Austin seniors Avery Thompson and Dylan Hanegraf to take their athletic skills to the next level

A pair of seniors at Austin High School recently decided to take their athletic talents on the softball diamond and the soccer pitch to the next level.

Congratulations to Avery Thompson, who recently signed a letter of intent to play softball at Division III St. Scholastica in Duluth for the 2020-2021 season.  The Saints finished the COVID-19 shortened season with a record of 7-7 overall, and went 23-16 overall in 2019.  St. Scholastica has appeared in the NCAA Division III softball tournament six times, including in 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017, and they have claimed the UMAC regular sesason championship 20 times in school history, the latest being 2018.  The Saints have also claimed 14 UMAC tournament championships, the latest being 2017.

Congratulations also goes out to senior Dylan Hanegraf, who recently committed to play men’s soccer at Division III University of Wisconsin-Superior.  Hanegraaf was a jack of all trades for the Packers for three sesaons, as he played forward, defense and midfield.  He helped lead Austin to three straight Minnesota Class A State Boys Soccer Tournaments including two third place finishes and three straight Big Nine titles.

The Yellowjackets went 17-3-3 overall last season and their season ended in heartbreaking fashion in a 2-1 double overtime loss to Luther College in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship.