University of Mary Athletics

The final NAIA national wrestling champion for the University of Mary and the school’s first NCAA Division II all-American, two-sport athlete Jesse Laber played a key role in Marauders athletics making a successful transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The three-time wrestling all-American was also an all-conference performer on the gridiron.
 
A two-time state champion at Napoleon (N.D.) High School, Laber made an immediate impact on the Marauders wrestling team, finishing third in the nation to capture NAIA All-American honors as a freshman in 2003.

He earned the Gorriaran Memorial Trophy for the greatest number of falls in the least amount of time at the national championships and University of Mary placed eighth in the country. After taking a year off, Laber returned to the mat and captured the ultimate prize as a sophomore in 2005 — a national championship. The last Marauders grappler to win an individual title in the NAIA, Laber was honored as the DAC-10 most valuable wrestler.
 
With the Marauders ineligible for postseason competition in 2006 and 2007 during the transition from NAIA to NCAA, Laber made sure to leave a mark in the record books during his senior year. Undefeated during the regular season, Laber lost for the first time all season at the regional meet and entered the 2008 NCAA national championships with a record of 15-1. He won twice on opening day to become the first Marauders student-athlete to claim NCAA All-American honors and finished fifth in the country.  
 
Laber also made a mark in football. A two-year starter at defensive end, Laber led the Marauders in sacks and tackles for loss two straight years. After recording 9.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks as a junior, Laber claimed all-Northern Sun second team honors as a senior in 2007. He piled up a league-leading 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as the Marauders finished second in the league. He is in the school’s career top 15 in tackles for loss and sacks.
 
The son of Dave and Patty Laber, Laber graduated from the University of Mary in 2008 with a degree in university studies. Laber is a farmer and lives in Steele, N.D., with his wife, Kayla, and their children, Hadley and Luke.