Otter Tail Central senior Peter Newark officially signed his college commitment letter to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Minnesota Crookston, a Division II program in the Northern Sun Conference, where he will compete under head coach Steve Krouse.

Newark leaves Otter Tail Central as the most accomplished distance runner in school history. His impact on the Bulldogs’ cross country and track programs has set a new standard for excellence and consistency.

In cross country, Newark rewrote the record books by setting the school record in the 5K with a time of 16:10.7. He qualified for the MSHSL State Cross Country Meet three times, highlighted by an 18th-place finish, the highest state finish ever achieved by an Otter Tail Central runner. He also earned All-Conference honors four times.

On the track, Newark continued his dominance as a four-time All-Conference performer and individual conference champion. He qualified for the state meet and captured a section championship in the two mile. His personal best in the two mile ranks as the second-fastest time in Otter Tail Central history, a record he will be aiming for this spring. Newark was able to help lead the guys team to a team title in 2025, the first since 2017.

Head track and cross county coach Brady Speicher said Newark’s work ethic, leadership, and competitive drive have left a lasting mark on the Otter Tail Central program.