Marshall Nordic Ski Team Athletes

Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association

Section Award Winning Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Volunteers 2008-2009

 

Section 1 Award Winners

 

Head Coach James Kyes, Park and Woodbury Nordic Ski Coach

 

I highly recommend James Kyes for the Section 1 Coach of the Year.  James has always been a positive influence for the sport of Nordic skiing and for the athletes in his program.  He has worked hard toward creating the best environment for running meets, including the use of timing technology while adding fun incentives for athletes who participate.  James has always been willing to share information to other coaches in helping everyone enjoy the sport of Nordic skiing. James is an important coaching member in our community with attentiveness to making every skier reach their potential

 

Nominated by Dan Kust

 

 

Assistant Coach Todd Endersbe of Lakeville North. 

 

Todd is the kind of assistant coach that every head coach is looking for— he is intuitive enough to know what needs to be done and does it in a pinch. If he ever does not know what is needed, he offers himself and immediately gets the job done—whether it is grooming, uniforms, starting races, timing skiers, etc. He keeps a good second set of eyes and ears for the head coach for planning, decision making and reflection.

Todd knows and understands the strength of the coaching staff and makes sure that everyone’s strength can shine.  It has been an especially smooth year for his teams because he is reliable, dedicated and hard-working.

 

Nominated by Rich Heilman

 

Volunteer Mark Parr of ISD 196

 

Mark Parr is an excellent volunteer– he works hard to make sure the races are organized and he spends time taking care of the Valleywood ski course all season so that it is ready for us on Feb. 3rd for the section 1 race. he always has a great attitude and is at every meet for his team.

Nominated by Rich Heilman

 

 

Section 2 Award Winners

 

Head Coach Larry Myers, Wayzata High School

 

 I would like to nominate Larry Myers for head coach of the year award. He is the best! Larry has been coaching Wayzata High School for eleven years, and the program under his direction and motivation has growing from 40 kids to now over 100 kids (special note: within one week he knows everybody’s name). The kids really respect him; one year they nick named him “Lare Bare”, because he cares so much for them and teaches the love of skiing. Dedicated is an understatement, last year with a very bad limp (no hip), he never missed a day and continued to help in grooming when needed. Larry not only gave of his knowledge of skiing, but his equipment (skies, boots, poles, ski suits, hats jacket) anything that belongs to Larry also belongs to the team.  Larry also gives his time to the ski industry with the Mpls. Ski Club, Gear West shop, City of Lakes Loppet, and as a licensed T.D. I could think of no better representative of the sport for our youth.

 The kids he has coached over the years some come back and ski with us and four other kids he has hired on as assistance coaches. Just one example of his impact on the kids as they continue to share the love and then return to work with Larry.

 Larry’s dedicated love to cross country skiing and the ski team make him an excellent choice for Coach of the year.

 

 Nominated by:  Brad Erickson – Wayzata High School Assistant Coach.

 

 

Section 2 Asst. Coach of year nominee: Brad Erickson, Wayzata

 

I’ve always admired Brad Erickson’s approach to coaching, his respect for his athletes, other coaches, and the sport in general. He’s always an excellent example of integrity and intensity on and off the snow and yet keeps a balance of fun and humor that we often forget. This is, after all, not just THE SPORT, but also JUST a sport. He’s the type of adult we want our kids to be around when they’re learning life’s lessons of winning and loosing. I nominate Brad as Assistant Coach of the Year.

 

Nominated by: Bob Skow, Apollo

 

Section 3 Award Winners

 

Coach of the Year:  Amy Cichanowski , Burnsville

 

This will be Amy’s last year at Burnsville. Amy’s has been the most dedicated coach I have seen in all my years of coaching. She works with the skiers to make sure there technique is good and they understand what we are asking of them. She has developed the training plans for the past several years. It should be a testament to her skill in the results the girls team has had over the last three years and the conditioning they possess.

When she is not working with the high school team she oversees the Minn. Youth Ski League as its director. Her life revolves around the sport of Nordic skiing.

 

Assistant Coach of the Year:  Mark Westlake, Saint Thomas Academy

 

Mark Westlake is the assistant at Saint Thomas Academy.  He was the head coach for about 14 years until the 2005-2006 season when he stepped down to make more time for his family.  Since then I have taken over as head coach but he remains very involved both as an assistant helping the team with practice, and as a coaching mentor to me.  2005 was the first time I had coached anything and I was only 21 and didn’t know much.  He has taught me what I need to know to be a coach, and he has provided expert advice and direction to the team for the last 4 seasons.

