REGIONAL— Former Cook-area athletic standout Chase Kleppe continues to make an impression at his new home at St. Scholastica in Duluth. Kleppe, this past week, was one of the two recipients of the Saints Award for his success in the 2019 football season. As a freshman, Kleppe recorded 89 tackles, including four and a half sacks, and a touchdown off a blocked punt. In addition, he ranked third in Division Three in fumbles recovered, with five.
“It was kind of a surprise,” said Kleppe of the award. “It felt really good to be recognized.”
Kleppe, the son of longtime Cook area coach Will Kleppe, was a starting outside linebacker for the Saints, who went 7-3 this year.
While Kleppe was perhaps best known for his high school basketball career, he said playing college football has long been a goal for him. The move from high school to college-level play made an impression, said Kleppe. “It was a whole different game. It definitely took time to get used to the speed and everything, but it was a lot of fun.”
Kleppe, who is currently studying exercise physiology with a physical therapy intent, said he received a solid grounding in team sports during his time playing at North Woods, and he’s learning even more at the college level. “We had a very solid team this year,” he said. “We had a lot of good leaders and a great coaching staff.”