Jesse Laber: A Champion Who Helped Define a New Era for Marauder Athletics

Jesse Laber’s legacy at the University of Mary is one of excellence, toughness, and lasting impact. A standout in both wrestling and football, Laber helped carry Marauder athletics through a pivotal period of change as the university transitioned from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. In the process, he built a record of achievement that still stands as one of the most remarkable in school history.

A two-time state champion at Napoleon High School in North Dakota, Laber arrived at Mary ready to compete at the highest level. He made an immediate impact on the wrestling mat, earning NAIA All-American honors as a freshman in 2003 with a third-place national finish. During that national tournament run, he also received the Gorriaran Memorial Trophy, awarded for recording the most falls in the least amount of time, while helping the Marauders place eighth in the nation.

After taking a year away from competition, Laber returned and reached the top of the podium in 2005. He captured the NAIA national championship, becoming the final Marauder wrestler to win an individual national title in the association. That same season, he was named the DAC-10 Most Valuable Wrestler, further confirming his place among the elite student-athletes to represent the university.

Laber’s career became even more significant during the challenging years of Mary’s transition to NCAA Division II. With the Marauders ineligible for postseason competition in 2006 and 2007, he remained committed to setting a standard for the future. In his senior season, he entered the 2008 NCAA national championships with a 15-1 record after an undefeated regular season. He then became the first Marauders student-athlete to earn NCAA Division II All-American honors, finishing fifth in the nation and securing his place in program history.

His accomplishments were not limited to wrestling. Laber also excelled on the football field as a two-year starter at defensive end. He led the Marauders in both sacks and tackles for loss in consecutive seasons, producing 9.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks as a junior before earning all-Northern Sun second team honors as a senior in 2007. That final season, he posted a league-leading 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as the Marauders finished second in the conference. He remains among the top 15 in school history in both career sacks and tackles for loss.

What makes Laber’s story especially meaningful is the way his success reflected the values that continue to define Marauder athletics: discipline, perseverance, humility, and a commitment to something greater than self. He was not only a champion in competition, but also a steady example of what it means to represent the University of Mary with strength and character during moments of transition and challenge.

Laber graduated from the University of Mary in 2008 with a degree in university studies. Today, he lives in Steele, North Dakota, with his wife, Kayla, and their children, Hadley and Luke, continuing a life grounded in faith, family, and hard work. His story remains an important part of Marauder history and a lasting reminder that true legacy is built not only through victories, but through the example one leaves behind.