MONONA — Achieving much success in their respective sports in high school, many Monona Grove alumni are off competing in college.
Ranging from Division 1 to Division 3, over 50 athletes that walked the halls of Monona Grove High School are participating in college athletics.
Below is a list of what some former Monona Grove student-athletes are accomplishing in college.
Marissa Light played at Edgewood College as a freshman, splitting time between singles and doubles action.
MG girls tennis: Riley Perkins, Marissa Light and Eliza Martin wrap up strong seasons at state championship
Light, a NACC Scholar-Athlete, was All-NACC at singles and at doubles with partner Evelyn Taylor. Light finished the year with a record of 14-7 in doubles action and was 11-10 in singles action.
Brandon Warnke completed his junior season playing in the midfield at Cornell College.
Warnke, a 2025 Academic All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference recipient, played in 16 games, scoring 11 goals and recording five assists. Warnke scored a hat trick against Augustana on Feb. 26.
Brooklyn Tortorice is a freshman middle blocker at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Tortorice played in two sets, recording two kills in eight total attempts.
Jordan Davis-Troller started all 19 games as a forward/midfielder for Lakeland University. In 1,609 minutes, Davis-Troller scored two goals and had six assists.
Davis-Troller also plays on the men’s volleyball team at Lakeland as a middle blocker. In 97 sets, Davis-Troller had 110 kills, 41 digs, 39 blocks and 10 aces.
Davis-Troller was also a recipient of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athlete award.
All four swimmers that broke the school’s 200-yard medley relay at the WIAA 2023 State Championships are swimming in college.
200-yard medley relay team breaks MG girls swim record; Silver Eagles score two personal bests and two season bests at state
Macy Ganshert swam at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a freshman. At the GLVC Championships, Ganshert was a part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that finished 14th with a time of 3:35.10.
Ganshert, who was an academic All-GLVC, transferred to Northern Kentucky University for this upcoming season.
Kelley Ryan swims at the University of New Mexico. As a freshman, Ryan swam the backstroke for the Lobos.
Monona Grove Unified Boys Swim team continues to excel in year three
Tessa Gordon competed as a freshman at Connecticut College.
Competing in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the NESCAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Gordon helped the “B” team score points with a 19th-place finish at 7:48.31. Gordon also took 33rd in the 50-yard butterfly at 26.78 and 34th in the 100-yard butterfly at 59.73.
The final member of the school record holders, Kiarra Kahl, swam at Ripon College as a freshman.
Kahl broke Ripon’s school record in the 200-yard breaststroke at the Midwest Conference Championships with a time of 2:33.14, finishing third overall in the “B” final.
At the Wisconsin Private College Championships, Kahl finished seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:13.86 and took eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:42.88.
Trinity McNall completed her senior season on the Florida Atlantic University dive team.
At the AAC Championships, McNall finished seventh in the 1-meter dive with a score of 237.45 and took ninth in the 3-meter dive with a score of 306.20.
Brianna Back completed her senior season at Northern State University. At the NSIC Championships, Back swam 12th in the 100-yard individual medley at 1:01.47. Back was also on the 800-yard freestyle relay that finished sixth at 7:55.90.
Sam Hawker is a freshman at the University of South Dakota. Hawker redshirted his first year with the Coyotes, participating on the scout team offensive line.
Sam Hawker officially signs letter of intent to play football at the University of South Dakota
Cuinn Larsh, a kicker, spent the 2024 football season with Northern Michigan University. Larsh, a redshirt freshman, was awarded academic excellence by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Fabian Jackson is a junior running back at the University of Dubuque. Jackson played in two games, recording six carries for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Henry Walsh appeared in 11 games as a junior defensive end for the University of La Crosse. Walsh recorded 18 total tackles, had three tackles for loss and forced one fumble.
Emmery Korfmacher is a senior defender at Yale University. Korfmacher appeared in seven games, blocking five shots on the season.
Lance Nelson earned second team All-CCIW honors after his senior season at North Park University.
Nelson, a guard, averaged 8.5 points per game, scoring 222 points in 26 games. Nelson also grabbed 111 rebounds, recorded 96 assists and totaled 32 steals.
Emmett Toijala appeared in eight games as a freshman guard at Lawrence University. Toijala scored eight points, totaled three rebounds and had one steal. Toijala was also a member of the All-Midwest Conference Academic Team.
