Many may see JWP Class of 2026 member Chase Gerdts and see a hard-working, blue-collar senior who loves working in the shop and throwing fast pitches on the baseball field.
But there’s a little more to him than that.
Beyond being a jokester, the JWP metal sculpture class gave Gerdts an outlet to showcase his artistic side. Recently, he created a buffalo sculpture using gears and other forms of scrap metal while working with his classmates on a turkey sculpture. His buffalo sculpture helped him win the first prize at the Waseca Art Center exhibition, and both his and the class’s metal sculptures are part of the Mankato Sculpture Walk.
Gerdts is also a proud member of the JWP FFA and was part of the snow week court, although he joked a few times throughout the week that he wasn’t a fan of dressing up for coronation. Aside from his work on the baseball field, including the role of the team’s ace pitcher, he had quite a career in football as a running back. But where he shone was on defense. He ended his career second all-time in single-game tackles with 20, fourth in single-season tackles with 128, and sixth in career tackles with 206.
Some students may be unsure what to do after high school, but Gerdts has already made his decision. He wants to go straight into the workforce after high school. He plans on entering construction.
He credits JWP for helping shape his personality. “The staff and students here have given me a sense of humor and work ethic,” he said.
His favorite teachers were Adam Roesler and Aidan Demarais. Demarais makes sense, since he’s the shop teacher. But he mentioned that both teachers were easy-going and made class time fun and interesting.
His favorite high school memory was in the small animal care class with former JWP students Kade Strauss and Sam Carlson. “There wasn’t any core memory…just in general,” he elaborated. “Those guys were great. I think we had one assignment the whole semester.”
He’s learned a ton about work ethic over the past few years. He’d tell his freshman self, “Work hard, but don’t skip out on anything.” One thing he’ll miss most about high school is the “random interactions and things that happen in the hallway.”
He hopes the Class of 2026 will be remembered for its excellence in athletics and its personality. His advice for underclassmen is straight and to the point: “Take all your required classes early.”
Gerdts is all about business and fun. Throughout high school, he’s put everything into what he loves, whether that’s pitching for the Bulldog baseball team or construction. That work ethic will help him go far in life.