 

Volunteer of the Year:  Jerry Slater, Sibley

 

At Sibley we are down to one coach for Nordic skiing without the help of Jerry the season would have been impossible for each skier to have had a successful experience.  He was at practice 95% of the time and work with all the first year skiers.. He made all the races, making positive comments to insure their success.  The group should great progress with one of 9th grade boy making Sibleys section team and two 9th grade girls making honorable mention all conference.  His waxing expertise helped our team make great decisions for race days, along with than waxing on race day. which freed me up to deal head coaching situations.  His insight on general ski questions ranging from waxing to race management were invaluable.  Without Jerry our season would not have offer the positive experience our Sibley skiers deserve.

 

Section 4 Award Winners

 

Coach of the Year, Section 4: Becky Boyle (Tartan)

 

Becky is always working to improve her team and their excitement about the sport.  Becky always arrives with a smile on her face and athletes who are ready to compete. Even though not from one of the powerhouse schools, Becky’s team is competitive and motivated.  It has always been a pleasure to work with Becky.

Nominator: James Kyes (Woodbury)

 

 

 

Assistant Coach of the Year, Section 4: Ralph Hapness (Stillwater)

 

Ralph has been an assistant coach at Stillwater for the last 6 years.  During that time, he’s transformed our training tool box, building, collecting or assembling a variety of training tools.  During dryland training, Ralph’s van becomes a training tool box on wheels, crammed full of cones, ropes, poles, and balls.  In addition to all the time Ralph spends with our skiers, he spends hours of additional time thinking about and implementing ways to make ski training fun and effective.  His methods benefit both experienced and new skiers alike and his skills and time are fundamental to providing training opportunities for our entire team.  Ralph is also a tireless waxer resource for our team, helping to prep skis for fast glide or spreading klister on 140 pairs of skis for an icy afternoon race.  And, finally, once the other skiers and coaches go home, Ralph uses his “down time” to groom our team’s trails – driving the snowmobile groomer in the dark to set tracks for practice or lay a race course for the next day.  We are extremely lucky to have a coach as creative and as dedicated as Ralph.

Nominator: Torry Kraftson (Stillwater)

 

Volunteer of the Year, Section 4: Steve Diederichs (Stillwater)

 

Steven Diederichs has been an active volunteer for the Stillwater team for the last 4 seasons.  Steve moves quickly and efficiently to fill gaps as they form in our coaching infrastructure.  He is, by turn, a technique coach, a wax technician, a timer, a snow shoveler, and a driver.  Steve arranges his schedule so that he can be at nearly all of our practices and meets, taking responsibility for big groups of athletes on coaching intensive days and helping new skiers develop into racers.  When not working for the team on the trails, Steve spends many hours helping out waxing and prepping skis and testing different wax combos, teaching the skiers as he goes, again, growing new skiers into experienced racers.  Steve is encouraging and engaging with the athletes; for a newer skier, he can turn all the technical aspects of Nordic skiing from intimidating to familiar.

 

For the past several years, Steve has also been an active volunteer coach for a local MYSL group, teaching skiers that will one day populate high school teams is Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.  He’s an expert at taking the drills high school students use and turning them into something accessible and useful for children 4-12 years old and is well-known for his special games, such as “one-foot hopping freeze tag” and “rubber chicken slalom”.  Steve energy and talent for engaging new skiers, both on our team and in the larger ski community of Minnesota, is unsurpassed.

Nominator: Kris Hansen (Stillwater)

 

Section 5 Award Winners

 

Head Coach: Scott Clark, Andover High school

 

Every year Scott produces outstanding skiers that finish in the top of the conference and section. He has sent boy and girl and skiers to the state meet for the last several years.   This year particularly Scott has done an outstanding job.  His boy’s team lost several top skiers, but his team has persevered, worked through the losses and developed team depth that allowed to Andover win the NWSC for the first time. Scott works hard at developing all of his skiers, top to bottom. I’ve seen him at the finish line equally excited for the all of his skiers!    He loves the individual improvement of all his athletes, top to bottom.   He loves skiing and transfers that love to his skiers. His team is on stride to have a fantastic Section 5 Meet.