Avery Poole started in 32 games as a junior guard at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Poole averaged eight points per game, scoring 255 points on the season. Poole made 39 3’s, recorded 54 assists and had 61 rebounds.
Also at UW-Oshkosh, Abbey Inda appeared in four games as a freshman guard. Inda made one free throw, had two steals and grabbed three rebounds.
Karsyn Nelson appeared in 26 games as a freshman at Ripon College. Nelson scored 169 points, including 19 in Ripon’s opening game against Puget Sound, and had 58 rebounds and 43 steals on the year.
Aubrey Smith played in 12 games as a freshman forward at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Smith scored 11 points, had 10 rebounds and recorded four steals.
Peighton Nelson completed her junior season at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Nelson started all 29 games for the Rangers, averaging 9.2 points per game. Nelson finished the year with 266 points, 90 assists, 86 rebounds and shot 40% from the field.
Jonah Elfers swam the sprint freestyle and butterfly as a junior at the University of La Crosse.
At the WIAC Championships, Elfers was on the winning 200-yard medley relay that finished in first place with a time of 1:30.36 that set a new school record.
Elfers was a part of the 400-yard medley relay team that set a new school record with a second-place finish at 3:21.25.
Also at the conference championships, Elfers finished second in the 100-yard butterfly at 49.86 and took seventh in the 200-yard butterfly at 2:03.24.
Like Elfers, Caleb Jondle is also a junior on the UW-La Crosse swim team, competing in the individual medley and butterfly.
At the WIAC Championships, Jondle took third in the 400-yard individual medley at 4:11.02, finished fifth in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:57.13 and scored eighth in the 200-yard individual medley at 1:57.16.
Jondle was also on the 800-yard freestyle relay team that finished fourth at the WIAC Championships with a time of 7:00.99.
As a freshman, Ethan Johnson competed in the butterfly and individual medley at Northern Kentucky University during its inaugural season.
At the Horizon League Championships, Johnson was on the 200-yard medley relay team that finished seventh at 1:34.62.
Johnson placed 14th in the 200-yard butterfly at 1:55.81, took 26th in the 200-yard individual medley at 1:54.54 and finished 26th in the 100-yard butterfly at 51.12 seconds.
Jake Douberly completed his senior season with Navy University, swimming in the backstroke, butterfly and individual medley.
An Academic All-District selection, Douberly placed eighth at the Patriot League Championships in the 400-yard individual medley at 3:57.07.
Zoe Jenks-Recker is a senior gymnast at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Jenks-Recker was on a team that finished second at the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships.
Jenks-Recker, an Academic All-American, scored a 9.8 on the floor exercises as the championship. Against Eau Claire in the final home meet of the season, Jenks-Recker finished third on the floor with a score of 9.825.
Jenks-Recker taking gymnastic talents to UW-Whitewater
Jacob Frederickson is a junior on the Edgewood College golf team. At the NACC Championships, Frederickson shot a 190 to finish 45th overall.
Auden Jatczak appeared in one game as a freshman pitcher for Wisconsin Lutheran College. Jatczak retired all three batters faced and recorded two strikeouts in his inning of work.
Matt Klonsinski is a junior infielder at Graceland University. In 44 games, Klonsinski batted .263 with 12 runs scored, three RBIs and three stolen bases.
Owen Lee also plays at Graceland University. Lee, a redshirt sophomore outfielder, played in two games and scored one run.
Jackson Hewitt, a sophomore, plays at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota as a pitcher and outfielder. Hewitt was named Academic All-MIAC.
Mac Vesperman, a sophomore, plays first base for Edgewood College. Vesperman, a NACC Scholar Athlete, played in eight games, recording a .188 batting average, knocking in five runs and scoring three runs.
Miles Nelson was sidelined with an injury during the spring season for Harford Community College. Nelson played collegiate summer ball with the Alton River Dragons.
As a freshman outfielder at Parkland College, Nick Guidici played in 28 games for a team that reached the Region 24 Championship. Guidici batted .279 with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Along with swimming at Ripon College, Kiarra Kahl also played women’s soccer. As a freshman, Kahl started all 17 games, logging 1,395 minutes on the backline.
Camille Gilbertson played in 16 games for Madison College as a sophomore midfielder. Gilbertson scored one goal and had three assists, tallying 1,042 minutes on the pitch.
Megan Kohrt earned UMAC Second Team All-Conference honors as a senior midfielder at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul.
