FAIRMONT — After turning in successful fall and winter athletic seasons on Mahoney Field and the wrestling mats at Cardinal Gym and in Sherburn, Cale Steuber was ready to cap his senior year with a stellar baseball campaign this spring.

In the fall, Steuber helped lead the Fairmont Cardinal football team to its fifth consecutive Section 3AA championship game.

Steuber showed a desire to get the football in his hands when he led the Cardinals in both receptions and interceptions. The all-South Central Silver District choice brought in four interceptions for the Cardinal defense, while catching 36 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns on offense to earn a spot on the Sentinel All-Area team.

As he moved into the winter wrestling season, Steuber continued his athletic success.

He pinned his way to the 100th win of his career against Waseca on Dec. 10 before the 145-pounder placed second in the Section 3AA individual wrestling tournament. After qualifying for state for a second time at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Steuber played a key role in the Martin County Red Bulls winning the Section 3AA team tournament and returning to state after placing second as a team when Steuber was a sophomore and losing on criteria to Marshall in the section championship his junior year.

Steuber helped the No. 3-ranked Red Bulls place second in the state team tournament at the Xcel Energy Center, then hit the mat for the Class AA individual tournament the next day. Steuber’s individual tournament ended after one match.

Steuber said placing second in the team tournament, the second time the Red Bulls have finished second during Steuber’s years with the program, was his favorite sports experience from his senior year.

Steuber said after wrestling ended at the beginning of March, he started looking forward to his senior baseball season.

“It’s fun just to be around friends and playing baseball, practicing every day,” said Steuber.

Steuber said he has continued to get his fix of baseball, going out and catching fly balls hit by his dad, Mike, and playing baseball video games.

Steuber said he is also set up well to keep himself in shape.

“We have a weight bench, so I work out a lot,” Steuber said, “and then I go running with my brothers every day. Just a couple miles every day.”

Steuber was set to repeat as one of the most important players on the Cardinal baseball roster. The outfielder led the team with 24 hits en route to a .348 batting average in 23 games played. Steuber was second on the roster with 19 runs scored, while totaling 14 RBIs to tie for second-most on the team.

Steuber showed off his speed last season with five stolen bases, helping lead to Sentinel All-Area and all-Big South Conference selections.

“I want to be the best that I can be as an individual player and a team leader,” Steuber said of what drives his work ethic toward baseball.

While Steuber’s desire to be on the gridiron, the diamond and the mat, has brought him success throughout high school, he said he hopes to stay close to home after college. He said he is set to attend Minnesota State University in Mankato and wants to either work somewhere within sports, or be a physical education teacher to help kids learn the games he loves.

Steuber said so far the online classes he is taking have not been too difficult, and the thought of possibly playing baseball is helping him push through tough times.

“I wish it wouldn’t have happened, but I’m alright, I’ll be alright,” Steuber said in reference to the recent coronavirus pandemic. “Hopefully we get to baseball. That’s all I’m really thinking about.”