Thirteen BLHS student-athletes announce college intent

Thirteen Big Lake High School seniors have signed their letter of intent to compete in collegiate athletics next year, and celebrated this milestone alongside their families and coaches with a special ceremony on May 8.

Congratulations to the following outstanding student athletes, and thank you for your hard work and dedication to Big Lake Athletics throughout your high school career. We look forward to watching you compete at the next level. Once a Hornet, always a Hornet!

Owen Wilczek

Baseball, University of Cincinnati

• 2025 conference pitcher of the year
• Holds school record for career strikeouts (268+) and single-season strikeouts (114)
• 3x all-conference
• In basketball: 1,000+ career points

Trent Erickson

Cross Country & Track, Saint John’s University

• Cross Country:
  • 3x state participant
  • 2x all-conference ( & 2x honorable mention) 
  • 2x academic all-state, 3x academic all-conference
  • 4x letter recipient 
• Track:
  • 1x state participant
  • 1x all-conference (& 3x honorable mention)
  • 1x academic all-state, 1x academic all-conference
  • 2x letter recipient

Montell Hester

Football, Hamline University

• 2x team MVP
• 1x all-district
• 2nd in school record books for all-time tackle for loss & sacks
• 3x letter recipient    

Ayla Miller

Gymnastics, University of Utah

• 2026 MN DP National Athlete of the Year
• 3x competitor in the DP National Championship (2x podium finisher in 2023: 2nd in all-around, 1st in bars, and named to the 2023 DP National Team)
• Regional champion: 3x vault, 2x bars, 1x floor, 1x beam
• State champion: 3x vault, 3x bars, 2x floor, 2x all-around

Jaydin Dahn

Lacrosse, Colorado State University Pueblo

• 2x all-district
• 45th in the nation
• Played for South Florida National Team
• Won championship in Tennessee, Georgia & Massachusetts

Landon Bagne

Lacrosse, North Dakota State University

• 2x team scoring leader
• 1x all-conference honorable mention
• 3x starter
• Team captain

Henry Kuchera

Lacrosse, Concordia University of Wisconsin

• 1x conference goalie of the year
• All time team leader in saves, wins, and save %
• Team leader in single-season saves, wins, and save %
• 6x letter winner, 4x starter, 2x captain

Jack Midas

Lacrosse, Arizona State University

• 2x team MVP (2024 & 2025), 1x team offensive MVP (2023)
• 2025 team points leader (48 points: 21 goals, 27 assists)
• 2023 team scoring leader
• 1x all-conference team, 1x all-conference honorable mention
• 6x letter recipient
• Other team awards: best playmaker (2023), coaches appreciation award (2024)

Samantha Nohrenberg

Softball, Bethel University

• School record with 2 home runs in a single game (2025)
• 2x academic all-conference
• 2x letter recipient

Kamrynn Tschritter

Softball, Lewis University

• 4x academic all-conference
• All-section
• All conference honorable mention
• 4x varsity starter, 4x letter recipient, 2x captain

Kayleigh Pregler

Swim/Dive & Flag Football, College of Saint Benedict

• Diving:
  • 2X diving team MVP
  • All-conference
  • 5x academic all-conference
  • 2x captain, 5x letter recipient
• Flag Football:
  • Team MVP
  • Vikings honorable mention
  • 2x varsity

Greta Schwirtz

Swim/Dive, Hamline University

• MN State Swim & Dive Association Academic Excellence Award
• 3x section podium finishes
• 5x academic all-conference
• 5x letter recipient, senior captain
• Other team awards: team spirit award, cover the distance award, most improved award

Tayla Gassman

Track/Field & Powerlifting, University of Michigan

• 4x state champion in shotput & discus
• State podium finishes in the 100m (2nd in 2022, 3rd in 2023), and 200m (2nd in 2022 & 2023)