COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University junior Maguire Petersen (Hutchinson, Minn.) was named the recipient of the 2022 Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by the J-Club, on Wednesday, May 25. 

The award recognizes an SJU varsity, senior student-athlete (or two) who has excelled in the classroom and in their sport. Petersen will be honored during the J-Club Hall of Honor induction ceremony on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 1, in Collegeville.

The 2022 MIAC Outstanding Field Athlete in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Petersen won the MIAC's decathlon for the second consecutive season with a total of 6,677 points, thanks to personal-best marks/times in six of the 10 events, May 5-6 at Carleton. The 6,677 points were good for fifth-most in NCAA Division III this season. He joined Steve Kimble '99 (1998-99) as the second Johnnie to win the MIAC decathlon twice, let alone back-to-back. Petersen also took second in both the high jump and javelin to bring his All-MIAC (top three individually, champion relay) total to eight (three indoors, five outdoors).

A biology major with a 3.94 GPA, Petersen also qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in the high jump for the second straight year thanks to a mark of 2.05 meters, which was eighth-best in Division III. The height gave him second place May 13-14 at the MIAC Outdoor Championships.

A seven-time national entrant (three indoors, four outdoors) and nine-time All-Region honoree (four indoors, five outdoors), Petersen earned All-America honors with a sixth-place finish in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. 

He begins the decathlon with the 100-meter dash at 10:30 a.m. CT Thursday, May 26 (followed by the long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter dash) at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. The final five events start at 9 a.m. CT Friday: 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters. The high jump, meanwhile, is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT Friday.

Theisen '52 taught physics at SJU for 47 years and was named professor emeritus at his retirement in 2005. He is a former SJU faculty representative to the MIAC and continues as treasurer of the J-Club. He received the J-Club Distinguished Service Award in 2019, six years after the Student-Athlete of the Year Award was established in his honor.

SJU varsity coaches provide the award's nominations for the Fr. Wilfred Theisen Award and the J-Club Board makes the selection.

Founded in 1959, the J-Club is a dues-based booster organization of former Johnnie student-athletes, parents and fans, and plays a key role in support of the SJU varsity programs, intramurals and club sports. 

Past Fr. Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
2013 - Dennis Granath '13 (Golf)
2014 - Michael Coborn '14 (Soccer)
2015 - J.T. Ford '15 (Football)
2016 - Alex Niederloh '16 (Soccer)/Sam Sura '16 (Football)
2017 - Mack Farley '17 (Golf)/Carter Hanson '17 (Football)
2018 - Sam Olson '18 (Golf)
2019 - Will Gillach '19 (Football)/David Stokman '18 (Basketball)
2020 - Ben Bartch '20 (Football)
2021 - Tanner Dufault '21 (Hockey)/Brady Labine '21 (Track)
2022 - Maguire Petersen '22 (Track & Field)