Photo by Jake Olson: Fairmont's Logan Junkermeier looks to score inside against Jackson County Central defender Sullivan Hall on Feb. 14 at Jackson County Central High School.

FAIRMONT – There was a sense of high expectation weighing on Logan Junkermeier’s shoulders heading into the start of his senior season.

Three starters from a 17-10 team would take their talents with them to graduation. The most notable departure was Fairmont center Oliver Tordsen. Tordsen, the 2025 All-Sentinel Co-Player of the Year, was not only a dominating presence in the paint but a mentor for Junkermeier’s game. The two worked together well on the court, using an efficient high-low scoring attack that was tough for any defense to prepare for.

With Tordsen out of the picture, Junkermeier, the future Southwest Minnesota State basketball player, was set to take the reins as this year’s go-to guy. His junior showing saw huge improvements from the year prior, finishing with a stat line of 16 points and 9 rebounds per game to qualify as the other All-Sentinel Co-Player of the Year.

Junkermeier exceeded any expectations thrown his way after a dominating final year in the Cardinal basketball program. The center increased in a handful of statistics to help guide Fairmont to another strong season, averaging 18.3 points on 63% shooting while collecting 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a night. These drastic developments are the reason Junkermeier has earned the title of 2026 All-Sentinel Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

“It feels good knowing that all the work that I’ve done in the past however many years of playing basketball has paid off to win an award like this, especially being surrounded by a bunch of other great talent in the area,” Junkermeier said.

Junkermeier’s biggest offseason focus was preparing for the new and warranted attention he would have on the court. Teams would throw a variety of defensive looks his way in hopes of slowing down the powerful 6’10 frame. He addressed this by putting in a focused effort inside the weight room.

“I’d say the main thing I improved on was just how much more physical I played,” Junkermeier said. “Lifting a lot over the offseason definitely helped with playing more physical, and obviously my mindset of knowing I am a lot stronger, bigger than I was a year before really helped me.”

Repetitions through spring and summer basketball only helped Junkermeier’s confidence going into the high school season, where he would face more defensive attention than ever before.

“It definitely took some getting used to, especially during the summer, when I really wasn’t used to it, and turned the ball over a lot,” Junkermeier said. “But it prepared me for getting all the double teams. At practice, Carter Bell, the JV coach, did a good job of having the scout team send double teams at me, so I would have to read the defense.”

These improvements were central not only in his individual success but also in Fairmont’s strong winter campaign. The Cardinals had an even more successful season than last year, finishing with a 22-5 record that included a 14-game winning streak spanning over a month and a half. Wins over Blue Earth Area, Belle Plaine, and Luverne cemented this year as one to remember for the Fairmont program.

While a Section 3AA quarterfinal loss to Jackson County Central ended any state tournament hopes, Junkermeier knows this year has been beneficial for his future playing days with the Mustangs.

The speed, quickness, and overall athleticism Junkermeier will see at the next level will undoubtedly require another adjustment period much like this past offseason. But a foundation of seeing different defensive schemes and top competition is only going to aid him in that transition.

“I think having a lot of the attention prepared me for reading out of a double team that will be a lot faster and a lot more physical at Marshall,” Junkermeier said. “I think this year has really helped me get used to the physicality and reading defenses.”