WINONA, Minn. — Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 will be the first to admit that she never expected to be among those considered for the Saint Mary’s University Sports Hall of Fame.
Her accolades, however, told an entirely different story.
And now, the most decorated hurdler in Cardinal track and field history is days away from being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Baertsch, along with Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 and Marc Weisenburger B’75, will be recognized and honored as part of the third annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, which will be held at Visions Event Center in Winona on Saturday.
“I’ll never forget being surprised with the news I was selected for the Hall of Fame,” said Baertsch. “Since I live in Winona, I was lucky to experience the surprise in-person at my home! At first I was shocked, and honestly a little confused. But now that I’ve had time to process the news, I feel incredibly proud and honored to be selected.”
A four-year letterwinner, Baertsch was a three-year track captain and a cross country captain her senior year. Owner of a combined 10 indoor/outdoor school records, she was the MIAC hurdles champion in 2004 — and qualified for the NCAA national championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Baertsch collected eight First-Team All-MIAC honors and added three honorable-mention selections over her storied career, while being named Academic All-MIAC and USTFCCCA All-Academic each of her last three seasons.
“I had the honor and privilege of meeting fellow Hall of Famer Retsey (Ronk) Anderson, class of 1980, who I learned was the first female inducted into the Saint Mary’s HOF in 1990,” said Baertsch. “She shared stories of women’s athletics during the late 1970s, and I listened in admiration and amazement of her accomplishments and how far we’ve come in women’s athletics.
“To be among Retsey and so many other legends is an incredible feeling.”