Saint Peter Public Schools

Saint Peter High School recently announced that juniors Keira Friedrich, daughter of Jennie and Jed Friedrich, and Lathe Bly, son of Kaari and Galen Bly, are SPHS’s 2024-25 ExCEL Award winners.

(PICTURED ABOVE) Saint Peter High School juniors Lathe Bly (left) and Keira Friedrich (right) are this year’s SPHS winner of the ExCEL Award.  

“The ExCEL award is a great way to shine some light on Juniors that are doing extraordinary things in the classroom and in athletics, but also are strong members of the community and strong leaders,” SPHS Activities Director Shea Roehrkasse said. “We are fortunate to have a lot of students that fit this criteria here at SPHS, and special congratulations to Lathe and Keira for being nominated! Both are very deserving and I know they will continue to be great role models for our younger students and in the community”

Established in 1988, the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – Award is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. This award is sponsored by the League's corporate partner Wells Fargo. 

The following is a profile of this year’s SPHS ExCEL Award winners:

KEIRA FRIEDRICH

Keira, the daughter of Jennie and Jed Friedrich, is active in fine arts at SPHS through her participation since her freshman year with the SPHS Concert Choir, including serving as a section leader this year.

The junior standout has a stellar academic record at SPHS with a weighted GPA of 4.18 (regular 4.0) and has been on the “A” honor roll regularly. She is an active member of the SPHS National Honor Society chapter, a two-year member of the SPHS Student Council, and part of the Project for Teens peer group. Outside of school she has been a volunteer with North’s Clothes Closet throughout her high school years as well as being very active with the local youth soccer and track programs serving as a coach/counselor.

“It's an honor to win this award,” Friedrich said. “I know some of the past winners and I'm proud to be associated with this group. I'm grateful for the support I've received from teachers and coaches to pursue all of my activities at a high level.”

Athletically, Friedrich has already had a stellar career for the Saints in all three sports she participates in – cross country, soccer, and track & field. This past fall she earned All-State honors in both cross country and soccer, a rare feat for any Minnesota prep athlete. She has placed in the top 10 at state cross country meet in both her sophomore (10th) and junior (8th) years, while also setting the single-season scoring record for the Saints’ girls soccer program in the fall. She was also the top runner on the Saints’ girls cross country team that placed sixth at state last fall. The junior standout has also excelled on the track winning two state medals last spring in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs and is a school record-holder in three events (1,600-meter run, 3,200-meter run, and as part of the 4X800-meter relay). 

Her future plans are to attend college and run long distance in track and cross country at that level. She is undecided about her major at this time.

LATHE BLY

Lathe, the son of Kaari and Galen Bly, has a diverse background for fine arts during his time at Saint Peter High School. He has worked as part of the crew for four SPHS theater productions, including serving as assistant stage manager. He also was part of the SPHS Marching Band and Pep Band his freshman year.

The Saints’ junior has excelled in the classroom with a weighted GPA of 3.85 (regular 3.8). He was recently inducted into the SPHS chapter of the National Honor Society and was a member of the SPHS Student Council his sophomore year as well as an active member of the Project for Teens peer group. His community-service/volunteer activities also keep him busy through his work with the Mayo Clinic Community Garden as well as the K-1st grade green screen project.

“I think this award shows me how hard I’ve worked to be coachable and grow as a leader,” Bly said. “It also shows how I’ve worked to expand my comfort zone and experience new things that aren’t just sports.

I also hope I can continue to grow as a good role model to younger kids as I’ve had a lot of good people to look up to and especially Corbin Herron since he won the Triple A Award last year.”

Athletically, Bly is a three-year letterwinner in cross country and is a captain for the Saints varsity program. He also has been a part of the Saints’ baseball team and played basketball through his sophomore year. This past fall, in addition to his cross country duties, the junior standout became the Saints’ football team’s placekicker converting numerous key extra points for the up-and-coming St. Peter gridders.

Future plans include attending college to maybe play baseball or football as a kicker, but is undecided on a major/area of study.