 

Nominated by: Brad Rosch-Osseo

 

Section 5 Assistant Coach of the Year

 

Assistant Coach: Denny Nelson – Coon Rapids High School

 

I would like to nominate Denny Nelson for Assistant Coach of the Year.  Denny has been coaching skiing for a number of years, including his main time as the Head Coach for Coon Rapids, but also a stint as a Volunteer Coach for Champlin Park.  Denny has in the last three years helped develop a lot of younger skiers and has really enjoyed putting his time into teaching the first year skiers how to ski.  This year Denny also stepped up and has taken over a lot of responsibilities of the team and has had to run the team himself from time to time.  He has a great relationship with all the members of the ski team and loves doing whatever he can for all of the skiers.  In his spare time, Denny has pieced together and put back together many broken poles and ski bags.  Denny is a consummate organizer and has helped keep things organized for the skiers.  Denny’s big addition to the team is his positive, up beat, fun loving attitude that he shows towards all of the athletes on the team.

 

Nominated By Denny Green

 

Section 5 Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer: Drew Clark – Andover High school

Drew has volunteered with the Andover team every year for the past four years. His assistance has been a huge boost to the program. In addition to instructing groups of skiers on their skiing technique he has spent hours helping individual skiers that need intensive one-on-one instruction. As a result the other coaches are able to continue instructing the larger groups. Early in the season he would take the hand pulled packer out to the soccer fields, in the evenings, and define a loop so that the little snow that we had could be used to teach the beginners how to ski. Due to his many hours of help the first year skiers have shown a great deal of progress.

Nominated by Scott Clark

 

Section 6 Award Winners

 

James Dundon, Minneapolis Southwest– Coach of the Year

 

Since arriving on the coaching scene just a few short years ago, the Mpls. SW Nordic program has taken off under the leadership and motivation provided by James Dundon.  His teams have been perennial contenders in Section 6, as well as multiple section titles spread around between his boys and girls teams.   His athletes are always focused, and show the same determination and commitment that their head coach does.  James emphasizes cross training in the off season, with many of his skiers taking up the sport of rowing to develop both physical and mental toughness. 

 

Nominated by Doug Boonstra – Eden Prairie

 

Chris Stensgaard, Eden Prairie – Assistant Coach of the Year

 

Chris Stensgaard:  Chris Stensgaard has been an assistant coach at Eden Prairie for the past 13 seasons.  What drives this tall, football and basketball guy to stick with coaching is his love of teaching new kids how to ski.  Year in and year out, we will have around 30 first time skiers come into our program as freshman that have never been on ski’s before.  Chris takes that as a challenge.  This past season, to help ease the pain of bad knees and ankles from past glory days, Chris has taken to using video analysis to assist in pointing out technique to young skiers.  He loves seeing new skiers finally ‘get it’, and it puts a smile on his face as broad as his shoulders.  When you see him, congratulate him on being voted Section 6 Asst. Coach of the Year, and if you offer him a coffee, you’ll have a friend for life!

 

Nominated by Doug Boonstra – Eden Prairie

 

Matt Callahan, Section 6 Parent Volunteer of the Year.

 

For three years, Matt Callahan has tirelessly devoted himself to the skiers, parents, and coaches on the Southwest Nordic Ski Team.  Although he is a volunteer, he comes to practice like every other coach, working hard to help everyone achieve to the best of their ability.  Matt leads with a relaxed and positive energy that makes the coldest of practices seem tolerable.   Beyond dedicating his free time to helping skiers on the trails, Matt also keeps up with the skier’s academic successes.  Impressively, everyone at Southwest has grown to love this man for the unselfish lessons he has taught each of us.

 

Nominated by: James Dundon, Head Coach Minneapolis Southwest

 

Section 7 Award Winners

 

Sarah Byrns, Two Harbors Head Coach of the Year

 

As a parent of two team members and occasional assistant coach, I have developed a deep appreciation and respect for all coach Sara has done for skiing in Two Harbors during her 6 years as head coach.  She has brought out the best in her athletes, from the recreational skier to the serious competitor, while greatly expanding her coaching responsibilities. With her tireless work and fun but firm approach the team has grown from 13 to 35 skiers.

She started a local youth ski program in which the high school skiers coach nearly 40 kids ages 5-12.  Three of these kids are now members of the high school team and many more are on their way.  She has also brought ski racing to Two Harbors, annually organizing two high school meets and a community race.  All of this has greatly increased the visibility of Nordic skiing in the area.

