Jodi Helget Collings: (From Plaindealer): In the late 1990s, Jodi Helget Collings made her name known in each of the athletic seasons, Helget qualified for state in tennis, basketball and in track and field. As a tennis player, Jodi excelled both as a doubles partner and as a single's player making it to the State Tournament as a junior and as a single player her senior year. Helget was a factor in that 1998 team qualifying for the state tournament, making the first time in program history that St. James had made it to state as a team. "As a team was unbelievable. We knew we could do it, we just didn't expect it to happen." In her junior year, Helget helped guide the Saints' basketball team to a 25-2 record. In the Sub-section tournament against St. Peter, Helget dominated posting 20 points and 20 rebounds. Helget also starred on the track, breaking through as a sophomore at the sub-section meet, placing first in the long jump, triple jump, 100M dash and 200M dash. As a senior, Helget placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 36'7 1/4" after jumping 38' 3 1/2" at the section meet. Even while participating in three separate sports at state, Helget says there's the same mind set going in. "There's always excitement, then there's nerves, but there's also that mentality of 'I can win this'. I always thought of it as my last shot and just give it your all you're not going to lose anything at that point." Helget still wears the red and black with pride, knowing her time with St. James was a special one. "I'm proud of just being a Saint. You're in a small town, a small school. We always had solid teams."
Teresa Schmidt Kolstad: (From Plaindealer): In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were few high school teams that could match up with the strength of St. James girls track. The team won five straight regional titles from 1977-1982, and, at the center of that success was hurdler Teresa Schmidt (Kolstad). Schmidt burst onto the scene as a freshmen, establishing herself as one of the top hurdlers in the state, placing sixth overall in the 110M hurdle at the state tournament. In her sophomore year, Schmidt built on her success qualifying for both the 110M hurdle and 200M hurdles as well as being part of the 800M relay team as state champions. That same 800M relay team repeated the state championship run the next year. As a senior, for the fourth year in a row, Schmidt qualified for the state meet in the 100M hurdle, finishing sixth overall. In her time at St. James, Schmidt also earned four varsity letters but her main impact was on the track. Post St. James, Schmidt went on to race at the University of Minnesota-Waseca for one year competing in the 400M hurdle and 100M. Each of Schmidt's kids also competed in track saying simply "we're a track family".
Jerry Dalen: (From Plaindealer): Jerry Dalen admits he was blessed to play on a number of all-time St. James athletic teams. The multi-sport star was an instrumental part of St. James athletics' success in the early 1970s, as evidenced by his thirteen varsity letters earned across four different sports. Dalen started on the undefeated state champion basketball team in 1972. With St. James and Luverne locked in a defensive battle at 41, Dalen made two crucial plays to give the Saints the edge. An assist to Jeff Nessler put St. James up by two with under a minute. Later, Nessler and Dalen teamed up to force a Luverne turnover to help seal the game away, sending the Saints to the Class A State Tournament. In his senior on the diamond, St. James had graduated many key players from the year before, and the red and black were written off early in the year. But the upstart Saints ran through the South Central Conference, polishing off a perfect season in the conference. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 14th, the two stars were set to lead off the inning. "We called each other "brothers" back then, said Dalen, before I got into the batter's box I turned to him and said 'okay brother, you're going to hit me in'." Dalen promptly led the inning off with a double to left center, setting the stage for Rinne, who came through, driving in Dalen to cap off a 6-0 season within the conference. Perhaps Dalen's strongest sport was golf, where he lettered six times for St. James. Dalen qualified for state three separate times, finishing fourth as a junior. In his junior year, Dalen shot a first round 35 (+1), but a storm stopped play, and officials announced the whole tournament would be started over. "I was upset because I was up after the first round." Dalen then went out and shot a 31 and a 32 for a (-5) tournament. "I guess it worked out in my favor," said Dalen with a laugh. Even with his success with golf, Dalen chose the baseball diamond to continue his career in athletics, playing at St. Olaf, capturing a conference championship in 1976. Dalen returned to the greens, coaching 39 years of high school golf, and being inducted into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Throughout his coaching career, Dalen noticed many changes in athletes. Whether playing or coaching, Dalen always seemed to have the advantages to his counterparts. The keys to his success? "Preparation and practice."
