose St. Scholastica because they really had the major I was focusing on and they have a good hockey program and the coach seems to be a really good coach.”
Arvidson has been a stalwart in net for the Icebreakers the past two seasons; this seasons she has 14 wins by allowing just over two goals per game and saving over 90-percent of the shots she faces.
Swingle will attend University of Wisconsin-Superior due to the college reminding her of where she attended high school.
“I chose Superior because it has a great family atmosphere just like Cathedral here and I just fell in love when I was on my visit.”
Although a major part of the Icebreakers’ defense, Swingle has tallied seven goals and 10 assists this season.
Before Arvidson and Swingle head of to college they still have what they hope is a lengthy postseason that gets started this Saturday, February 8th at 3:00 p.m. in Alexandria.
Neu will continue his baseball career at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and made the decision rather quickly.
“Century has been a decision that was fairly easy for me; there is a lot of good coaches and a lot of good people that I saw early-on that really intrigued me and after that, it just flowed very easily for me.”
Neu has been an important part of a Cathedral Crusader Baseball team that continues to be at the top of their section every year and looks to be competitive once again this season.
Neu says that the staff at Cathedral played a big part in grooming him for college.
“I definitely just want to thank everyone that has helped me at Cathedral and the people that were involved in getting me to the next level; Cathedral has been great for me, I can’t say enough good things about [Cathedral].”
Legendary baseball coach, Bob Karn thanked the students for their efforts and said Neu has a great opportunity due to being left-handed that drew a bit of laughter from the small crowd.
“Everyone wants left-handed pitchers, everywhere from high school to college and anywhere we go. There are strange things about left-handers, though, which we discover a bit everyday and most of them are delightful.”