Each year she organizes fundraisers that have allowed for the purchase of 40 pairs of team skis and poles making it easier to attract new team members.  One of our top skiers on this year’s section team would not even be skiing if not for these team skis.

The past two years she has traveled to West Yellowstone with some of her high school team to participate in the Duluth East Thanksgiving ski camp.  Each year, after Christmas she has taken her entire team on a 4 day ski trip to Telemark, Ironwood, Grand Marais, or Thunder Bay.

She has gone way beyond the expected and taken a sport that might not have survived local budget cuts during snow-less winters and instead made it one of the fastest growing sports at Two Harbors High School.  She is truly excited by the personal growth of individual skiers as well as the growth of her team as a whole.  If she ever were to stop coaching, we would need 4 coaches to replace her.

 

Nominated by Tom Peterson, Two Harbors

 

 

Ben Croft Assistant Coach

 

My association with Ben Croft as a Mesabi East/Virginia assistant coach began in 1991 and has continued to the present day. Ben is the most caring and hard working coach you could ever find. Everyday during the ski season my day begins with a 7:20 am call from Ben. It may be about an athlete with whom he is concerned. It may be about the program for that days practice. It may be about what tracks he needs to set at Giant’s Ridge for the day’s practice. It may be about the weather and waxing for a coming meet. It may be about him having to dig in our equipment bags to provide different boots, skis or poles to help an athlete until they get there own equipment.

 Whatever the call is about, it shows the concern Ben has for our kids and our program. I can’t imagine coaching at Mesabi East/Virginia without Ben Croft at my side.  

 

Nominated by: Jack Jeffery Head Coach Mesabi East/Virginia

 

 

Volunteer of the Year, Neil Igo

 

Every successful organization has key people who provide amazing support and energy.  Neil Igo is the Marshall Nordic Ski team electrician, mechanic, troubleshooter and special equipment designer and builder.  From the wax trailer to the grooming equipment and everything in between, Neil has designed it, fixed it or enhanced its ability to serve the members of Marshall Nordic. Neil has played a huge part in every expansion of the Marshall School Ski Trails.  He is an expert equipment operator.  Neil is present at every Marshall Sprints race to make sure that if anything goes wrong, it will be fixed.  Neil continues to offer his talents to the Marshall School even though he no longer has children attending high school.   Neil is the father of Scott and Renee Igo, 2007 graduates of Marshall School.

 

Nominated by: Dave Johnson Head Coach Marshall School, Duluth

 

Section 8

 

Coach of the Year: Terry Wasland – Little Falls

 

Terry has his bachelors and Masters Degrees from South Dakota State University.  He played college basketball.  Terry grew up being pulled by a vehicle on wooden skis in South Dakota.  He was on the skis, not in the vehicle.  Terry has been married for 31 years and a father of three.  He is the Guidance Department Director in Little Falls.

Terry is an avid hunter and fisherman.  HE has been the girls and boys Head Nordic Ski Coach for 8 years and the assistant for 12.  He has worked very hard to run and maintain the Little Falls Nordic Skiing program and is bringing his girls to state for the third year in a row.  Plus, his boys were very successful this year as well as they took second place at sections by 3 points.

 

Assistant Coach of the Year: Joe Dunaisky – Little Falls

 

Joe has been the assistant coach at Little Falls for the past four years.  He has great enthusiasm for the sport of Nordic Skiing and works endlessly recruiting younger athletes to give Nordic Skiing a try.  His interest in and knowledge of waxing has been invaluable in helping keep 50 Nordic skiers properly waxed and maintained skis.  His ski bag is usually full as he goes home each night with skis that need a little extra TLC.  He supports the guiding principles of the Little Falls program and does whatever is necessary to assist in any way.  He deserves much credit for the success the program has achieved.

 

Volunteer of the Year: Kent Montgomery – Brainerd

 

     Kent has been a volunteer coach for the Brainerd Junior High program for 5 years.  Because of budget cuts we are not able to have very many coaches and he is willing to donate his time helping the kids wax their skis, learn technique, and take care/ keep track of them at meets.  Kent is also on the Brainerd Nordic Ski Board  and is able to give input and help with grooming the trails.  This season Kent groomed some trails on his property so the team could have an inexpensive ski camp. Kent has saved the Brainerd Nordic ski team many hours of work.

 

Nominated by Nicole Kellerman – Section 8 Rep