Supporting Students & Athletes in Memory of Dan Markwardt

Ava Ballweg

Ava excelled in many aspects as a Blue Devil, participating in several extracurricular activities and sports. Academically Ava is in the top 4% of her class, is a member of National Honor Society, and was selected as an AP Scholar Recipient among other honors. Highlights of Ava's extracurricular activities include FFA, Leadership Council, LINK Crew, Forensics, being an exchange student to Spain, and serving as an AP mentor and math tutor and member of the LHS math team. Ava competed in tennis, basketball, and soccer for the Blue Devils, earning numerous honors including multi-year all-conference honors and selection as 2025 MVP. Ava was a 3-year letter winner in basketball and the team's Unsung Hero award winner. In soccer, Ava earned multi-year all-conference honors, Most Valuable Defensive Player, and MVP during her time on the field.

Ava will be attending UW-Madison to major in business (finance, investment, and banking). Ava says she will most miss the team atmosphere and friendships she had participating in Blue Devil sports. Her advice to under classmen:

"Show up every day, leave everything on the field, and love every second of it. Each practice, game, and team dinner goes by faster than you think, so be present and take it all in."

She recalls fond memories of Dano, namesake of the scholarship award: "I always remember seeing Dano at every basketball and football game. There didn't seem to be a game that he didn't attend. His smile, spirit, and enthusiasm represented the true meaning of Lodi Pride."

Congratulations Ava on your selection as a 2025 DMMF Scholarship recipient!

Dan Markwardt, who was affectionately known as "Dano" throughout the Lodi community, is the beloved namesake of the Dan Markwardt Memorial Foundation. A lifelong resident of Lodi and proud 1994 graduate of Lodi High School, Dano dedicated his life to supporting the students, athletes, and spirit of his hometown.

Dano served for years as an athletic manager at Lodi High School, giving his time and heart to countless teams. His dedication earned him a place alongside some of the most successful squads in Lodi history, including the 2017 State Champion Blue Devil football team and the 2013 and 2014 state runner-up basketball teams. Lodi's own Hall of Fame football coach Dave Puls once called him "the king of all Lodi athletics" - Dano was not just a supporter—he was the Blue Devils' biggest fan.

While he loved Blue Devil athletics, Dano's true passion was the people. He cherished the camaraderie with students, the laughter shared on bus rides, and the joy of being part of something bigger than himself. His jokes were legendary, and his presence made every team feel more like a family. Athletes, coaches, and students alike were better for having known Dano.

Beyond the field, Dano was a familiar and friendly face around town—at local restaurants, church, and downtown businesses. He seemed to know everyone, and everyone knew him. Residents of Lodi and Okee were always happy to give him a ride, often resulting in a few laughs and a good story. His warmth was infectious, his kindness unforgettable.

In a Wisconsin State Journal article shortly after Dano's passing, Coach Cody Endres said it best:

"He showed how to be kind to all, care for everyone you see, and love your community. No one did those three things better than Dano."

Dano passed away in 2019 at the age of 45, leaving a void in the hearts of many. Though gone too soon, his legacy lives on through the Dan Markwardt Memorial Foundation and all who strive to live with the same love, humor, and loyalty that Dano brought to every day.

#LODIPRIDE