NUACS honors four Hall of Fame inductees

Staff photo by Fritz Busch
New Ulm Area Catholic Schools Hall of Fame inductees honored at a ceremonial brunch at the New Ulm Country Club Saturday, from left, Stacy Olson ‘65, Bob Wurtzberger ‘95, Derek Wilfhahrt ‘09 and Sam Dengerud ‘09.

NEW ULM — New Ulm Area Catholic Schools honored four Hall of Fame inductees with a ceremonial brunch at the New Ulm Country Club Saturday.

The Outstanding Service Award is given to Stacy Olson ’65. Bob Wurtzberger ’95 received the Distinguished Achievement Award. Class of 2009 members Sam Dengerud and Derek Wilfahrt received the Distinguished Athletics Award.

The Outstanding Service Award recipient is chosen for their dedication to strengthen NUACS programs. Olson grew up in Springfield, attending St. Raphael’s Catholic School. She transferred to Cathedral High School her junior year and graduated valedictorian in 1965.

Learning was a passion for Olson. she earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Studies and Theology from Marillac College, St. Louis. She furthered her education with minors in English and Math. After turning both minors into certifications by attending other universities, she earned a Master’s Degree in teaching Earth Science at the University of Notre Dame. She also earned a Special Education certificate from North Park University, Chicago and MSU.

Olson taught for 42 years, spending many years working in Catholic education. Teaching at St. Gregory’s in Chicago, she decided to tutor students to prepare for the ACT to get into college. She continued tutoring students at Sylvan Learning Center after moving back to Minnesota in 2004.

After retiring, she met with Cathedral High School Principal Peter Roufs and they concluded she would do ACT prep with CHS students.

Wurtzberger’s Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes outstanding professional honor and recognition while making a positive community impact. While on summer college break, he took a job with a local electrician and found his niche, becoming a Master Electrician.

Wurtzberger opened Current Electric in New Ulm in 2006. The business accommodates young people with job shadowing, internships and summer jobs. He and his employees are guest speakers and teachers at New Ulm High School shop classes.

The business hires members of local fire departments and military veterans and sponsors many NUACS activities, sports and community events.

Wurtzberger has been on the Sigel Athletic Board of Directors for nine years, coaching baseball in Essig, the New Ulm Junior Baseball Association in the NUACS Super Hooper program. He was parish picnic co-chairperson and volunteers with the Knights of Columbus, Cathedral Men’s Fish Fry and CHS golf tournament planning committee.

Dengerud earned four basketball letters, three in softball and one in volleyball. She was all-conference twice in basketball. In softball, she had a .325 career batting average. The third CHS girls basketball player to reach 1,000 career points, she finished with 1,076 points, 386 rebounds, 193 assists and 134 steals.

Wilfahrt earned three basketball and baseball letters and two in football. He rushed for 1,535 yards, 25 rushing touchdowns, 31 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns.

He holds records for 22 touchdowns in a season and 338 all-purpose yards in a game. Wilfahrt was named KNUJ Player of the Year, Journal Player of the Year and named to the Minnesota High School Football All-Star game.

In his basketball career, he scored 675 points, had 239 assists, 186 rebounds and 146 steals.

Wilfahrt’s career batting average was .402 with 48 RBIs and 37 stolen bases.