stillwatergazette . com Stillwater Ponies Fall Sports Preview • Friday , September 6 , 2024 Page 17

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• Stillwater received a Gold Academic Award from the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association a year ago . It marked the fourth year in a row the Ponies have earned that distinction , which requires a non-weighted team grade point average of 3.75 or higher for the top 10 student-athletes on the section playoff roster .

• The Minnesota State High School League added boys volleyball as an “ emerging activity ” and the Ponies conducted that program ’ s first season last spring under coach Pete Farrell . Stillwater finished with a 7-15 overall record , including 3-6 in the East Conference . It will continue as an interscholastic sport beginning with the 2025 season , which will also take place in the spring .

Suburban East Conference schools are expected to field boys volleyball teams and the Ponies have been placed in Section 4 , which also includes Liberty Classical Academy , Mahtomedi , Mounds Park Academy , North St . Paul , St . Paul Harding , St . Paul Johnson , St . Paul Washington , Tartan , Twin Cities Academy and White Bear Lake .

• The Jennifer Houle Memorial Scholarship has been awarded annually in honor of the former Ponies volleyball standout who graduated in 2011 . The scholarship honors a senior player who exhibits passion for the sport and commitment to her team , which are characteristics exemplified by Jennifer Houle before her death in 2015 at the age of 22 .

Previous winners of this scholarship award are Megan de St . Aubin ( 2015 team ), Taylor Scalia ( 2016 ), Rachel Houle ( 2017 ), Britta Borrman ( 2018 ), Maddie Oeltjen ( 2019 ), Joelle Carpenter ( 2020 ), Grace Giebel ( 2021 ), Caroline Brekke ( 2022 ) and Paige Hebert ( 2023 ).

• Ponies coach Sara Baumgard was named the Section 4AAAA Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and Amy Rutherford was honored as the MNVBCA Jeff Groves Outstanding Assistant Coach Award in 2023 .

• Former Stillwater players currently competing for college programs include : Marena Saeger ( Wisconsin-Superior ), Mackenzie Peters ( Missouri Western ) and Shelby Barwick ( Augustana ).

Junior Courtney Peters is back for the Stillwater girls volleyball team after earning all-conference honorable mention recognition a year ago .

2024 Roster Seniors ( 3 ) — Julianne Kurth ( 5-6 , L / DS ), Mackenzie Slachta ( 5-7 , L / DS ) and Eliana Wimberger ( 5-9 , RS ).

Juniors ( 7 ) — Sylvia Boyum ( 5-9 , RS ), Addy Brekke ( 5-9 , RS ), Shona Chandan ( 5-11 , MB ), Sophie Madison ( 5-7 , OH / DS ), Courtney Peters ( 6-0 , OH ), Cecilia Spaeth ( 6-0 , OH ) and Elsie Welch ( 6-0 , MB ).

Sophomores ( 5 ) — Ella Hartung ( 6-0 , OH ), Josie Hellyer ( 5-9 , S ), Simone Warlick ( 6-0 , MB ), Anisa Wimberger ( 5-9 , RS ) and Maryn Yunker ( 5-10 , MB ).

Freshmen ( 1 ) — Mirra Nitti ( 5-9 , RS ).