Ponies Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Stillwater Area High School

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

1. Noah Cates – NHL Forward (Philadelphia Flyers)

Cates is a professional ice hockey forward who attended Stillwater Area High School before playing at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to an NCAA National Championship and served as team captain. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, he made his NHL debut in 2022 and has since become a key two-way player, earning a four-year contract extension while contributing both offensively and defensively. (Sources: NHL.com, NBC Sport Philadelphia)

2. Sydney Peterson – Paralympic Nordic Skier

Peterson is an elite American Para Nordic skier who attended Stillwater Area High School before transitioning to adaptive competition after being diagnosed with dystonia. She achieved international success at St. Lawrence University, winning multiple medals at the World Para Snow Sports Championships and earning gold, silver and bronze in her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2022. Peterson continues to compete on the U.S. Para Nordic Skiing national team while pursuing a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Utah, aiming for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympics. (Sources: TeamUSA.com, USParaNordig.com)

3. Jessie Diggins – Olympic Cross-Country Skier

Diggins, a proud member of the Class of 2010, is the most decorated American cross-country skier in history, having won three Olympic medals and multiple World Championship titles. She made history by helping the U.S. claim its first Olympic gold in cross-country skiing in 2018 and became the first American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in 2022. Diggins continues to compete at the highest level while also working as an author, speaker and advocate, mentoring young athletes and promoting causes like climate action, girls’ sports empowerment and eating-disorder recovery. (Sources: Stillwater Public Schools, Nordic Insights)

4. Drew Gilbert – MLB Outfielder (Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants)

Gilbert is a professional baseball outfielder who attended Stillwater Area High School, where he excelled as a two-way player and helped lead his team to a state championship. He starred at the University of Tennessee, earning All-American honors, before being selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros and later traded to the San Francisco Giants. Gilbert made his MLB debut in August 2025, quickly making an impact with his defense and offensive contributions and continues to be a rising star for the Giants. (Sources: MLB.com, MSHSBCA.org)

5. Glen Perkins – MLB Pitcher (Minnesota Twins)

Glen Perkins is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who attended Stillwater Area High School before playing at the University of Minnesota and being drafted in the first round by the Twins. He spent his entire 12-season career with the Minnesota Twins, earning three All-Star selections, recording 120 career saves and posting a 3.88 ERA across 409 appearances. Since retiring in 2017, Perkins has remained connected to baseball while focusing on family and personal pursuits. (Sources: Baseball Reference, ESPN.com)

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