Alumni Focus - David Ponath ('14)

From high school football to now working in athletic performance training, David Ponath (‘14) shares how the values and lessons he learned at St. Croix carried into his career.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at St. Croix?

Some of my favorite memories from my time at St. Croix are all the great relationships I built with friends and staff members. I still maintain many of the friendships I made while at St. Croix. My athletic experiences also formed some of my favorite memories as well; mainly winning the state championship for football in 2011 and 2013.  My ultimate favorite memory from my time at St. Croix was meeting my wife, Coriann, who was also a St. Croix alumna. 

Were there any teachers or staff who had a big impact on you?

There were many teachers and staff members who positively impacted me. The number one person who comes to mind for me is Coach Carl Lemke. Some of the lessons he taught us through football were lessons I will take with me through the remainder of my life. 

What lessons—academic or personal—did you carry with you after graduation?

Some of the main lessons that I carry with me from my time at St. Croix were the values of kindness, integrity, honesty, and hard work. 

How did your experience as an athlete at St. Croix shape who you are today?

Athletics have the ability to teach many lessons. A few of the main ones I took away from my time at St. Croix were overcoming failure, being consistent and working hard, the ability to communicate effectively with different types of people, and learning how to be a respectful and coachable individual. 

What path did you take after graduating?

Following graduation I went to Luther College, where I played football and majored in Health and Fitness. Following my time at Luther, I went out to the University of Mary, where I coached college football and got my Master’s in Kinesiology. After my time at the University of Mary, I started working for ETS Performance in May of 2021. I have been with ETS Performance since then, and in 2023, I began running the ETS Performance facility in Edina, MN.