Kohrt, a NCCAA scholar athlete, scored nine goals and had six assists in 872 minutes. In 12 games, Kohrt scored two game-winning goals and recorded a hat trick against Bethel.
Belle Dehner played in 17 games as a freshman midfielder for Quincy University. In 1,187 minutes, Dehner, a GLVC Academic All-Conference selection, scored one goal and had two assists.
Dani Lucey played in 52 games as a sophomore outfielder for the University of Wisconsin. Lucey, a 2025 All-Big Ten All-Defensive Team recipient, had just one error on 91 putouts for a 99% fielding rate.
At the plate, Lucey, a 2025 College Sports Communications Academic All-District honoree, batted .236 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 22 runs scored and recorded five doubles.
Emma Lee, a junior outfielder, helped Trine University win the 2025 NCAA Division 3 title.
In the top of the sixth inning of the championship game with Trine down 1-0 to Virginia Wesleyan University, Lee hit a three-run homer, giving the Thunder the lead and eventual championship.
Lee, an Academic All-American and second team NFCA All-Region VII selection, batted .369 with six home runs, 39 RBIs, nine doubles and 48 runs scored. Lee also stole 33 bases.
Karlie McKenzie pitched over 125 innings for Eastern Illinois University as a junior.
McKenzie, who earned Academic All-District and was MVP of the OVC Tournament, recorded an 11-3 record on the season with a 2.79 ERA. McKenzie pitched three complete games, tossed two shutouts and had 103 strikeouts.
Paige Hanson started 49 of 50 games in her junior season for the University of Green Bay, recording a .294 batting average.
Playing as a catcher and shortstop, Hanson hit three home runs, recorded 24 RBIs, tallied nine doubles and scored 17 runs. Hanson also committed only nine errors for a 96% fielding rate.
Jeneya Marquez Perez appeared in 22 games as a pitcher and outfielder as a freshman for Madison College. At the plate, Marquez Perez batted .290 with a triple and three RBIs.
In the circle, Marquez Perez pitched in four games, totaling 17 innings with a 5.35 ERA and five strikeouts.
Bree Loushine is a freshman outfielder at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Loushine scored three runs in nine games for the Warhawks.
Chase Lindwall is a junior on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s tennis team. Lindwall went 9-2 at singles competition and went 5-2 at doubles.
Track and Field/Cross Country
As a sophomore, Erica Eastman ran both cross country and track and field for the University of Vermont.
For the cross country season, Eastman ran 20th at the UVM Invitational with a time of 19:16.3. At the American East Championships, Eastman placed 46th with a time of 18:42.36.
During the indoor season, Eastman ran the 5,000 meter, finishing sixth at the New England Championships with a time of 18:20.19.
For the outdoor season, Eastman, who was on the American East Commissioner’s Honor Roll, finished 18th at the American East Championships in the 5,000 with a time of 18:17.96.
Maddie Hogan, a sophomore, competes on the University of Wisconsin track and field team as a heptathlete.
During the indoor season, Hogan scored 17th at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with 3,530. Hogan also finished eighth (3,544) in the pentathlon at the Fighting Illini Invite and ran fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.85) at the Midwest Invite.
During the outdoor season, Hogan secured a personal best score of 5,173 points in the heptathlon to finish 12th at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Also during the outdoor season, Hogan took third in the 100-meter hurdles (14.40) and third in the javelin throw (116-0) at the Mangrum Invite.
Elena Kozich competes on the University of La Crosse cross country team. As a junior, Kozich placed 26th at the Concordia Wisconsin Invitational 6k with a time of 24:54.1.
As a junior, Eli Traeder ran on the cross country and track and field team at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
For the cross country season, Traeder ran 75th at the WIAC Championships with a time of 26:04.0.
For the track season, Traeder finished second in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:42.22 at the St. Norbert Invitational.
Evan Klinkner, a senior, competes in the pole vault at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Klinkner scored fourth overall with a mark of 14 feet and 3.25 inches at the Sol Butler Classic. At the WIAC Championships, Klinkner finished 14th with a mark of 13 feet and 11.25 inches.
Vanessa Thomas, a senior, competes at Viterbo University. At the NSAA Championships, Thomas helped the 4×800 relay team finish third at 10:34.3.
Thomas also earned all-conference honors, finishing third in the 5,000 with a time of 20:35.71 at the North Star Championships.





