Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce its 2024-2025 class of inductees. This year’s inductees include Paul Notermann from the Austin High School Class of 1982, Zak Ulwelling, Class of 1999, Kristen Faber, Class of 2007, Catherine (Wagner) Pederson, Class of 2009, and John Steffen, Coach.

The 37th annual Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend will take place Sept. 27-28. Sept. 27’s events include the Homecoming Parade beginning at 4 p.m. and the Homecoming football game against Faribault beginning at 7 p.m. Hall of Fame Weekend will conclude with the luncheon on Sept. 28 in the Fellowship Hall at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, beginning at noon. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

John Steffen

John Steffen taught and coached in Austin from 1957-1978. Steffen and his family moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where he worked for State Farm and continued coaching, where he retired in 1999.

Steffen has fond memories of coaching the Packers.

“Austin was a great place to coach. I enjoyed all the teams,” Stefffen said. “The players were the best part; they were great kids. The things you told them to do, they did.”

Steffen and his wife, Kathleen, now live in Hudson, Wisconsin. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Kristin Faber

Faber, a 2007 AHS grad, lettered in hockey six times and softball times and led the Austin girls hockey team to a state appearance in 2007, where she was named to the State Tournament All-Tournament Team that year.

She went on to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, where she lettered all four years. In addition, Faber was the first athlete to receive the National Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year and AcademicPlayer of the Year in the same year.

“My athletic career as a Packer taught me many lessons about hard work, leadership, and goal setting that have provided me invaluable skills I use in my everyday life as an adult,” Faber said.

Faber currently teaches middle school physical education and Adapted PE in New Ulm. She coached the girls’ varsity hockey team for 11 years.

Catherine (Wagner) Pederson

Catherine (Wagner) Pederson graduated from Austin High School in 2009. She lettered in tennis four years, hockey six years, and golf six years. Pederson was a multiple year participant in the state golf tournament, finishing second in her junior year and  eighth place her senior year. She was also a three-time Big Nine golf champion.

In addition, Pederson was a member of the state tournament hockey team in 2007 and 2008. She went on to the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, where she received numerous golf awards including Division 3 Freshman of the Year, and she was a two-time, First Team All American. When asked about her high school sports experiences, Pederson said that numerous memories come to mind.

Pederson currently works for the Minnesota PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Section as the director of Foundation & Member Services.

She and her husband, Sam, live in Maple Grove. They are expecting their first child in early September.

Paul Notermann

Paul Notermann graduated from AHS in 1982. He lettered in hockey three years and baseball three years.

Noterman led his hockey team to the Section finals in 1982 when there was only one class of hockey in Minnesota.

He also led his baseball team to back-to-back Big Nine titles. Noterman went on to play hockey at Mankato State University where he lettered all four years.

He led his college team to three national hockey tournament appearances. Noterman said one of his favorite sports memories was “beating the Wisconsin state champs 7-6 and his line recording seven points.”

Noterman and his wife, Judy, live in Lakeville. They have two children and two grandchildren. He works as the managing director at Ameriprise Financial in Edina.

Zak Ulwelling

Zak Ulwelling graduated from Austin High School in 1999. He lettered in football two years, basketball two years, and tennis five years. He was All-Conference in football and basketball his senior year and was All-Conference in tennis in all four years of high school.

Ulwelling led his football team to the Section finals his senior year and was starting point guard on the basketball team that finished as co-Big Nine champions.

In addition, Zak made it to the Section finals in tennis, playing at No. 1 doubles. Ulwelling attended Riverland Community College where he played basketball and tennis. He was a two-year letter winner in both sports and was an All American in tennis. From there he went on to St. Cloud University where he was a two-year letter winner in tennis.

“My fondest memories are around the relationships built with coaches and teammates,” Ulwelling said. “Many qualities that are relevant in the real world were developed 25 years ago as a Packer. I learned how to be a good teammate and how to support the development and success of others. Most importantly, I learned how to deal with adversity.”

Ulwelling and his wife, Sara, live in Victoria. They have two children. Ulwelling recently celebrated his 20-year anniversary with the CH Robinson Company in Eden Prairie.

The Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 1984. Since its inception, over 200 former AHS athletes and coaches have been inducted. Former athletes and coaches can be nominated by completing the nomination form available on the AHS Activities Office website or from the Activities Office located at AHS. As nominations are received,

the AHS Athletic HoF committee, which currently consists of six members, reviews the nominations.

If you would like to donate to the AHS Athletic HOF, please do so by contacting Joel Schieck at jnschieck@hotmail.com.