Local high school athletes make college plans official on National Signing Day
Claire Bjorge sustained a devastating knee injury at the worst possible time when it came to her college recruitment.
The De Pere basketball star missed her entire junior season in 2022-23 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during an AAU tournament, but it didn’t stop her from earning a scholarship.
Bjorge signed a letter of intent with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, an NCAA Division II school, on Wednesday during National Signing Day.
She also had offers from DI Evansville and North Dakota and a DII offer from Maryville thanks to her play with the Redbirds in the winter and while coached by Liz Grzesk with the Purple Aces in the spring and summer.
The 5-foot-10 guard firmly put herself on the local and state basketball map during her first two seasons at De Pere.
Bjorge is a two-time all-conference selection in the Fox River Classic.
She was an honorable mention all-state pick by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association after a sophomore season in which she averaged 15.7 points and helped lead the Redbirds to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament as part of a dynamic duo with former guard and Butler recruit Jordan Meulemans.
Bjorge has 746 career points and has a career scoring average of 13.3 points.
“Claire is a very versatile player who is able to score in a variety of ways and create difficulties for opposing teams,” De Pere coach Jeremy Boileau said in a statement. “She has the unique ability to score at the rim, from midrange and from the 3-point line.
“One of the most impressive things about Claire is how she developed her talents through countless hours in the gym when no one is watching. Claire has matured into a dedicated leader and will be counted on to help direct our team to continued success this year.”
Bjorge was one of several De Pere athletes to sign with colleges.
More from De Pere
Fellow basketball star Will Hornseth signed with Northern Iowa, a DI school in Cedar Falls.
The 6-8 senior forward was a key piece on the Redbirds’ state championship team last season, helping them become the first boys program in state history to go 30-0.
Hornseth averaged 16.6 points and 5.7 rebounds as a junior and has scored 984 points and grabbed 348 rebounds during his career.
“Will has the ability to impact games in a variety of ways,” De Pere coach Brian Winchester said. “He scores from the post, puts the ball on the floor to attack the rim, makes open perimeter shots, is one of the best passers on our team, and defends multiple positions.
“Will is a great teammate and very well thought of by his peers. His leadership will be extremely important to our success this year. Will has worked hard to develop his talents and is very deserving of the opportunity at Northern Iowa.”
Grace Daanen signed with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for swimming.
The team captain will compete at the WIAA state meet this week in the 200-yard medley and the 200 freestyle relays.
“Grace has poured her passion for leadership and swimming into the team,” De Pere coach Melissa Wolf said. “She has had tremendous improvement and will be a huge asset (to the UWGB program).”
A pair of De Pere baseball stars will play at the next level.
Javin Gauthier signed with Valparaiso, a DI school in Indiana, while Easton Arendt signed with Winona State, a DII school in Minnesota.
Gauthier has developed into one of the best infielders in the area during his first three seasons.
He hit .294 with two home runs, six doubles, four triples and 22 RBI last season for a De Pere team that reached a sectional championship game.
“Javin’s bat is the strongest in the FRCC,” De Pere coach Bob Van Rens said, “We look forward to another powerful offensive season next spring. He also contributes great defense up the middle at shortstop. Javin is a great leader on and off the field.”
Arendt has flourished as a three-year starter for the Redbirds as a pitcher and outfielder.
He hit .396 last season with nine doubles, two triples and 11 stolen bases while going 9-1 with a 2.49 ERA.
“He has brought a bulldog mentality to our program,” Van Rens said about his star right-hander. “His determination to get the job done has been second to none. Winona State is getting a great baseball player and an even better person to join their program.”
Kaylei Anderson will play soccer at Clarke University, an NAIA school in Dubuque, Iowa.
The defender is a three-year starter and was a first-team all-conference selection in the FRCC last season.
“KK’s exceptional accomplishments are a direct result of her commitment on and off the field,” De Pere assistant coach Adam Ropson said. “She truly is a big part of our defense, consistently demonstrating remarkable leadership. KK’s ability to keep the defense together, her communication skills, and her understanding of the game are outstanding.
“She sets the bar high, expecting that her teammates match her level of dedication and effort. Her influence on the team is immeasurable, and we’re fortunate to have her as a senior leader.”
The De Pere athletes are among a group of several local prep players who have or will sign a letter of intent this week.
