Six Fremont High School athletes sign to college athletics

Six Fremont athletes signed their letters of intent to play college athletics Wednesday in the first signing ceremony of the school year for the Tigers.

Ansley Giesselmann, Central Missouri women's golf

The winningest girls golfer in Fremont High School history signed with the Central Missouri women's golf program Wednesday.

"They believe in me and believe that I can become an All-American there, so that's what' exciting for me," Giesselmann said.

The senior announced her commitment to the Jennies in early July, a moment she said 'flushed away all the stress,' of being recruited.

Giesselmann racked up six wins during her senior season and capped it with a runner-up finish in the Class A state tournament while helping the Tigers qualify as a team for the first time since 2015.

Central Missouri is one of the premier Division II golf programs with a university course and a brand-new golf center, which opened in April this year featuring a locker room and a players lounge among other amenities.

The Jennies finished fourth in the NCAA Division II tournament in 2023. Giesselmann is the program's first signing from Nebraska in over a decade.

Mattie Dalton, North Dakota; Kate Denker, Morningside volleyball

Mattie Dalton and Kate Denker have been linked on the volleyball court since their youth and fitting signed to play volleyball at the next level on the same day.

"I can count more things that we have done together these past four year," Dalton said. "I have very few accomplishments that we didn't do together."

The duo did their signings back-to-back with Dalton off to the University of North Dakota and Denker to Morningside.

"I am super excited for her," Denker said. "I just ordered a North Dakota sweatshirt today. I'm really excited to see what she does in the future and I'm going to miss her so much, but I know she'll support me and I'll always support her."

Dalton has been committed to the Fighting Hawks since last September. Denker finalized her college pick this past May.

Both set school records while guiding Fremont to a record 28 wins and a second state tournament appearance in their four years with the program this past season.

Denker broke her own school record with 907 assists this year. Dalton also re-upped her own school kill record, landing 673.

The pair had the unique chance to get the majority of their high school coaches at the celebration with Andrew Wehlri, now at Omaha Westside as the head coach, and Sami Hansen, now leading Bennington's program, returning to town alongside current Tiger co-head coach Sue Wewel and Halie Williams.

"I had to invited a lot of coaches, but they've all become family to me and I can turn to any those coaches whenever I need to," Denker said.

Dalton echoed her teammate.

"That was another really special part of today is I got to have everyone who supported me so much in the 17 years of my life in one photo," Dalton said.

Dalton has just over a month left in Fremont, electing to graduate early to join the Fighting Hawks for the spring semester.

"It's great academically because I'll get the extra semester of credits and my first semester in college won't be during my peak travel season," Dalton said. "Plus, I'll be able to get used to the new system and the differences that come with no longer playing volleyball against 15 and 16-year-olds, but 18 and 20-year-olds."

Maddie McBratney, Nebraska Wesleyan track

Maddie McBratney will continue a long line of former Fremont runners taking their talents to the college level, signing with the Nebraska Wesleyan cross country/track and field program.

"They were one of the first colleges who reached out to me and I just really people initiating things because I'm a very plan-y person," McBratney said. "Them reaching out was a big thing, but also the coaches remind me of coaches that I have."

McBratney was a four-year member of the Fremont cross country program, reaching the state meet in 2023 as a junior.

"(Running is) something that I've done all my life and its something that I want to keep doing as long as a I can," McBratney said.

Jacoby Knop, Southwest Minnesota State wheelchair basketball

Jacoby Knop has been playing wheelchair basketball for over a decade and has no plans to stop.

The senior signed with Southwest Minnesota State to join the school's program Wednesday.

"They have a really good wheelchair basketball program and I have a lot of friends that are already there," Knop said.

The Mustangs roster sports three players from Nebraska.

SMSU are one of 12 schools that offer wheelchair basketball and is one of the smaller schools on the list, which was a selling point for Knop.

The Mustangs went 19-9 last season.

Caden Ristau, Mount Marty baseball

Caden Ristau became the latest Fremont baseball player to sign to play college ball, inking with Mount Marty

"I just thought it'd be the best fit for me," Ristau said. "When I went on the campus visit, it was really nice. I went on six different visits and that was by far the best."

Ristau was a strong component of the Tigers bullpen during the American Legion season this summer before an injury kept him out of the latter half of the year.

"I hope to keep grinding and get better and do better than I did last year," Ristau said.