Erica Seidenkranz (Monticello) has committed to the University of Minnesota - Duluth and will compete in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track as a "bulldog". Erica has had a wonderful high school running career with many athletic success, but she is also very successful in the classroom and is currently ranked #1 in her class with a 4.0 gpa. Because of this combination, she was very fortunate to have been recruited by many top athletic and academic schools across the country, and narrowing it down to a manageable number was difficult. "In the end I felt a connection with UMD team members and Coach Joanna Warmington, who is also a Monticello High School grad," said Seidenkranz. "I felt right at home and am very excited about attending UMD and the opportunities I'll have both competing as a runner and in the classroom."
Erica’s accomplishments in her high school career:
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*4 time State Class AA Cross Country qualifier: 2011 (9th place) 2010 (5th) 2009 (6th) 2008 (11th)
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*Fall 2011 led the Monticello cross country team to the school’s first ever State title of any kind, boys or girls
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*Cross Country Captain 2010 and 2011
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*Holds the all-time meet and course at the Milaca Mega Meet with a 14:25
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*Erica’s All-time 4k personal best is 14:15
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*4 consecutive Mississippi 8 Conference Cross Country Champion titles
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*Star & Tribune Athlete of the Week (Oct. 2010 – cross country)
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*4 time Mississippi 8 Conference Athlete of the Week
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*3 time Nike Heartland Regional Championships participant placing 16th, 14th and 19th culminating with a trip to Nike Nationals in Portland, Oregon in 2011. Erica had her spikes stepped on and lost both shoes. She completed the 5k course with no shoes and although she had no grip on the slippery, wet course she still managed to finish 98th overall, placing at the top of the team .
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*3 time State Class AA Track meet qualifier 2009 (1600m, 10th), 2010 (1600m, 7th), 2011 (3200m, 4th)
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*Currently Erica’s All-Time best 1600m is 5:03 and 3200m is 11:03
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*Multiple Conference Athlete of the Week for track
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*School record holder for outdoor 1600m and 3200m along with multiple indoor distances
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*Mississippi 8 Conference Outdoor Track Champion in both the 1600m & 3200m distances in 2009 and 2010
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*Multiple academic All-Conference, academic All-State awards
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*Six year Letter Winner in both cross country and track
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*Participated in both the USA Track & Field Minnesota District and Regional outdoor track meets in the 2000m steeplechase setting a new MN record qualifying for the USATF National Championship Meet
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*Nominated for the Excel Award junior year.
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*Recipient of the Triple “A” award for Monticello school district
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*Multiple recipient of Academic Letter Winner
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*3 year member of the National Honor Society
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*Recipient of the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award
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*Enrolled in Advanced Placement courses
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*Member of the Monticello High School student council and Wind Ensemble
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*Member of various community service clubs
Seidenkranz will graduate as the most decorated runner to come from the Monticello program ever. She is a very versatile runner and most likely will try various distances as a freshman to see what she will excel best at. She is currently looking at majoring in Pre-Med or Biology and possibly going on to medical school. She will compete in her final high school track season this spring with the Monticello “Magic” before moving on to be a “Bulldog”.