Other standouts, including Green Bay Notre Dame girls basketball stars Gracie Grzesk (Wisconsin), Trista Fayta (Illinois State) and Sydney Whitehouse (Northern Michigan) and baseball standouts Brady LaViolette (Ohio University) and Avery Duncan (Dallas Baptist University), will sign either this week or at a later date.
Ashwaubenon
Eason Hurd signed to play baseball at DI Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hurd hit .333 with three home runs and 19 RBI in FRCC play last season, adding two doubles and three triples. The right-hander also went 3-3 with a 1.44 ERA while striking out 39 batters in 34⅓ innings.
Hurd was a first-team all-conference selection as a pitcher and a second-team pick as an infielder.
Sienna Nitke will swim at Purdue.
She is competing in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle at D2 state on Friday.
Nitke has the second-best qualifying time in the 100 and the third-best in the 200.
Bay Port
A quartet of baseball players signed earlier this month or on Wednesday.
Standout pitcher Craig Kabat will play at DI Gonzaga, fellow star pitcher Ethan Plog will play at NJCAA DI Iowa Western Community College, catcher Cal Casper at Winona State and outfielder Sawyer Larson at Kishwaukee Junior College, an NJCAA DI school in Malta, Illinois.
Kabat went 4-3 and struck out 53 in 29⅔ innings last season while posting a 3.30 ERA and limiting batters to a .207 average.
Plog went 7-0 in nine starts and had two saves in 50⅓ innings for the Pirates. He allowed just three earned runs, struck out 84 batters and was the FRCC player of the year.
Casper hit .357 and added one home run, 13 RBI, seven doubles and eight stolen bases in league play.
Larson had a .387 on-base percentage, one home run, two triples, two doubles, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored in the FRCC.
Soccer standout Mallory Herber will play at DII University of Illinois Springfield, while teammate Abby Wood signed with UWGB.
Herber, a forward, had 12 goals and a team-high 14 points for a Pirates squad that reached the state tournament last season.
Wood, a midfielder, had two goals and four assists.
Liam Janowski will play lacrosse at DII Tiffin University.
Adalyn Johnston will compete at DI University of Nebraska Omaha. Johnston is ranked No. 6 in the state in the 2024 class. She led the Pirates to their seventh consecutive sectional championship last month.
Green Bay Southwest
Trojans basketball standout Addison Pytleski signed with DII Northern Michigan in Marquette.
The guard averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3 assists as a junior and enters her final season with 839 career points.
"Addie blossomed in May through July and really showcased her abilities on the travel circuit,” Purple Aces program director Cordero Barkley said. “She worked hard on her craft and will be an asset to Coach (Casey) Thousand and Northern Michigan.”
Luxemburg-Casco
Grace Kahr will play softball at UWGB. She was a first-team all-conference outfielder in the North Eastern Conference last season.
Volleyball standout Emily Bruss will compete at DI North Dakota State in Fargo. The setter was an all-state honorable mention selection last season and boasts a 3.9 grade-point average.
Tabi Lemmens will play soccer at DII UW-Parkside in Kenosha. The goaltender was the defensive player of the year in the NEC in 2023.
Pulaski
Red Raiders pitcher Morgan Vertz will play softball at Northern Iowa, while outfielder Cassie Benberg signed with Indian Hills, a DI NJCAA program in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Vertz was a second-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association and the co-player of the year in the FRCC last season.
Benberg was an honorable mention all-district selection.
Veronica Decker will play soccer at UWGB. The forward had a huge junior season for Pulaski with 24 goals and 57 points.
West De Pere
Faith Kibbe will compete in track and field at DI Army in West Point, New York.
Among the notable accomplishments in her career, she helped lead the Phantoms to the D1 team state title in 2022 as part of a 400-meter relay team that placed first.
Tyler Kowalczyk will play soccer at Northern Michigan. The forward was instrumental in West De Pere's first trip to the state tournament earlier this month after entering sectionals with 24 goals and 13 assists.
Mason Haupt will compete in golf at UWGB. He led the Phantoms to the state tournament as a freshman and junior, including winning medalist honors at sectionals last season.
Gabriella Arendt will play softball at DII Concordia-St. Paul. The shortstop has a strong arm and sports a .450 OBP. She was a second-team all-conference selection in the Bay as a junior and also excels in volleyball.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Local high school athletes make college plans official on signing day
