Seniors Lane McIntyre and Izzy Westling are the 2025-26 recipients of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).  According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts. The two were honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet earlier in January.

Lane was selected as the top male Triple AAA Award recipient in our sub-region. He now advances to represent our region at the MSHSL 5A banquet where he will join the other top AAA honorees in our Section. The top student athletes from Section 5A will then move on to MSHSL state competition in March.

Lane is the son of Suzanne McIntyre of Saint Joesph and Mike McIntyre of South Dakota. He is the brother of Kayla ’28.
While attending Saint John’s Prep, Lane has been a member of the track, cross-country and Nordic ski teams. He serves as a captain of the cross-country and Nordic ski teams. Lane is also a member of the SJP choir, concert choir, and orchestra. He was named to the all-state choir in 2025. Lane also plays piano and earned a spot in the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Honors Concert. Lane is a member of the National Honor Society and the Triangle Literary Magazine. Lane is an alumni member of the Saint John’s Boys’ choir who serves as a camp counselor. He is also an active member of the Church of Saint Joseph.

As a team captain and music mentor, Lane appreciates the leadership opportunities he’s received as a team captain and mentor for younger musicians and singers. “As leaders we learn to work effectively with our coaches, directors, and other team members. I try to make sure that everyone feels like they are an important part of the team or group by spreading kindness, positivity, and cheering everyone on!”

Lane will attend Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and study engineering. He plans to pursue music in the men’s choir and join an intramural running club while in college.

Izzy is the daughter of Sue and Craig Westling of Sartell. She is the sister of Luc ’20 and Claire ’24.
Izzy has been a member of the swim and dive team and as a senior, she serves as a captain. Izzy is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Triangle Literary Magazine. HOSA Future Health Care Professionals Club, Girls Who Code, Gym Girls Club, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She’s served as a middle school mentor and an academic center tutor. Izzy is an artist and enjoys creating ceramics and drawing in the Saint John’s Prep art studios.

In November of 2025, at the Minnesota State High School League Swim and Dive State Championship Meet, Izzy claimed the state title in the 100-yard freestyle with an outstanding time of 51.75 seconds. In addition to her first-place finish, Izzy also earned second place in the 200-yard individual medley.

Izzy says both athletics and arts are very important to her education. “Sports are important because they teach me how to challenge and push myself. I have been forced to learn time-management skills, discipline, and resilience in the face of obstacles – all skills that are important in the pool, the classroom, and life. Art has played a huge part in my life, by teaching me ways to express myself. I gained confidence and patience in how I understand and express my emotions and opinions by bringing them to life through something I can make.”

Next year Izzy plans to attend a New York University in Manhattan and study global health. She has committed to be a member of NYU’s Violets swim and dive team.

Criteria for the Triple A Award include:  Exhibit citizenship and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine arts activity, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.

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On November 15 at the Minnesota State High School League Swim and Dive State Championship Meet, Izzy Westling claimed the state title in the 100-yard freestyle with an outstanding time of 51.75 seconds. In addition to her first-place finish, Izzy also earned second place in the 200-yard individual medley.

In 2024, Izzy swam two individual sprint events, placing 6th in the 50 Free and 3d in the 100 Free earning All State honors in both events.

Izzy wasn’t just a standout in individual events—she also teamed up with Lilah Mohs ’27 for the 200-yard medley relay at the MSHSL state meet, held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Regan Douvier ’28 served as the team’s alternate. Known as one of the most competitive events in Minnesota high school swimming, the relay featured some of the fastest swimmers in the state. The team finished 14th out of 23 teams, an impressive achievement.

Saint John’s Prep swimmers compete as part of a community co-op team with St. Cloud Apollo and St. Cloud Cathedral, giving student-athletes the opportunity to participate in high school swimming and diving at the state level.

We’re incredibly proud of these scholar-athletes and their dedication. Way to go, Johnnies!
Learn more about our programs at .

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to congratulate two seniors who have committed to compete in athletics at the collegiate level. Miranda Meyer ’25 and Louise Ruzanic ’25 announced their decisions in an official signing ceremony in front of their coaches, parents, and classmates.

Prep Athletic and Activities Director Bryan Backes acknowledged these seniors’ commitment to their teams and sports. “The commitment of these athletes to reach their highest potential has been remarkable! We’re very proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their leadership.”

Miranda Meyer will join the swim and dive team at . She will be a diver for the Cobbers. At Saint John’s Prep, Miranda has competed on the swim and dive, basketball, and track teams. Miranda is the daughter of Marv and Rita Meyer of Meire Grove.

