Section One Award Winners 2006-2007

Amy Cichanowski is head coach of the year, section 1  Burnsville High School

I believe that Amy should be the Nordic coach of the year for the following reason.

She spends hours thinking and working on training plans to help develop our team into one of the best it can be. Now, I know most other coaches do that as well but the recent success we are having in Burnsville is a direct result of Amy’s hard work. She connects with the skiers to help them to be motivated all year long, which has been lacking in past years. She motivates the skiers to go to JO races and get involved in summer training camps.

She is a very good technical skier who can explain that information to the skiers so they understand and then perform. I have been around many very good skiers who could not teach. Amy is a true teacher of the sport, as well as teaching the skiers about life and how to reach goals they set forth.

Away from being a high school coach Amy is the Exc. Director of the Minnesota Youth Ski League. She is working not only at development of the high school skier but future skiers who we as coaches will have on our teams.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a coach who is doing more for the sport than Amy.

Matt Maher is Assistant Coach of the year Section 1 Park High School.

Matt has been one of the assistant coaches for the combined teams of Park and Woodbury now for 7 years,  He is driven to not just help the top skiers fulfill their dreams and desires, but to continue the showing people around the community what a wonderful life long sport Nordic Skiing can be.  Matt works diligently as a motivator and mentor for many of our skiers, his friendly personality makes him very easy to talk to and get to know.  Matt is constantly working to promote good sportsmanship, integrity and strong work ethic.  Though Nordic skiing is a love of Matt’s, it is often more about the person for him.  He is constantly working to find ways to build up the individuals within the team.  He helps skiers grow into productive individuals while teaching the fundamentals of our sport.  You will not see him stand up and fight for policies, rules, or administrative changes, instead during those times he will be busy building a network of skiers who love our sport and who will become productive adults who also promote Nordic skiing.

Dan Lindner Section 1 Volunteer of the Year  Hastings High School

Dan Lindner exemplifies the "life sport" spirit of Nordic skiing. Dan is an excellent example of the growth that takes place in athletes. Coaches in our sport understand this development. It's one of the most rewarding aspect of the the sport of Nordic skiing.

Dan began his skiing career as a sixth grader. Dan participated in his first MSHSL State Meet as a freshman. He was dead last! The next year he was 15th in the state. As a junior, Dan broke a pole in the section meet, eliminating the team's and his own chance at getting to the big dance. Finally, as senior in 1996, Dan led Hastings to another section championship.

Because of his love of Nordic skiing that developed in high school, Dan has continued to ski recreationally. Despite the responsibilities of being a young father and working full-time for the Regis Corporation, Dan has for the past few years come to nearly every practice of the Hastings High School Nordic Ski team. This year Dan has taken days off from his job to coach at important meets. Dan made it a priority to be at the Section 1 Championships. After a full day of work, Dan drove the 4 hours Grand Rapids, the night before the race. On the eve of the race, Dan helped the team with waxing. The next day, despite bitter cold conditions, Dan was out in the cold, taking photos and encouraging the team. After the meet, Dan drove home to his family, realizing his efforts were well-rewarded, as the Hastings boys qualified for the state meet for the first time since 2002.

In the past, many deserving volunteers have been honored. For many their involvement stemmed from a family member on the team or owning a business related to skiing. Dan is different. Dan Lindner deserves consideration as the MSHSL Volunteer for the Year simply because he is giving back to a sport he loves.  He has no other motivation other than love of the sport and the desire to pass that along to others.