Kerry Bogenreif from Champlin Park

I would like to Nominate Kerry Bogenreif from Champlin Park for Volunteer of the year.

Kerry, known by friends, students, and skiers as Bogie, student-coached with Denny Nelson and Dave Snesrud at Coon Rapids High school  while she completed her degree at Hamline.  She would go to her classes, student teach at White Bear Lake and then drive over to CR to coach!  She also worked at St. Joseph's Home in St. Paul and would often put in a full shift there and then come to coach.

After her student-coaching stint, she liked what Coon Rapids was doing with their program so she continued as a volunteer for about eight more years.  She never got a dime in compensation for all her hard work at Coon Rapids

She rarely missed a practice, a bus trip to The Ridge or a meet in all of that time. Kids recognized her tremendous fund of information on training, waxing, technique, (particularly classical), and racing tactics.  They would come up to the front of the bus all the time and pepper her with questions on all of those subjects, plus many more.
Most of all, the kids saw her love of and commitment to skiing.

Bogie then came to Champlin Park where she is now a Phy Ed teacher.  She then became the assistant Nordic coach at Champlin Park and continued on teaching kids her knowledge and love for the sport of Nordic skiing.  She was the assistant coach for 5 years at Champlin Park before taking some time off of coaching.  She is now back with the Champlin Park Nordic program as a Volunteer coach.  And same as when she was coaching at Coon Rapids, she is a dedicated coach, sharing the joy of skiing with everyone she meets.  We are very grateful to have her back helping out at Champlin Park.

Bogie’s experiences: She had a top 40 finish at the Birkie and won the Paul Bunyan Axe at the Finlandia three years in a row.  She was the 1995 Mora Vasaloppet 42km Classic winner, and also had a 2nd and several top ten finishes in the 42km classic race at Mora. She has also completed the Minnesota Border to Border Triathlon twice.  This is the premier endurance event in Minnesota.  She's also done that 100 mile mountain bike race in Colorado.  These are just the highlights, believe me.

Nominated by:
Denny Nelson – Assistant Coach at Coon Rapids High School
Charlie Rietschel – Champlin Park High School