Irish Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Rosemount Senior High School

Sports run deep in Rosemount, and Rosemount Senior High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Irish uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Rosemount Senior High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Payton Otterdahl - Two-Time Olympian

An elite American shot putter, Payton Otterdahl won multiple state championships prior to graduating from Rosemount High School. His excellence continued at the North Dakota State University, setting the collegiate indoor shot put record and becoming the second man in NCAA history to win both the shot put and weight throw titles at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Otterdahl has competed in both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, placing fourth in the shot put in 2024 and finishing fifth in the 2023 World Athletics Championships. (Sources: GoBison.com, TeamUSA.com)

2. J.T. Brown - Former NHL Right Winger

J.T. Brown was a star at Rosemount High School, setting several school scoring records and becoming the first African-American Mr. Hockey finalist in the state of Minnesota. His fame and success continued during his short time at the University of Minnesota Duluth, winning the 2011 NCAA National Championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the Frozen Four and being named NCAA West Second All-American Team in his two-year college stint. Brown went undrafted in the NHL Draft, but still carved out a successful 10-year career playing for three clubs, including the hometown Minnesota Wild. He currently serves as a TV hockey analyst for the Seattle Kraken. (Source: NHL.com)

3. Tom Compton - NFL Offensive Lineman

Tom Compton is a current offensive lineman in the NFL who was a leader on the Irish squad, helping lead the team to a section championship and deep postseason runs. His high school play paved the way for his college career at the University of South Dakota, where he was a four-year starter, two-time First Team All-Great West Conference and the 2011 Great West Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year. Compton was drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and has played for over a decade in the league in over 120 games, including for the hometown Minnesota Vikings and his most recent stint with the Denver Broncos. (Sources: GoYotes.com, Vikings.com)

4. Heather Kampf - Former NCAA Indoor Champion/All-American

Heather Kampf was a standout middle-distance runner during her time at Rosemount, setting school records, winning state championships and becoming one of the most decorated runners in the state of Minnesota. Her excellence continued at the University of Minnesota, where she set school records, became an NCAA Indoor Champion, and earned nine All-American honors. Her success didn’t end there, winning multiple USA 1-Mile Road Championships and representing America in international competition. Kampf has been inducted into the Minnesota track and field Hall of Fame. (Sources: WorldAthletics.org, MinnesotaDistanceElite.org, ASICS.com)

5. Jordan Hecht - Current College Thrower/Former State Champion

During her time at Rosemount High School, Jordan Hecht broke a 42-year-old school record in the discus with a throw of 138′ 10″ — putting her not just at the top of the school’s record book, but also among the top in the state and nationally for her class. With multiple state titles, consecutive Class AAA girls’ discus championships, and other wins in the throws, Jordan was an iconic athlete during her high school career. She continues both her track & field career and soccer career at the United States Military Academy at West Point. (Sources: GoArmyWestPoint.com, GoArmyWestPoint.com, TFRRS.org)

This content is brought to our community by T-Mobile.