Cincinnati, Ohio – April 16, 2015: Several St. Ursula Academy seniors participated in a national letter of intent signing ceremony on Thursday, April 16, 2015.
Annie Heffernan of Bridgetown, daughter of Dan and Debbie Heffernan, has committed to the Division 1University of Notre Dame in Indiana for Cross Country and Track and Field.
Elena Helmers-Wegman of Delhi, daughter of Jennifer Helmers and Robert Wegman, has committed to Division 1Wofford College in South Carolina for Track and Field.
Caitlin Kelly of Wyoming, daughter of Dave and Anna Kelly, has committed to Division 1 George Mason University in Virginia for Cross Country and Track and Field.
Katie Kerr of Cleves, daughter of Ken and Tracy Kerr, has committed to swim for Division 1 Xavier University.
Meredith Weidner of Monfort Heights, daughter of Mark and Janice
Weidner, has committed to play golf at Division 2 Wayne State University in Michigan.
Maria Weisgerber of Loveland, daughter of Mike and Gina Weisgerber, has committed to Division 1 Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for Cross Country and Track and Field.
About the Athletes
Annie Heffernan will join the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at The University of Notre Dame in the fall. Annie was a Varsity runner in Cross Country and Track and Field all four of her years at SUA. She was the recipient of the Coaches’ Award six (6) seasons in a row! Annie served as team captain for Cross Country the last two years and in Track for the past three years.
Annie has earned several awards in the past four years.
In the GGCL for Cross Country, she was named First Team and Runner of the Year as a freshman sophomore and junior. She was awarded honorable mention as a senior, when she was injured. She was the league champion in Cross Country her freshman, sophomore and junior year.
In the GGCL for Track and Field, she was named First Team and Runner of the Year her sophomore and junior years. She was league champion in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter both sophomore and junior years.
Her All-City, Regional and State awards include:
• Cross Country Division I State Champion - Junior Year
• Undefeated in Ohio for 2 years straight
• Gatorade Runner of the Year for Ohio 2013
• Cincinnati Enquirer Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year 2013, 2014
• Cincinnati Enquirer 1st Team All-Star 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Women’s Sports Association Cross Country Sportswoman of the Year 2014, 2015
• Invited to Nike Elite Camp 2013
• Record-Holder for Cincinnati Girls’ Cross Country
• Larosa’s MVP of the Year Finalist 2013-2014
Track:
• 3200 meter Division I Outdoor State Champion Sophomore Year
• Current State Record-Holder in the Outdoor and Indoor 3200 meter run
• 1600 meter Division I Outdoor State Champion Junior Year
• 3200 meter Division I Indoor State Champion Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Year
• National Runner-Up in the 2 mile Sophomore Year
• 3rd Place Finish in the 2 mile at Indoor Nationals Junior Year
• Member of the 4x800 meter relay that placed 8th in the State Championship Sophomore and Junior Year
• Record-Holder in the 1600 meter, 3200 meter, and 2 mile for Cincinnati Girls
Annie participates in several activities and clubs at Saint Ursula Academy. She is a member of the National Honor Society. She works with area elementary students as a Bulldog Buddy tutor. She is a VolunTeen at the Ronald McDonald House and volunteers at Cross Country camps during the summer.
Her Saint Ursula Varsity Coach, Dan Bird, said this about Annie, “A State record holder and a true competitor, Annie is always ready for the big race. Annie is an inspiration to the underclassmen on the team. Although very talented, her work ethic is what makes her the successful runner and person that she is, never missing practice, always ready to run.”
Elena Helmers-Wegman has committed to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina for Track and Field next year.
Elena played soccer at Saint Ursula as a freshman, then jumped to her true love-- Cross Country and Track and Field as a sophomore where she was on the Varsity team as a sophomore, junior and senior. Her top events include the long jump and the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter races as an individual and on relays.
Elena is very accomplished in the classroom too. She is a 2015 National Merit Commended Student and a member of the National Honor Society. She also is a member of the Latin Honor Society.
Elena was selected to be a Saint Ursula Ambassador and school liaison. She is a writer on the staff of The Light, the school newspaper. She is service co-chair of the Classics Club, Secretary on the SUA chapter of the National Honor Society, an INTERalliance Leadership Council member, a Bulldog Buddies tutor, and a volunteer at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.
Saint Ursula Varsity Coach, Dan Bird had these words about Elena. “Elena has been an integral part of the sprint and relay team’s success for the past four years as a varsity athlete. A natural leader and always dependable, Elena takes control and responsibility for leading team practices, which is an attribute that the coaches truly appreciate. She is always positive and goes out of her way to help the first year athletes find their way on the sprint squad.”
Caitlin Kelly will join the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She ran on the Varsity teams at Saint Ursula from her sophomore year through her senior year. She was captain of both teams as a senior. Caitlin was selected for the Coaches’ Award for Cross Country in 2014.
In the GGCL, she was named 2nd Team All-GGCL for Cross Country in 2013 and 2014. She also earned recognition as Top-10 All District for Cross Country in 2014 and was a member of the 4x800-meter District Ch\
ampion relay in Track in 2014.
She also was a member of the 4x800-meter relay that placed 4th at the indoor Ohio State Track Meet in 2014 and 2015.
Caitlin also stays busy in activities at Saint Ursula. She is a member of the Students for Advancement club and tutors area elementary students as a Bulldog Buddies tutor. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society.
