Photo by Samantha Davis: Marshall senior Avery Kesteloot takes the puck away in the second period against New Ulm Thursday night in a Big South Conference prep girls hockey game for senior night

Avery Kesteloot

Senior, Marshall

Avery Kesteloot is a senior defender for the Marshall girls hockey team, and helped lead the team to its first state tournament berth last season for the first time since 2018. She currently has 11 assists and scored her first goal of the 2025-26 season on Thursday. Kesteloot has been a consistent starter for the Tigers, and is a core player in managing the defensive line while Marshall has maintained a ranked-status in the state.

Q: What’s your favorite hockey memory?

A: Going to state last year with the team, and [also] scoring my first [varsity] goal against Luverne [in the 2022-23 season].

Q: Who is an athlete you look up to?

A: Cassi [Wiess, Marshall girls hockey head coach].

Q: What is your dream job?

A: Being a cosmetologist, that’s what I am going to school for.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: Lake Area Tech in Watertown [South Dakota].

Q: What is your pregame routine?

A: Playing volleyball. We do that like the whole time, we play elimination. It’s really fun.