Cotter Schools Celebrates Five Athletes Signing Letters of Intent

Cotter Schools proudly celebrated five student-athletes who signed their Letters of Intent on Friday, May 1. This follows seven additional athletes from the Class of 2026 who signed earlier this November.

Surrounded by family, coaches, teammates, and classmates, these seniors gathered as a Cotter community to mark a significant milestone: the opportunity to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. The event highlighted not only the athletes’ dedication and perseverance, but also the strong support system of the Cotter community that helped them reach this achievement.

Ella Hoeger has signed to continue her track and field career at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she plans to major in Elementary Education. Ella’s dedication in the classroom and on the track has made her an outstanding representative of Cotter, and she is eager to continue growing as both a student and athlete.

Throwing Coach Steven McGlaun shared, “Ella has been an integral part of our program from the moment she started throwing in 7th grade. She has worked hard and, over time, has grown from a young thrower learning from upperclassmen into a strong leader in her own right, committed to helping develop younger throwers. Ella will go on to have a meaningful impact in the Saint Mary’s program for years to come.”

Abby Williams has signed to continue her swimming career at the University of St. Thomas, where she plans to major in Nursing. Abby has been a dedicated competitor in the pool and a respected leader among her teammates. She shared, “I would like to say a huge thank you to my family, coaches, friends, and teammates who have supported me along the way. I especially want to thank my parents for never missing a single one of my meets since I was seven years old. Your constant support and guidance have helped shape me into the athlete and person I am today.”

Swim Coach Chris Mayer added, “Congratulations to Abby as she graduates from our Winhawk Girls Swim and Dive program to continue her career as a Division I swimmer with St. Thomas. As a four-time Big 9 Champion, five-time Section Champion, and six-time All-State athlete, Abby graduates as one of the most decorated swimmers in Winona’s 50-year history of Girls Swim and Dive. It has been remarkable to watch her grow as an outstanding student-athlete and leader, and Abby will continue to make us proud at St. Thomas.”

Luke Schommer has signed to continue his baseball career at Bethel University, where he intends to major in Environmental Science. Luke’s work ethic, determination, and leadership on the field have helped shape his success, and Cotter is proud to see him continue competing at the next level.

Baseball Coach Mathias O’Brien shared, “The intrinsic drive and motivation Luke has to improve at baseball is as strong as I have ever seen. He has invested a tremendous amount of time and effort into the sport. No one deserves a senior season more than Luke, but unfortunately, an injury has taken that opportunity away. Even so, Luke continues to show up and support his teammates, which speaks to his character and love for the game. Luke has a bright future, and we look forward to seeing him on a college baseball field soon.”

Dane Guzzo has signed to continue his baseball career at St. John’s University, where he intends to major in Business. Dane has been a key contributor on the baseball field and throughout the Cotter community. He shared, “I am very grateful for all of the people at Cotter who have helped me reach the position I am in today.”

Baseball Coach Mathias O’Brien said, “Dane has been an outstanding leader in both baseball and football. He has built strong connections with many of our younger players and has set a great example through hard work and sound decision-making on and off the field. Our boys' sports programs have seen a resurgence over the past three years, and Dane has had as much impact on that turnaround as any athlete in our school. St. John’s is getting a great pitcher and an even better person.”

Daniel Gaedy has officially committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Viterbo University, where he will join the baseball program and major in Engineering. Daniel shared, “Thank you to my parents for always supporting me and getting me the baseball equipment I needed. I would also like to thank my coaches, Coach Sid on JV, and my current coaches, Travis and Mathias, for trusting me and supporting me throughout my baseball journey from freshman year to now.”

Baseball Coach Mathias O’Brien shared high praise for Daniel, saying, “You would be hard-pressed to find an athlete who has worked harder in the weight room than Daniel. His development as an athlete has transformed what he is capable of on the field. He is a great young man who has led by example and has been a positive influence on other players in our program. Given his work ethic, it will be exciting to see how he continues to develop as a baseball player.”

Cotter Schools congratulates these five student-athletes on this outstanding accomplishment and looks forward to following their continued success in college and beyond.