Louise Ruzanic is becoming a Carleton Knight. She has committed to compete in both track & field and cross country for . At Saint John’s Prep, Louise has competed on the cross country, basketball, and track teams. Lousie is the daughter of Rachel ’95 and Ted Ruzanic.

Congratulations Johnnies!

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Saint John’s Prep School Students Earn AAA Award

Collegeville, MN:  Seniors Sylvie Bechtold and Michael DeMars are the 2024-25 Saint John’s Prep recipients of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts. The two will be honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet on January 15 in Paynesville.

Sylvie Bechtold

Sylvie is the daughter of Kay and Gary Bechtold of St. Joseph. Sylvie is the captain of the varsity basketball team, and varsity cross-country team. She runs distance events for the track and field team and received the team’s Leadership Award in 2024. Sylvie is the Character Branch Leader for the National Honor Society and a Writing Center tutor. Sylvie is an accomplished painter, designer, and illustrator who has had work published in the Prep literary magazine, the Triangle. She also shows her work at area festivals including the Millstream Art Fail.

Sylvie is not sure of her major in college yet, but she plans pursue classes that combine her interests in both science and art. She would like to study subjects that will eventually support her efforts to attend medical school. “Art has helped me bring creative perspectives to other academic subjects. For example, I studied human anatomy to paint an Italian Renaissance-style self-portrait for my Honors Capstone project.”

Michael DeMars

Michael is the son of Amanda and Dan Demars of Sauk Rapids. Michael is the captain of the varsity basketball team, and the varsity soccer team. In the off-season he plays soccer and takes part in a summer campus work-out program. Michael is also an experienced ceramicist who also creates artwork with digital photography and drawing.

Michael plans to attend college in the fall and will major in some type of engineering. He believes that participation in athletics and the arts fosters the development of valuable skills that will help him in college and his career.

“I really love to create ceramics pieces. There are a lot of creative opportunities in each piece, and I can create whatever I feel like making. Creating art helps you improve your critical thinking and creativity. In my case arts have helped me improve my skills that will help me with my engineering career.”

Awards Banquet

Both Sylvie and Michael will be honored at the MSHSL Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet in Paynesville on Wednesday, January 15. Each will give a short speech and share details about their academic, athletic, and artistic accomplishments. Two Section 5A award recipients will be selected to move forward to the regional banquet. The MSHSL awards two statewide scholarships to young people each year.

Criteria for the Triple A Award include: exhibiting citizenship characteristics and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine arts activity, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.

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The SJP swimmers and divers finished the season with an exciting appearance at the MSHSL State Class A Championships this past weekend.

At the State meet, the 200 Free Relay, with Lilah Mohs ’27, Izzy Westling ’26, and alternate Regan Douvier ’28, edged out cross-town rival Tech High School to a riveting 11th place finish! The Apollo/Cathedral/SJP Swim and Dive team placed 16th overall in a field of 42 teams this weekend in State Class A. This is the first year for this swim and dive partnership with Saint John’s Prep, Saint Cloud Cathedral and Saint Cloud Apollo.

Izzy swam two individual sprint events, placing 6th in the 50 Free and 3d in the 100 Free earning All State honors in both events.
At the Section 6A meet on November 9, Izzy ’26 defended her 2023 section titles and earned the title of 2024 Section 6A Champion in the 50 Free and 100 Free. At the seciton meet, in the 50 Free, she broke the all-time Apollo andCathedral/Saint John’s Prep records as well as the pool record with a 23.86 punching a ticket to the state meet. In the 100 Free at the section meet, she went in a blistering 52.08 to set new all-time Apollo and Cathedral/Saint John’s Prep records and breaking her pool record set last year while qualifying for state. Izzy was named the 2024 Section 6A Swimmer of the Year.

The team thanks all the students and parents who made the trip to the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center’s pool to show their support! The swimmers and divers appreciate all of the support from families and fans this season!

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to congratulate Sophomore Margaret Duffy ’27 for placing 4th in her first State Cross Country State Meet! The Class A State race was held on November 2, 2024 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, MN with 160 athletes competing.

, a personal best! Margaret received ALL-STATE honors!

Margaret is coached by Lance Nydeen, Kurt Salzl ’87 and Stephen Woods ’09. She is the daughter of Megan and Brendon Duffy of Cold Spring. She is the sister of Saint John’s Prep graduates Clare ’22 and Patrick ‘24.