Maurice Burckhardt: (From Plaindealer): In the early 1950s, St. James football was at its peak. The Saints won 19 in a row from the end of 1951 through the end of 1953, dominating teams from around the region, routinely brushing away opponents by 30, or even 40 points. With that dominance, the Saints ended the 1953 season ranked #1 in the state. At the center of this success, quite literally, was center and linebacker Maurice Burckhardt. Burckhardt played four years of football, and quickly established himself in the middle of the pile. "He always had the dirtiest outfit on the field," remembers Maurice's younger brother, Curt. "He was always at the bottom of the pile." Burckhardt was one of the unheralded stars on a team with a pair of explosive running backs, including Norm Anderson. But it was often Burckhardt, and the rest of the offensive line's work, that opened the running lanes for those dominant Saint teams. Burckhardt's blue-collar style of play rubbed off on those Saints teams. The 1953 team used the tone set by Burckhardt to outscore their opponents by a mind-boggling 412-19. The Saints' stifling defense didn't allow a point until their fifth game, against Windom, which the Saints won handily, 56-7. Off the gridiron, Burckhardt started on the basketball court, and was a sharpshooter at guard for three years. Burckhardt also donned the red and black in baseball and in tennis, but his true love was football. "He was pretty darn good at everything." said Curt. After his time at St. James Burckhardt moved on to suit up for the University of Minnesota football legend Murray Warmath, who was just in his first season at the helm of the Gophers. In his first season in the Twin Cities, Warmath provided Burckhardt with an ultimatum. He had to choose between playing football and becoming an orthodontist. Burckhardt chose the latter, following his heart and launching a successful dentist career and as father, having three kids, Doug, John, and Cathy.
Brad Wolner: (From Plaindealer): In his time donning the St. James red and black, Bradlee Wolner established himself as a two-way presence on the football field, and fleet-footed on the track. As a sophomore, Wolner was part of a state champion medley relay team. Where Wolner really stood out was at the hurdles, winning the conference championship at the 110M hurdle. Wolner used his track experience to further his impact on the football field. Wolner shared a backfield with star Gary Menssen, while starring on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. The duo ran all over their opponents and in the regular season finale against New Ulm, Wolner, put his stamp on his time with the Saints. "I remember it was a rainy night," said Wolner. "I loved playing in the rain and mud, I guess you could call me a "mudder". With the Saints pinned up against their own goal line, a simple hand-off up the middle was called. The play was designed to just get out of the shadow of their own goal posts, but Wolner had other plans. Wolner took the hand-off from quarterback Dan Nessler and burst through the line and broke free for a 96-yard touchdown. "I was just hoping nobody would catch me so I didn't get laughed at during film." Wolner finished the game with 253 yards on just 20 carries. Despite all of his success, Wolner gives all the credit to his teammates and coaches. "I had great coaches in track and football. I had a lot of good teammates. Some people don't like to practice, but we did. The training, the running and lifting." Some of Wolner's fondest memories and proudest moments in athletics are off the playing surface. Following his career as a Saint, Wolner committed to play football at St. Olaf. Wolner was very close to attending Gustavus. However, after watching St. Olaf defeat a nationally ranked Gustavus, Wolner was sold in favor of the Oles. Wolner joined St. Olaf for his work on the defensive side of the ball, but an injury in the backfield Wolner was moved to running back. After the move to running back, Wolner did nothing but produce, leading the MIC in rushing his senior season. At the time of his graduation, Wolner was fourth in program annals in rushing yards. Wolner has seen his athletic ability be passed down to his children, with his two sons being state champion level swimmers.
