How a German Golfer Found Her Second Home—and Her Next Step—at St. Mary’s School

On the first day of senior year at St. Mary’s School in Minnesota, Anni Eberhard stood at the podium during an all-school assembly to speak about openness. Two weeks earlier she’d received an email inviting her to share a short message with students, parents, and staff—a milestone in a journey she started three years ago.

Raised in Königsbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Anni is now a 12th-grader at St. Mary’s and a key player on the travel squad for golf—the group that goes to tournaments—while another tier focuses mainly on training. The rhythm suits her: classes during the day, two dedicated periods of golf built into her schedule (third and fourth this term), then more practice after school. The course is close—about a 10-minute walk from campus—and during the school day athletes are often shuttled by van. Her coach is available after school and on weekends, so technical help is never far away.

What drew her to the U.S.? The deliberate pairing of academics and athletics. In Anni’s experience, teachers and coaches collaborate so athletes can train and compete and still stay on top of schoolwork. That balance turned a family “what if…” into an actual plan.

From nerves to belonging

Anni still remembers her first week: new language rhythms, no familiar faces, and a campus with so many staircases that students jokingly compare it to Hogwarts. The fix was simple but not easy—be open, walk up to people, ask questions. Do that, and you “find your footing quickly.” Now, arrivals feel like coming home: friends to hug, a coach to greet, routines that fit.

Competition that raises your game

U.S. junior golf is packed with seriously good players who train with focus and a plan. To stand out, you do the extra percentages. Living in that environment has sharpened her habits and confirmed she chose the right place to grow.

College—and options

Anni plans to keep pushing her golf (potentially to the amateur-pro level), but she’s equally intentional about her academics. She already has college offers and is excited about studying marine biology. Coaches and on-campus college counselors have been hands-on—explaining options, talking fit, and helping her map a path so she can pursue both sport and science. If golf ever takes a back seat, she says, the academic path keeps moving.

The little things that make it home

There are the big moments, like the assembly speech. And there are the small cultural flips: six-lane highways, enormous parking lots—and a running quest for “proper bread.” Thanksgiving breaks with her brother have become a tradition. And yes, she’s picked a college-football allegiance: the Georgia Bulldogs.

The hard parts—and the help that mattered

Getting from a good idea to the right school isn’t automatic—especially across languages, systems, and oceans. Anni points to the placement support she received from Katrin as “mega.” When she or her parents had questions—by email or on calls—Katrin answered quickly. When translation got tricky, Katrin handled it. When St. Mary’s offered classes and subject choices that don’t exist in the same way in Germany, Katrin guided her on what to pick and why. Looking back, Anni can’t single out just one moment that made the difference—“every moment with her was great”—and the relationship has lasted; they’re still in touch.

That’s the quiet engine behind happy endings like Anni’s: a committed student-athlete doing the work, paired with steady, informed guidance that clears the path.

Thinking about following Anni’s path?

If you’re serious about your sport and hungry for a bigger academic world, Anni’s story shows what’s possible when the pieces fit: a school like St. Mary’s that integrates training and learning, a community that becomes home, and knowledgeable, responsive support from the first conversation through arrival and beyond. Anni supplied the drive; Prep Pathway made the steps clear.