JIMMIE ATHLETICS WEBSITE JIMMIEATHLETICS.COM
ATHLETICS By Ryan Mikkelson ’99, Sports Information Director
KALLI HEGERLE ’22 After a high school volleyball career that included being named twice to the all-state team, three all-conference selections, and an all-state tournament team appearance, it seemed to be a logical choice for West Fargo’s Kalli Hegerle to stay close to home and play collegiately at North Dakota State University. Two seasons with the Bison resulted in 58 starts and a spot on the 2018 Summit League All-Freshman Team for Hegerle. However, the intrigue of a smaller campus and the chance to be part of a championship volleyball program resulted in Hegerle transferring to the University of Jamestown for the 2020 spring semester. “During high school, I never really considered coming to UJ,” Hegerle said. “I knew they had great athletic programs, but I always thought the small campus and community wasn’t for me. However, after being on campus my first semester after transferring, my whole perspective changed. I actually saw people I knew walking around campus, versus a big campus where you rarely see people you know, and may feel lost in the crowd.” Being part of an athletic team on the Jamestown campus helped Hegerle make connections. “Obviously, my uncle is the coach here, so he helped pave the way for me,” Hegerle said. “He’s a great coach and an even more amazing person. I also knew some girls on the volleyball team before transferring and knew they were great people.” Hegerle made an instant impact with her new team, playing a significant role for a Jimmie team that posted an 18-1 overall record while winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference championship last fall. The conference’s coaches took notice of her efforts, voting her to the GPAC All-Conference first team. Coming to UJ was more than just playing volleyball for Hegerle. Once on campus, she found more time to explore her love for photography. A text from her mother about an athletics photography work study position caught her attention, and Hegerle reached out to UJ Sports Information Director Ryan Mikkelson. “It was challenging,” says Hegerle of her first photo assignment. “I was not very good…at all!” At her second photography assignment, she met fellow UJ
student Valentino Grasiuso, who gave her some pointers and helped step up her photography game. A few months later she started her own business, KalliHegerlePhotos, and shot photos all summer. Senior portraits, couples, families, sports—all different types of settings to hone her skills. She and her camera have become a fixture at Jimmie home events. Hegerle’s post-college plans include becoming a professional sports photographer while photographing weddings on the side. “Being able to explore different passions of mine has created many opportunities for me,” Hegerle said. “Everyone at UJ is so supportive of each other and friendly, which makes me proud to be a Jimmie.”