This cross-country season, Margaret won the Central Minnesota Conference Championship and Section 5A Championship races. She also earned all-section and all-conference honors. She’s looking forward to the spring 2025 track and field season as a returning member of the Saint John’s Prep 2024 4×800 state championship relay team.

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to congratulate four Saint John’s Prep seniors who have committed to compete in both track & field and cross country at the collegiate level. This week Henry Buehrer, Nick Hansen, Zach Meyer, and Olivia Pauly all announced their decisions in an official signing ceremony in front of their families and classmates.

Prep Athletic and Activities Director Bryan Backes acknowledged these seniors’ commitment to their teams and sport. “The commitment of these athletes to reach their highest potential has been remarkable! We’re very proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their leadership.”

Henry, Nick, and Zach have all committed to join the Lawrence University Vikings. Lawrence is a NCAA Division III competitor that competes in the Midwest Conference. Lawrence is in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Olivia committed to compete at the University of Saint Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota in December. Saint Thomas is a Division I school that competes in the Summit League.

Assistant Track and Cross Country Coach Stephen Woods is very optimistic about this group’s ability to compete at the college level. “These kids have worked incredibly hard over the last four years – staying consistent, healthy, focused, and positive – and the results have spoken for themselves. I am so excited to watch these athletes reach new heights at the next level; the sky’s the limit for each of them!”

Facts about the Athletes:

Henry Buehrer, son of Michelle and Barth Buehrer of St. Cloud, MN

• Henry is the current Prairie Conference Track and Field MVP who earned first place in the 100m, 200m and 400m races at the conference meet on May 15. Henry is also an all-conference long jump competitor.
• Henry was a part of the 4x800m relay team that earned fifth place at the 2023 MSHSL State Track and Field meet. Henry is part of the 2023 Section 5A Championship 4×800 relay team.
• Henry plans to major in music and marketing at Lawrence.

Nick Hansen, son of Denise and Greg Hansen of St. Joseph, MN

• Nick is part of the Class A 4×800 state championship relay team. He competes individually in the 1600 and 3200 races. He is the current 3200 Prairie Conference champion. He placed 5^th in the 3200 race at the state track meet in 2023.
• Nick is the current MSHSL Section 5A cross country champion. He earned third at the 2023 state cross country championship. He’s a three-time state cross country championship qualifier.
• Nick plans to major in computer science at Lawrence.

Zach Meyer, son of Jai and Andy Meyer of St. Joseph, MN

• Zach is part of the Class A 4×800 state championship relay team. He competes individually in the 800 and 1600 races. Zach is the current 800 Prairie Conference champion. He placed 4^th in the 800 race at the state track meet in 2023. Zach is the 2023 Prairie Conference MVP.
• Zach earned all-state honors at the 2023 MSHSL state cross country championship. He’s a three-time state cross country championship qualifier.
• Zach is undecided about what his major will be at Lawrence.

Olivia Pauly, daughter of Jill and Jonathan Pauly of St. Cloud, MN

• Olivia is the Class A Cross Country Champion. She won the 2023 championship race with a time of 18:20.5, eleven seconds ahead of the second place finisher. She’s a three-time state cross country championship qualifier.
• In track and field, Olivia competes in the 4×800 relay, and individually in the 1600, and 3200 races. She is the current Prairie Conference record holder in both events. She’s a two-time Prairie Conference MVP.
• Olivia has been accepted to the Aquinas Scholars Honors Program and the Opus College of Business at Saint Thomas.

Head Track and Field Coach Lance Nydeen has coached Henry, Nick, Zach and Olivia since they joined the Prep team in middle school. “The senior leaders of this team have developed into amazing athletes, role-models, and team leaders. They are self-motivated, but also take to coaching exceptionally well. They listen, practice, and respond with excitement and positivity. They have worked so hard and taken the extraordinary steps to improve and push the bar of success for themselves, each other, and the team at every new level they achieve. They are the quintessential student-athletes!”

Saint John’s Prep distance runners are coached by Lance Nydeen, Kurt Salzl ’87, and Stephen Woods.

All four athletes enrolled in Saint John’s Preparatory School as sixth graders in the fall of 2017. They are among the 47 members of the Class of 2024 who will graduate in the Saint John’s Abbey Church at 3:00pm on Friday, May 24.

As they prepare for graduation, Coach Nydeen acknowledges their contribution to the team and school community. “Their priorities and dedication are so admirable and their humility astounding. They never miss an opportunity to help another teammate and continually work to improve themselves. The legacy that these senior athletes have left will shape the Cross Country and Track team culture for years after their graduation! They are truly special and inspirational!”