Dick Bakke: Dick graduated from St. James High School in 1958 excelling in football, basketball and track. Dick was an integral part of the (8-0) 1957 football team winning the South Central Conference title and finishing #3 in all of Minnesota in the final polls for the season. Individually he earned All-State honors from WCCO and Minneapolis-St. Paul Tribune. As a Saint, Dick scored nineteen (19) touchdowns including a 93 yard run for a touchdown. On the hardwood floors of southern Minnesota, Dick helped hall of fame coach Judge Veglahn win a conference championship going 17-5 his senior season. In the spring, Dick dominated the area hurdlers going to state both in 1957 and 1958. After Dick hung up his cleats and spikes for the Saints he went on to letter three times both in track and football for the Gusties of Gustavus. He then went on to mentor young football players at a whopping .805 winning percentage landing him in the Minnesota Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994.
Jeff Whitney: Jeff graduated from St. James High School in 1989 as a three sport standout in football, wrestling and baseball. During his senior year, he was a major force in guiding the Saint gridders to state and the Saint grapplers to a State title. As a Saint on the football field, Jeff was a three-time letter winner, All-South Central Conference player, Honorable-Mention All-State and played for the Southern All-Stars. As a senior the football team went 8-4 and played in the state tournament. Jeff went on to play four years and once again excelled at Southwest State University in Marshall. As a wrestler, Jeff finished with a 33-29-3 record but he is arguably the most well known wrestler in the history of St. James because of "the pin". In the heavyweight match against Foley, the Saints needed a fall to tie the match, which would ultimately mean they are taking home the State title trophy. Jeff worked through his opponent's three stalling calls to thrown him on his back to pin him becoming the most important pin in St. James history. On the diamond, Jeff excelled as well earning an additional three letters and more All-South Central Conference hardware. A dangerous hitter and pitcher for the Saints would help to produce many wins in a very competitive South Central Conference throwing his famous knuckleball.
Allan L. Adams: Mr. Adams was a long time coach and teacher for the St. James Saints. Al taught for 33 years and coached 58 total seasons for the Saints including cross country, football, wrestling, track and golf. Adams was the Saints head wrestling coach from 1975 to 1978 compiling a record of 25-27-2 and was the head mentor on the links from 1984 to 2000. As an assistant, he helped develop the wrestling program as a true powerhouse that opponents feared. He was inducted into the St. James Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010. Even after Coach Adams retired you could find him as a substitute teacher or working the table at many wrestling events. Thousands of athletes and students thank Coach Adams for his service and mentoring their young lives and lessons learned from him.
Denny Kaus: If you were to ask anyone on the streets of St. James who was Denny Kaus..people would immediately remember his smiling face and all the work Denny did to help numerous coaches and athletes excel to the best of their abilities at one of the things he loved most, St. James Athletics. Denny was a long time volunteer and supporter for football, basketball and baseball. He served as the public address announcer, scorer and timer for basketball and baseball games. The football coaches never had to worry about statistics while Denny was on the sideline charting every play. He started the youth basketball program in 1983 and what he called "Denny's League" which simply gathered kids in August interested in playing ball in a fun and enjoyable way learning the needed skills for their future athletic careers.
David Dose: Coach David Dose spent ten years of his career helping the Saints become a football team to wrecking with in the early 1980s. As the Saints head coach from 1979-1984, the Saints went to the state tournament twice (1980 and 1984) and won two elusive South Central Conference titles. In only six seasons, Coach Dose compiled a record of 37-19 putting him #3 all time wins behind St. James Hall of Fame coaches Bob Woehrle (71) and Jerry Johnson (45) in Saints football history. Dave would also help develop players on the basketball court for ten years in St. James. After St. James, Coach Dose returned to Glencoe to serve out the rest of his career leading Glencoe-Silver Lake to four Minnesota state high school titles and proving to be one of the best Minnesota high school coaches of all time. Asked about his favorite Saints football moment, "being the head coach beating Rosemount in the football playoffs."