The Saint Mary’s University athletic department welcomed three new members into its Sports Hall of Fame on March 23 as part of the third annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, held at Visions Event Center in Winona.
More than 150 people were in attendance to celebrate this year’s Hall of Fame inductees Marc Weisenburger B’75 (baseball), Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 (basketball), and Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 (cross country/track & field).
“It was truly a special night — celebrating Jamie, Marc, and Jenny and their accomplishments, as well as those of our student-athletes,” said athletic director Brian Sisson. “Hearing our inductees speak of their time at Saint Mary’s — and the impact athletics and their Saint Mary’s experience had on their lives — was so inspirational.
“We are grateful for the support of so many who helped make this signature event an unforgettable evening for all.”
Weisenburger was a standout catcher for the Saint Mary’s baseball team, while Nelson was a dominant force on the hardwood for the SMU women’s basketball team, and Baertsch excelled in both cross country and track and field during her four years as a Cardinal.
“Saint Mary’s baseball has a storied past, full of great players,” Weisenburger said. “To add my name to that list is beyond imagination for me.”
Those remarks were echoed by both Nelson and Baertsch.
“Being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, and passion for athletics,” Nelson said. “I am humbled and proud to be part of such a distinguished group.”
“I feel incredibly proud and honored to be selected,” said Baertsch. “To be among so many legends is an incredible feeling.”
While Weisenburger, Nelson, and Baertsch spoke fondly of their time at Saint Mary’s — both on and off the fields of competition – SMU senior Owen Ziegler, a member of the Cardinal men’s basketball team, spoke for all the current Saint Mary’s student-athletes, who aspire to someday perhaps join the trio in this illustrious group.
“Saint Mary’s isn’t just a place where we play sports and go to school, it’s a home where a unique bond unites us all as a family,” said Ziegler, who was flanked by representatives from all 17 varsity athletic programs. “We may have worn different jerseys and represented different eras, but our shared experiences at Saint Mary’s bring us together in a meaningful way.”