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Seniors Nick Hansen and Olivia Pauly are the 2024 Saint John’s Prep recipients of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League.  According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts. The two will be honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet on January 17.

Nick is the son of Denise and Greg Hansen of St. Joseph. He is the brother of Isaac ’19 and Holly ’22 Hansen. While attending Saint John’s Prep, Nick has been a member of the varsity cross-country, track and field, Nordic ski and soccer teams. He serves as a captain of the Cross Country and Nordic ski teams. Nick Hansen has been involved in band, focusing on percussion. He is a talented ceramicist and enjoys creating pieces of pottery in the Saint John’s Prep art studios. Nick is also a captain of the SJP Robotics team. Nick is a member of the National Honor Society and has served on Student Council. Outside of his school activities, Nick is a member of Duck’s Unlimited. He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and serves as an altar server, lector and Eucharistic minister.

Nick is an all-state cross country athlete who appeared in three state cross country championship meets. He finished in 3^rd place at the 2023 meet at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course in November. for Saint John’s Prep. Individually, he earned 5^th place at the state meet in the 3200 race. He also competed in the 2022 state track and field championship meet.

Nick plans to pursue a STEM major at a college that has competitive track and cross country programs.

Olivia Pauly is the daughter of Jill and Jonathan Pauly of St. Cloud. She is the sister of Sofia Pauly ’27. Olivia has been a member of the varsity cross-country, track and field, Nordic ski and soccer teams at Saint John’s Prep. She serves as captain of the cross country team. Olivia is also a member of the mock trial team and the yearbook committee. She is a dedicated artist who enjoys creating pottery, painting with acrylics, and sketching with pencil. Olivia competes in MNTA piano competitions and has earned superior ratings in both performance and theory. Olivia is a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud where she has served as an altar server.

She earned her first place title in November at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course. Olivia has appeared at three state track and field championship meets. In June, she finished in 6^th place overall in the 1600 meter race.

In December Olivia signed her NCAA Division 1 letter of intent with the University of St. Thomas where she will join the track and field and cross country teams. She’s considering majoring in business with a minor in German.

Both Nick and Olivia have been students at Saint John’s Prep since sixth grade. They are proud members of the Class of 2024 and will graduate with their classmates on May 24, 2024 at the

Criteria for the Triple A Award include:  Exhibit citizenship and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine arts activity, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.

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Saint John’s Prep is proud to congratulate Louise Ruzanic ’25 for placing 11th in her first ever State Cross Country State Meet! The race was held on November 4, 2023 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, MN with .

Louise passed more than fifty other runners in after the halfway point in the race. Her final push towards the finish line was very powerful and an amazing feat to witness! Louise finished the race with a time of 19:22.8, a personal best! Louise received ALL-STATE honors!

Louise is coached by Lance Nydeen, Kurt Salzl ’87 and Stephen Woods ’09. She is the daughter of Rachel Wenner Ruzanic ’95 and Ted Ruzanic of Cold Spring. She is the sister of Claudia ’28, John ’29 and Annie ’32.

Louise completes her junior cross country season with all-section and all-conference honors. She’s looking forward to the spring 2024 track and field season.

Louise’s teammate, Olivia Pauly ’24, won the state championship title .

The Saint John’s Prep boys’ cross country team won the section championship title and earned competed as a team at the state meet. Hansen ’24 earning third place in the championship race.

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The Saint John’s Prep Cross Country team had a successful trip to the Section 5A Championship race at the Grand National Golf Club in Hinckley on October 26. The boys’ team earned first place and the girls’ team finished in third place. Seniors Nick Hansen and Olivia Pauly both finished first in their races.

Seniors Nick Hansen and Zach Meyer, both from St. Joseph, ran a very tight race. They finished together with Nick pulling ahead by just a tenth of a second to earn first place, with Zach earning second. Junior Ben Suo of St. Cloud earned fifth place in this competitive race. The Johnnies finished as a team in first place with 82 points, ahead of Saint Cloud Cathedral, Pine City, Holdingford and Pierz.

Their section championship title means that the entire boys’ team will compete at the MSHSL A State Championship Race on November 4 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.

Senior Olivia Pauly of St. Cloud earned first place in the race, ten seconds ahead of CHS’s Ella Voit. Junior Louise Ruzanic of Cold Spring placed sixth in the race. Both Olivia and Louise earned individual spots to compete at the MSHSL A State Championship Race. The girls team earned third place overall, behind CHS and Northwest.

The Johnnies are coached by Lance Nydeen, Stephen Woods ’09 and Kurt Salzl ’87.

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