2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

Pictured Above

Front Row (L-R): Dale Bannerman, Ted Anderson, Dan Nessler, Gary L. Menssen, Michael D. Peterson

Back Row (L-R): Chad Urevig, Jim Neid, Mike Brandts, Genevieve Kuehl Theobald

Chad Urevig: Chad Urevig played football and baseball for the St. James Saints from 1990-1994. Chad earned a total of eight varsity letters in the two sports and was a team captain in both in his senior year. He was a four-year starter in baseball and was named All-South Central Conference four times, All-Sub-Section four times, All Section three times and All-State twice. He was listed amongst the top 25 baseball recruits in Minnesota his senior year and was chosen to play in the Minnesota High School Lion's All-Star series, where he led off the games with a home run! He attended Walforf Junior College and Division I Western Kentucky University on a baseball scholarship.

Mike Brandts: Mike graduated from St. James High School in 1978. He finished his high school athletic career with five letters from his time on the hardwood courts of St. James gymnasium and on the track. In Mike's junior and senior season on the court, he led the team in both scoring and rebounds. He averaged 305 points and 156 rebounds over his last two seasons for the Saints. As an individual on the track team is where he excelled the most. At the state meet, Mike became the Saints record holder to this day with a jump of 6'7" to win the high jump state title. Mr. Brandts ended his Saints career with four separate All-South Central Conference awards in basketball and track.

Michael D. Peterson: Mike finished his outstanding high school career in 1965 but went on to letter in basketball and baseball at Augsburg College from 1965-1969. As an outstanding Saint athlete, Mike lettered in basketball, baseball, tennis, cross country and golf making him one of the most well-rounded athletes in Saints history. As a tennis player, Mike reached the individual state tournament in 1963. On the hardwood courts across southern Minnesota, he averaged 18.4 points per game and once scored 31 points off the bench in a game against St. Peter. Mike was also the key ingredient to the team's success in a state baseball run in 1965, conference title in basketball and also tennis district championship in 1963.

Dan Nessler: When St. James natives discuss the athletic prowess of Dan Nessler, they may say what a great three sport athlete he was for the Saints whether on the football and baseball fields or in the gymnasium at St. James High School. But that would not be where Dan ended his career as he went on to play baseball at Mankato State earning him a hall of fame induction in 2017 and earning hall of fame hardware from Mankato Softball, Minnesota Softball and International Softball Hall of Fames. Dan began his career for the Saints with nine total letters in football, basketball and baseball graduating in 1981 from St. James High School. He was a member of the 1979 state champion baseball team and the 1980 football team. Dan finished his high school career earning All-State baseball honors and playing in the elite Minnesota Lion's All-Star baseball series.

Bob Woerhle: For 18 years, a coach known as "Pop" or "Uncle Bob", engineered some of the best sports teams in St. James history. Under the tutelage of Ed Lund, Woerhle would make a strong impression on the St. James sidelines - leading the team to a 6-1 season. But Woerhle did more than improve the onfield product for the football program. He provided additional practices and camps during school-sanctioned activity hours for out-of-towners and farm kids who didn't have bussing after practices. In his near two-decade stint as the red and black's football coach, Woerhle left with a 71-59-6 record. Woerhle's 71 wins and .546 winning percentage are all-time marks in the football coaching ranks. As the game of football evolved in the 1940s, so did Woerhle's strategies and play calling. His teams would exploit the passing game and the speed of his gritty farm boys to become a team known for their high-octane offenses and "never-say-die" attitude. But Woerhle would put in another ten years in his 28-year association with the school after his football days were over. He would step back in the dugout as the St. James' baseball skipper for three years. Woerhle would also serve as the school's athletic director from 1953-1958 before retiring. To understand the impact, Woerhle had in the classroom, ball fields and the community - an excerpt from his 1958 yearbook dedication: "He (Woerhle) played an important part in the education of the students for the past twenty-eight years."

Genevieve Kuehl Theobald: As a heady sophomore on the 1994 State runner-up girls basketball team, Keuhl always showed signs of becoming a breakout player. In 1995, Kuehl would impress in a team that rattled off 19 straight victories to open the season. In an expanded role, Kuehl averaged 16.8 PPG, and 8.2 RPG, as the team's low-post option. In the offseason, she was voted Most Improved by her teammates, but that was a harbinger of things to come. Her swan song season, Kuehl earned All-South Central Conference and Class A state all-tournament honors. She posted career-high averages across the board, shooting 55% from the floor and led the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game en route to being voted by her team as Most Valuable Offensive Player. By graduation in May of 1996, Kuehl ranked fourth in scoring all-time for the Saints at 885 in a three year varsity career.

Gary L. Menssen: Gary Menssen's skill set included a quick bat and a cannon for an arm - an he would fir in perfectly in the St. James outfield. By 1979, a then junior, Menssen had found himself a key contributor on Saints baseball teams that had made deep postseason runs. Menssen had a three-hit performance in the Saints' 10-2 State Championship victory over Fertile-Beltrami. By 1980, as a senior, Menssen took his game to new heights - as a player and as a leader. "I felt that was my best season because I was leading the charge for our program, and looking to make an impact in many different ways." Menssen would lead the 1980 squad in runs scored (22), home runs (4), walks (11), and total bases (47). Menssen's post-Saints career took him to Forest Lake, in Waldorf College where he led the team in home runs and RBI's in his lone season.

James Neid: After an injury sidelined Jim from playing high school sports he stayed close by to be a manager. After serving three years in football, wrestling and track, and a graduation from college, Jim was offered a job by wrestling coach Paul Krueger from 1971-1973 as a volunteer coach. In 1984, Jim joined the staff at KXAX radio as a wrestling broadcaster and has continued to lend his voice to St. James wrestling, football, basketball and softball. From 2004-2011, Jim hosted "On the Mat", an hour-long show on high school and collegiate wrestling at KRRW. Jim has reached many accolades including, Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Top Wresstling Broadcaster in 1994 and 2005. He is a charter member of the St. James Wrestling Hall of Fame, and recently provides two $1,000 scholarships annually to St. James students for Academic and Athletic Achievement.

Dale D. Bannerman: In his first season in 1989, the Saints went from worst to first winning subsections, Bannerman transformed the Saints malaise offense into a smooth-stroking perimeter team that could utilize all-around threat, 1,000-point scorer Lynell Anderson around the basket. Lynell Anderson, Lisa Olson, Emily Anderson, Amy Hintgen are just a few of the talented 1,000 point scorers he coached at St. James. 1995, however, was a magical year for Bannerman and his Lady Saints. Hintgen, Olson and fellow 2018 inductee Gen Kuehl led the Saints to a record best 27-2 season en route to the State tournament. Bannerman would find similar success in his post-St. James career revitalizing New Ulm and Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial girls' basketball programs. Bannerman finished his tenure at St. James as the winningest coach in the program's history, having brought the Saints to four state tournaments (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998).