Her Saint Ursula Varsity Coach, Dan Bird, said this about her, “Caitlin has the ability to work hard to achieve her goals earning a spot on varsity for the past three years. She is a top 10 runner for distance events in SUA history for Cross Country and Track & Field programs. Caitlin is outspoken and willing to take a stand to help guide the team to be fair and true to the team philosophy.”
Katie Kerr will swim next year at Xavier University. She is a four year Varsity swimmer at Saint Ursula. She qualified for the Ohio High School State Championships in the 200-freestyle and the 500-freestyles during her sophomore, junior and senior years. As a senior, she placed ninth overall at State in the 200-freestyle and 3rd overall in the 500-freestyle.
Katie is also a strong student. She earned first honors every semester and is an SUA Scholar Athlete. She was awarded the Bulldog Award her sophomore and senior years.
In the GGCL, she was named First Team All-Star junior year and GGCL Second Team All-Star senior year. She was also named a Swimming All-American in the 500-freestyle.
Katie was also a Sectional and National Club Swim Association Junior National Championship qualifier.
Out of the pool, Katie is involved in many other activities at Saint Ursula. As a senior, she was a member of the Fantasy and Fiction Club, the fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Outreach Services where she volunteered at the St. Boniface Food Pantry. In previous years, she was a member of the OJCL Classics Club, Yoga Club, and Student Outreach Services benefiting St. Vincent DePaul.
Katie’s Saint Ursula Varsity Coach, Ann Gartner, said, “From freshman season to her senior year, Katie demonstrated a determination and work ethic that resulted in outstanding contributions to the success of our team over those 4 years. She is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, and went from a state qualifier as a freshman to a top 3 finish at state as a senior. Katie will continue to improve as a college swimmer at Xavier and lead her new teammates, even as a college freshman swimmer, by her outstanding example in practice and meets.”
Her Cincinnati Marlins Coach, Chris Woodford, said “Katie has come such a long way in the last 4 years. Her commitment and hard work have promoted her ability to a state scorer and national level athlete. I am excited to see what she will do moving on to Division I swimming.”
Meredith Weidner will play golf next year at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
Meredith is a talented athlete with skill in several sports. She played golf on the Varsity Team at Saint Ursula for three years. She is also a strong softball player. She played on the Varsity Softball team at SUA all four years and was team captain as a senior.
In the GGCL, Meredith was named First Team for golf as a senior. She earned and honorable mention in golf as a junior. She also was named 2nd Team in softball as a junior.
She earned an Honorable Mention All-City for golf as a junior and a senior. She also was awarded Honorable Mention All-Southwest Ohio for golf as a junior and senior.
On a side note, her softball club team was a national qualifier for two years.
At school, Meredith holds First Honors, is a member of the National Honor Society and has a cumulative 4.1 G.P.A.
Meredith is a member of the Student Outreach Services where she serves as a leader of the St. Boniface Food Pantry team. She is also a member of the Students for Advancement club.
Her Saint Ursula Varsity Golf coach, Mark Hannahan had these words about Meredith. “Meredith is an outstanding athlete and talented golfer. She worked very hard to improve her game and the results were obvious. She has the talent to play golf successfully in college and I am glad that she has decided to do so. In addition to her golfing skill, Meredith has been an exemplary team member who models all the best qualities of the game of golf. It has been a pleasure coaching her at Saint Ursula. I predict she will be very successful in her athletic career at Wayne State, and at whatever endeavors she undertakes in life, and I wish her the very best."
Maria Weisgerber has committed to Miami University for Cross Country and Track and Field next year.
Maria has been a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field Teams at Saint Ursula Academy since her freshman year. Her best events during Track season include the mile (or 1600-meters), 2-mile (3,200-meters), and the 800-meter races. She also was a member of the state 4x800 relay. She ran the anchor leg of the State 4x800 relay team as a sophomore and junior.
Maria was captain of both Cross Country and Track and Field teams as a junior and a senior.
She was named GGCL Second-Team for Cross Country in her freshman and junior year, GGCL First Team her sophomore year, and First Team again her senior year. She was named First Team Southwest Ohio by the Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (SWOTCCCA) in her senior year.
Off the track, she is also a great student! Maria has earned honors all four years, is a 4-year scholar athlete and was a recipient of the Bulldog Star award.
She is a two-year member of the Students for Advancement Club, an OJCL service officer, a 4-year school Ambassador, and a 2-year member of the National Honor Society. Maria also volunteers at local junior high track and field meets and is a 3-year volunteer at Bethesda North Hospital.
Maria’s Saint Ursula Varsity Coach, Dan Bird, said this about her, “Four year varsity in Cross Country and Track and Field, Maria is also a four time State Meet competitor. Maria is always willing to help the team by competing in every race from the 200m dash to 3200m run for St. Ursula. She has also made the team fun and enjoyable by planning and organizing events throughout the season.”
Coach Bird went on to say this about all of the girls he coached who are here today, “It is very difficult to separate each girl’s success as they are all better because of each other. All four girls have fostered our team philosophy that everyone is equally important and we are a family. Their dedication and commitment to the SUA team and the family atmosphere they bring will be a lasting legacy that the seniors and these four will have left with the program.”
St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition.
St. Ursula welcomes students from more than 70 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2002 the Academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. The Class of 2014 earned college scholarships totaling more than $20-million.