5 Super Athletes With Ties To Shakopee

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Shakopee area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Olivia Pawlicki (Basketball)

A standout athlete at Shakopee High School, Olivia Pawlicki excelled in both basketball and tennis, earning the school's Athena Award for top senior female athlete. On the basketball court, the 6'1" forward surpassed 1,000 career points and helped lead Shakopee to a Section 2AAAA title and a Class 4A state tournament appearance. Post-graduation, she continued her basketball career at Colorado State University, joining a program with three consecutive 20-win seasons.

2. Drew Hennen (Snowshoeing)

A versatile Special Olympics athlete from Shakopee, Drew Hennen has competed in a variety of sports, including basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, and snowshoeing. A 2023 graduate of Shakopee High School, he played adaptive varsity sports and is part of the Minnesota United FC Unified Team. Hennen will represent Special Olympics USA in snowshoeing at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, continuing his passion for competition.

3. Jamal Abu-Shamala (Basketball)

Raised in Shakopee, Jamal Abu-Shamala played college basketball for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, earning a scholarship after an impressive freshman season. He went on to play professionally in the NBA Development League and internationally for both the Jordanian and Palestinian national teams. Known for his sharpshooting, Abu-Shamala has made an impact at multiple levels of the game, both locally and globally.

4. Amy Menke (Ice Hockey)

Shakopee native Amy Menke became a standout hockey player at the University of North Dakota, scoring 108 career points and serving as team captain. She later won an Isobel Cup with the Minnesota Whitecaps and played professionally in the Russian ZhHL, securing a championship with Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays. Dedicated to growing the sport, Menke also previously coached the Shakopee High School girls' hockey team.

5. Scott Ferrozzo (MMA)

Scott Ferrozzo, also of Shakopee, is a former heavyweight mixed martial artist who competed in the early days of the UFC. Known for his strength and toughness, he secured a notable victory over Tank Abbott before retiring from professional MMA. Ferrozzo's aggressive fighting style made him a memorable competitor in the sport’s early tournaments.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.