DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica Athletics Department is proud to announce its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing five former Saints whose accomplishments left a lasting impact on their respective programs.
The 2026 class includes women's track and field standout Nicole Christianson, men's track and field standout Kevin Wagner, men's soccer and hockey student-athlete Josh Friday, men's tennis standout Jacob Engelstad and men's Nordic skier Paul Schommer. Schommer was previously selected for induction but deferred and will be honored as part of this year's ceremony.
The 2026 St. Scholastica Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place October 24 at Mitchell Auditorium on the campus of The College of St. Scholastica.
Nicole Christianson – Women's Track & Field
Christianson established herself among the top high jumpers in St. Scholastica history, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships four times between the indoor and outdoor seasons. She earned two NCAA All-America honors, placing eighth nationally at the 2014 Indoor Championships and tying for sixth in 2016.
A seven-time individual UMAC champion, Christianson was a three-time UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet and was later selected to the UMAC Women's Track and Field All-Decade Team. Her career also included three Academic All-UMAC honors.
Kevin Wagner – Men's Track & Field
Wagner put together one of the most accomplished national résumés in St. Scholastica track and field history, making six appearances at the NCAA Division III Championships in the heptathlon and decathlon.
After narrowly missing All-America honors with a ninth-place decathlon finish as a freshman in 2013, Wagner went on to become a three-time NCAA All-American. He finished fourth nationally in the 2015 outdoor decathlon before earning a national runner-up finish in the 2016 indoor heptathlon and placing third in the decathlon at the 2016 Outdoor Championships.
Wagner qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the decathlon in each of his four collegiate seasons and remains the St. Scholastica record holder in both the outdoor decathlon with 6,785 points and the 110-meter hurdles at 15.00 seconds.
Josh Friday – Men's Soccer/Men's Hockey
A standout two-sport student-athlete, Friday made his biggest impact on the soccer field, where he earned NAIA All-District recognition in each of his four seasons.
Friday was a First Team NAIA All-District selection in both 1993 and 1994 before earning honorable mention honors in 1995 and 1996. He was also an All-UMAC selection in 1996, twice earned team Most Valuable Player honors and served as a two-year captain.
He finished his soccer career with 144 points, currently ranking sixth in program history, and twice led the Saints in scoring. Friday was named the St. Scholastica Male Athlete of the Year for 1996-97 while also competing for the men's hockey program, where he earned Academic All-NCHA honors.
Jacob Engelstad – Men's Tennis
Engelstad was one of the premier players of St. Scholastica's dominant UMAC men's tennis era, earning All-UMAC honors in each of his four collegiate seasons and being named the 2012 UMAC Player of the Year.
He won conference championships at No. 2 singles and doubles during his first two seasons before winning the No. 1 singles and doubles titles in 2011 and 2012. Engelstad helped lead the Saints to four consecutive UMAC regular-season championships from 2009-12 and three conference postseason tournament titles.
Engelstad finished his career with 61 singles victories and 115 total victories between singles and doubles, both ranking third in program history. He was also a two-time Academic All-UMAC honoree.
Paul Schommer – Men's Nordic Skiing
Schommer authored one of the most accomplished careers in St. Scholastica Nordic skiing history, becoming an NCAA Division III All-American and helping establish the Saints as a national presence in the sport.
He earned NCAA All-America honors in 2014 after finishing eighth in the 20-kilometer freestyle at the NCAA Skiing Championships. Schommer was also a two-time NCAA All-Central Region selection, a First Team All-CCSA honoree and the 2014 St. Scholastica Male Athlete of the Year.
Following his time at St. Scholastica, Schommer went on to represent the United States internationally in biathlon, including appearances at the Olympic Winter Games.
