Luke Gardner Commits to UWL

Cotter Schools is pleased to announce that standout athlete Luke Gardner has officially committed to continue his academic and athletic journey at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) starting in the fall of 2024. Gardner, a dedicated and accomplished football player, will pursue an Exercise Science major at UWL.

Throughout his high school career, Gardner has showcased exceptional skill, dedication, and sportsmanship on the football field. His remarkable achievements have not only contributed to the success of the Cotter football program but have also caught the attention of college recruiters.

"I'm beyond blessed by God, my parents, coaches, and friends for the position I find myself in today," said Gardner. "The past four years playing for Cotter have been an experience that I wouldn't change in any way. From the past upperclassman who shaped the athlete that I am to the current underclassman that I've been able to watch grow, I thank all of them. Lastly, I want to thank my coaching staff Coach Sieban and Coach Speltz. I couldn't be more appreciative of the opportunities that they gave me starting in freshman year starting on defense, to this very past season giving me the keys to help others on offense.”

Cotter football coach, Kyler Sieben, praised Gardner for his hard work and dedication, saying, “Luke has been a tremendous player for us for 4 years. He worked hard every day in practice and pushed himself to be the player he is today. More importantly, Luke is a great person and leader. He leads by example and lets his game talk for itself. It was a pleasure to coach Luke over the last four years and I can’t wait to watch him do great things at UWL. “

The signing ceremony took place at Cotter Schools on February 7, where Luke Gardner officially declared his commitment to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Friends, family, teammates, and members of the community joined in celebrating this significant achievement.