Eden Valley-Watkins Hall of Fame

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

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Two standout athletes from the class of 2001 are slated to be inducted into the EV-W Hall of Fame. Katie Huschle Martin and Mandy Pearson will be honored during half-time of the Friday, Oct. 7,

Homecoming football game.

Martin and Pearson were three-sport athletes at EV-W, but are probably best remembered for talents on the basketball court. The two were named all-conference Most Valuable Players in their senior year, and led the Eagles all the way to the Class A runners-up title. They also went on to record-setting playing careers in college.

Katie Huschle Martin

Martin's name is synonymous with success both on and off the athletic court. A five-year letter winner in basketball, Martin was named three times all-conference, two times all-area, and all-state her senior year. She was also recognized as a Class A senior all-star, and a member of the 2001 state tournament team.

Her talents were not limited to basketball, however. A three-year letter winner in both volleyball and softball, Martin served as captain in both sports in her senior year, and was named to the all-conference team for two years.

Katie's extra curriculars were not limited to sports. She was also president of the National Honor Society, three-year member of the student council, four-year member of band, a Triple A award winner, and three-year member of the yearbook and newspaper staffs.

After high school, Martin went on to play for St. Cloud State University where she was a four-year letter winner, all-conference honorable mention and captain her senior year. Her SCSU career accomplishments also include 1,043 career points, top 10 in the record book for 3-point field goals, 3 point field goal percentage, free-throw percentage, career assists and assist average.

Martin was member of the 2005 Region Championship team and an NCAA Elite Eight Team. She also received the Excellence in Leadership university award her senior year.

After college, Martin worked as an assistant basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University for two years. She currently is a sixth-grade teacher and head girls' basketball coach at Sartell. In 2010, she coached the Sabres to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament and was 2010 Section coach of the year.

Martin currently resides in Cold Spring with her husband Adam and son Jack.

Mandy Pearson

Pearson made her presence known both on and off the athletic court. The Watkins native was the St. Cloud Times Area Player of the Year in 2001. A member of the EV-W varsity girls' basketball team from seventh through 12th grade, Mandy was a six-year letter winner, four-year all conference play, one-year most valuable player, and two years co-most valuable player.

When she wasn't dribbling a basketball, Pearson ran cross country and played short stop on the EV-W softball team. In addition, she was a member of concert and jazz band, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, National Honor Society, and served on the student council for four years including vice president her junior year and president her senior year.

Pearson went on to attend Concordia College in Moorhead where she majored in psychology and minored in sociology, health and coaching.

Mandy made a name for herself in the MIAC conference as a two-sport athlete for the Cobbers. In her senior year, she earned numerous honors including NCAA Division III Kodak All-American Team, D3hoops.com All-American Second Team, D3hoops.com All-Region First Team, MIAC All-Conference team, MIAC Player of the Year, fourth in MIAC for scoring, led the MIAC in assists, second in the nation for assists per game, led the MIAC in field goal percentage, second in MIAC for steals.

As a junior in the 2003-04 season, Pearson was named to the D2hoops.com West Region Second Team, MIAC all-conference team, MIAC player of the year, led the MIAC in assists, second in MIAC for steals, ninth in the nation for assists per game. As a sophomore she was named to the all-conference team, and as a freshmen was MIAC all-defensive, all-first year, all-MIAC honorable mention team and led the nation in assists per game.

Pearson also played softball for the Cobbers. In 2005, she was named to the MIAC all-conference team and set a school record for assists in a single season. She was also MIAC all-conference Honorable Mention Team as a junior.

After college, Mandy was hired at Hamline University where she spent two seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach. She is currently ready to start her fifth season as head women's basketball coach at St. Mary's University in Winona. She earned her master's degree through St. Mary's University in Human Development with an emphasis in sports psychology, leadership and motivation.