Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Ben Pearson, pictured, will take his talents to Martin Luther University next fall as a fifth-year student at the school, where he will play both golf and basketball for the Knights.
NEW ULM — Faith and family come first for Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers senior Ben Pearson.
Playing two of his favorite sports while attending a college synonymous with his family was exactly what the three-sport athlete was looking for.
The 6-foot-3 Charger decided to continue his academic and athletic career at Martin Luther University in New Ulm in the fall. He will play both basketball and golf for the Knights.
“I first came to Bethany Lutheran University and knew I wanted to do something in business.” Ben Pearson said. “So I visited them and they had a great program over there and they had a great school. Then I visited MLC and said, 'Wow, this is a really great program and a really great school.' thought. So I just thought, 'What do I want to be? Do I want to be a teacher or do I want to go into business somewhere?' And I thought, 'What do I want to be? , I decided that it was the biggest impact I could have. ”
By attending MLC, which is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Ben Pearson will also become the school's fifth generation student.
His mother, Amy (Bauer) Pearson, was an all-conference and All-American basketball player, an all-conference cross country runner, and a member of the school's 1994 National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) national championship volleyball team. I was a member. His father, Matt Pearson, was a golfer and an all-conference football player for the Knights.
Ben Pearson's grandparents were also athletes at MLC, then called Dr. Martin Luther College (DMLC). His grandfather, Jim Bauer, played soccer, basketball and golf at DMLC, and his grandmother, Gail (Gilmore) Bauer, was a basketball player at the school.
Ben Pearson's great-grandmother Elizabeth (Johannes) Bauer also attended DMLC, and his great-grandfather H. Paul Bauer and great-grandfather Theodore Bauer attended Northwestern University in Wisconsin and later joined DMLC and founded MLC in 1995 .
“I'm really happy to be part of the family and that my mom and dad were my teachers and coaches throughout elementary school.” Ben Pearson said. “And Grandma and Grandpa Bauer are always ready to share their insights after a basketball game, because they've been coaching for a very long time and I respect their opinions. 'And all the time they put into me, especially my dad, always going to the gym with me and pushing me to get better. ”
Although Ben Pearson never knew his great-grandparents, he is honored to be part of their lineage and hopes to make his family proud by being the best teacher and coach they can be. he added. can.
Although he won't be teaming up with Sleepy Eye St. Mary's standout Will Walter, who committed to play basketball in the BLC this January, Ben Pearson will be playing for the Upper Midwest again next winter. He will continue to play against him in Athletic Conference basketball action.
Ben Pearson finished his MVL career in March of this year in third place on the men's basketball career scoring list with 1,685 points, behind Jake Kettner (1,821 points) and Galen Holzhueter (2,207 points).
Ben Pearson will also team up with the MLC men's basketball team, coached by fellow MVL graduate Greg Holzhüter, who scored over 1,000 points in his prep basketball career.
“I think it was my junior season, basketball time, he [coach Holzhueter] He started contacting me and said he wanted me to be a part of MLC and its culture and program. ” Ben Pearson said. “Over the summer we kept in touch and started getting to know each other and met a few times, maybe once a month. I checked to see if it was there.
“meanwhile [this past] During basketball season, we texted regularly, probably during every game. He always sent me messages of congratulations and [is a] A very encouraging man. I'm really, really happy to have him as the MLC basketball coach. ”
Ben Pearson finished his senior year of basketball in the MVL with 24.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He also set school records for points in a game (46), points in a season (680) and made 3-pointers in a season (96).
While he will need to know more about his new college teammates as the year progresses, Ben Pearson said he knows several players who are especially excited to play basketball together in the MLC.
“When it comes to basketball, I think that was Tom Bulge.” [MLC’s] Last year's main character went to St. Paul's University. [Lutheran School] In fact, I know him from there. ” He said. “He's a really nice guy and I love him and I'm looking forward to playing with him. And I have a freshman in my grade, Ben Vasold, who's a really, really good shooting guard and can play really well. . I'm excited to play with him.”
Golf is another sport that Ben Pearson excels at, and he is wrapping up his senior year with his third state tournament appearance. Last year, he shot 158 at the state tournament at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minn.
Ben Pearson and the incoming golf coach know each other well when it comes to playing for the Knights.
MLC's head golf coach is Ben Pearson's father, Matt, so it should be.
“It's great to have him as my coach because he's obviously taught me everything and he always comes to watch me play.” Ben Pearson said. “And we go to work on ourselves outside of MVL practice. He knows my game, he knows how I play, he knows what I think, what I do. Because I know what I want to do, I have a good understanding of my golf game and I think that will really help me with my college experience.
“And he was my coach and my elementary school basketball coach. So he coached basketball from third grade to eighth grade, so I've had him as a coach before. I welcomed you.”
Although he still has a lot of high school golf to play this spring and more classes to take at MVL, Ben Pearson is looking forward to his next adventure at MLC.
“I am just grateful for the opportunity to attend MLC, further my education, and glorify the Lord in everything I do.” He said. “That would be a great way to go.”
