June 15, 2021
An MPA lifer, Chad Hanson grew up watching a variety of Panthers’ sports. As he got older, Hanson had the opportunity to try out a number of those different including cross country running, basketball, golf and football. But baseball was his true love, and by the time he entered Upper School, he was playing virtually year round.
For the Panthers, Hanson played many positions, and as a 6’4 athletic infielder, he found success on the pitcher’s mound and at short stop. He earned Tri Metro all-conference honors twice, All-state honorable mention twice, and played on the Metro East all-star team in the Minnesota Lions All Star Baseball Tournament as a senior. Read More
Cooper Olson is among the most talented and accomplished basketball players in Mounds Park Academy history, yet ask his teammates, coaches, classmates or teachers, and they’re more likely to bring up who he is off the court than his achievements on it.
The youngest of three Dahlberg siblings, Declan Dahlberg watched his older brother and sister grow up as three sport athletes at MPA. When he got his turn in blue and white, he made the most of it. A cross country running, Nordic skiing and track and field athlete, Dahlberg’s name dots the record books in each sport.
For Dylan Merchant ’16, there wasn’t too much more special than winning the state team golf championship with his closest friends as a senior. “I really enjoyed the moment in every event, and played really well. I made my first hole in one, I won the section championship and placed second in state individually, and I really made some great connections with other athletes outside of MPA.”
Dylan Saul ’11 was the all-important fifth runner on MPA’s first ever state qualifying cross country team in 2008. Just a sophomore, Saul’s tenacity and selflessness helped bring home a sixth place finish at the class A state cross country meet for the Panthers.
Emma Stacy ‘15 embodies the student athlete at Mounds Park Academy. As a competitive swimmer, she knew that without the right balance of athletics, arts, and academics, plus a healthy dose of joy, she could be susceptible to an early burn out. It was no surprise that Stacy, who swam for Metro United, MPA’s co-op swim team, always made sure to make swimming fun. “My favorite memory was carpooling to the pool with other MPA swimmers and jamming to songs in the car to get pumped up,” she said.
With an older brother considered one of Minnesota’s most accomplished distance runners in recent memory, Evan Ferlic had some big shoes to fill. But with a list of accolades that looks like his brother Mason’s, Ferlic has proven he is up for the challenge.
Late October nights in Minnesota tend to be cold and dark. Soccer players competing in section tournament games, played under the lights, bundle up any way they can.
Jaima (Solie) Salagovic excelled on the soccer field for the Panthers and longtime girls soccer coach Mike Scinto. A part of the 2002 state tournament team, Salagovic chose to play collegiately at the University of Minnesota Morris after graduating from MPA. At UMM, Salagovic earned Academic all-conference in the in each of her four years and was named to the UMAC all-conference first team her senior year.
Jude Hull ’12 was like many of the new seventh graders starting at MPA in the fall of 2006. He was excited and eager to learn, perhaps even a little nervous. But he was certainly the only incoming Panther whose father and grandfather are hockey hall of famers. Hockey is literally in Hull’s blood. So, it comes as no surprise that even as he relished the opportunity to play other sports at over his next six years at MPA, including being named captain of the golf team, he was a hockey player first and foremost.