Five Panthers prepared to play collegiate sports

Four girls and one boy from Oconto Falls High School are planning on playing collegiate sports this coming school year.

Three of the five will get another chance to play their spring season after the coronavirus pandemic knocked out their senior years.

Track and field

Ericka Havemeier and Ruthie Zahm will go from teammates to conference opponents as they join college track and field teams. Havemeier is set to compete for UW-La Crosse, while Zahm heads to UW-Stevens Point.

“I chose to attend UW-La Crosse because of their outstanding physical therapy program, as well as the track team and gorgeous campus. It just already felt like home,” said Havemeier, who received interest from Division I schools but felt Division III was a better fit for her.

Zahm was already planning on attending Stevens Point — enjoying the close proximity of the camps — before thinking about an athletic career. “My recruitment process was pretty simple. I emailed coach (Brett) Witt and said that I planned on going to Stevens Point and I wanted to run track. He asked me what events I did, and I said hurdles and triple jump and he put me on the recruitment list.”

Havemeier, a standout sprinter who made it to state as a freshman and sophomore, said she’s been in contact with some of the team members, along with coach Nick Davis and sprints coach Katie Wagner.

Zahm, who called Marissa DeMoulin “one of the best coaches I have ever had,” said she’s most looking forward to making connections with her new teammates.

Havemeier and Zahm are especially excited to compete in the sport again after having their senior seasons erased.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue doing what I love at the collegiate level,” said Havemeier, who thanked her family for the support over the years. “Not many athletes get this opportunity, and I intend to make the most of it.”

“Since I was not able to run track for my high school my senior year, it really means a lot to me that I get to run for UWSP,” said Zahm. “It makes me feel better knowing that my track career isn’t just over.”

Baseball

Mitchell Manns is in a similar situation to the Panther track and field duo as his senior baseball season was taken away. Manns plans to try out for the UW-Stevens Point baseball team.

“I chose Point because they have great natural resource classes, and that’s the area where I want to study,” said Manns, who was the Panthers primary catcher.

Manns made the North Eastern Conference second team in his junior season and is hoping to extend his baseball career a few more years.

“I always loved to play baseball, and now that I might be able to play in college is special because not many people get to keep on playing past high school, and I’m going to have fun and try my hardest,” said Manns.

The high school catcher thanked family members, coaches and teammates for helping him become the player he is today.

Cross-country

After a high school cross-country career full of strong finishes, Autumn Canavera hopes to find similar success at UW-Eau Claire, where she will try out.

“I chose to go to Eau Claire because I love the feel of the campus, and they have a great nursing program and cross-country team,” said Canavera, who thanked her parents, coaches, teammates and friends for their support over her lifetime.

Canavera got to take in a unique recruiting event a couple months back where she met the coaches and some of the current runners.

“I got to run with them and get a feel of how the cross-country/track seasons would go,” said Canavera. “Since then, I’ve been keeping in touch with the coach for updates on the upcoming cross-country season and the college in general.”

Volleyball

Samantha Coron played a big role for the Oconto Falls volleyball team over the past few seasons, and she will look for a similar outcome while playing for North Iowa Area Community College (Mason City, Iowa).

“The minute I met the coach (Chris Brandt) on my visit, she was awesome and it seriously felt like I’ve known her my whole life,” said Coron. “I think she and the other girls on the team that I met had a huge factor in why I chose NIACC. Also, the campus was super nice and the dorms were incredible.”

Coron wrapped up her high school career on a high note, making the NEC second team and Division 2 honorable mention Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association All-State Team. She hopes to find similar success in college, where she continues a family tradition.

“Getting the opportunity to continue to play the sport I have spent my entire life playing is incredible because it’s so important to me,” said Coron. “All my life I dreamed of playing in college like my mom (Pam) and then my sister (Shelby), and now me. I am so thankful to get this opportunity, and I think it will help me transition into college and overall help me with life skills.”

sports@newmedia-wi.com