Always A Hornet

Will grew up playing youth basketball in Edina. He became a 3 year starter and 2 time captain for Edina High School. In his time at Edina he was All-State and one of the all time leading scorers, scoring over 1,000 points. ​While playing collegiately at the University of St. Thomas, where he was a member of a national championship team, he started coaching young players in Edina, which ultimately led to the creation of DeBerg Basketball. These camps, clinics, training, and leagues have been going on for 15 years and have involved teaching and coaching hundreds of young boys and girls about the game of basketball. Will is also the Head FIBA National Coach for the Tonga National Team. ​

Jaime Gaard Chapman, a 2003 Edina High School grad was a dominant force on both the basketball court and the tennis court during her high school years. In addition to leading her team to three state tournament appearances in basketball, Jaime earned four state championship tennis titles. After a successful career at Gustavus Adolphus College, Jaime returned to her alma mater to coach basketball and tennis. In 2020 Jaime took over the position of head girls’ tennis coach at Edina High School. Joining us today, along with Jaime, are two senior tennis players who were state doubles title winners in October. 

Edina Girls Swimming and Diving Assistant Coach Mellanie Pusateri has been teaching and coaching at Edina Public Schools since 1993. Mellanie is currently teaching physical education at Edina High School and assistant coaching with the girls swimming and diving team. She was recently (2025) inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame. To make the conversation even more interesting and fun, Mellanie brought along three of her 2025 state champion swimmers, and we had a good discussion about what it takes to compete at a high level as a swimmer, how the athletes manage the pressures they encounter as well as some of the ways they stay focused on having fun. 

A 2012 Edina High School graduate, Cavonte (“CJ”) Johnson established himself as a three-sport star and scholar athlete during his time at EHS. He was a varsity football, basketball, and track and field athlete who was a member of the Edina Boys’ Track and Field record setting 4 X 100-meter relay team. Cavonte was the recipient of four awards coming out of high school that included the Howard Merriman Student Athlete Award, the Kirby and Tanya Puckett Award, the National Football Foundation Scholarship Award and was awarded the highly prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates Millenium Award. Among his other accolades, Cavonte was a captain of the football, basketball and track and field teams, a member of the EHS Student Council and was the commencement speaker at his HS graduation. This episode is a bit longer (55 minutes) than our usual episodes, but we think you will appreciate hearing what Cavonte has to say about moving to Minnesota and being afforded an opportunity to get an Edina Public Schools education through the generosity of his “Moms” and “Pops” Sarah and Doug Jones. Hang in there with us all the way through the episode. You’ll be glad you did! 

Sisters Kathryn and Christine Graf were teammates on the first volleyball team from Edina High School to make the state tournament (2018). Kathryn went on to play volleyball at Bradley University and Christine played 4 years at California Baptist before playing a post-grad year at High Point University while getting her MBA. The Graf sisters talked to us about how they came to focus on volleyball, what it was like to be part of the group that was instrumental in elevating the fortunes of the EHS Volleyball program, and what the "sibling-teammate" experience was like for them. 

Art Downey began coaching swimming and diving at Edina High School in 1956 when he founded the swim program. He coached for 62 years retiring in 2018. Under his leadership the Edina Boys’ Swimming and Diving team won 10 state championships. Art is in the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame and the National Swimming Coaches’ Hall of FameScott Johnson was a teacher & assistant coach with the Edina Boys' Swimming and Diving team from 1992-2018 and became head coach in 2018, following the retirement of veteran head coach Art Downey. He also coached with the Edina Girls' Swimming and Diving team from 1992-1996. Coach Johnson has led the Edina Boys’ Swimming and Diving team to 6 Minnesota State Championships. Scott was inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024We were lucky to have these two legends together in the studio for a conversation about how they got into coaching swimming, changes in high school swim programs over the past several decades, some career highlights and their legacies. 

Lifelong friends Jay Bennett and Jeff Wright, both 1967 graduates of Edina High School, were two of the most successful athletes to come through EHS. Jay and Jeff led the Hornets to four state titles in three years - two in football and two in basketball. After high school, Jay attended Dartmouth College where he played football and still holds the record for the longest punt in program history (83 yards). Jeff is still considered to be one of Edina's greatest all-around athletes leading, along with Jay, the Hornets to those two football and basketball titles and was a captain and All-Lake Conference selection in baseball. After an All-Big Ten career at the University of Minnesota, Jeff played seven seasons of professional football for the Minnesota Vikings competing in 3 Super Bowls. Jay and Jeff joined us to talk about their appreciation for the athletic and academic experiences they had growing up in Edina as well as the positive and lasting impact their coaches had on their careers and their lives. 

A 1997 EHS grad, Greg Buth played 4 years of varsity basketball for Edina High School. During his senior year, he was named 1st team All-State and a finalist for the statewide Mr. Basketball award. Greg went on to play 4 years of NCAA Division I basketball for Dartmouth. As a sophomore, he was presented the Edward S. Steitz Award for being the top three-point shooter in the nation in Division I Men’s Basketball. Greg joined us to talk about growing up in Edina, the evolution of his basketball career, how he approaches coaching his own sons, and what he has been up to since college.  Greg lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Shannon (EHS ‘97) and his four boys. 

A 2013 Edina High School graduate, MC McGrory was recently named head girls basketball coach at Edina High School. MC was a Minnesota Miss Basketball Finalist in 2013 and the MVP of the Minnesota Coaches All-Star Game. At Creighton University, MC was a three-year starter, earning two All-Big East selections and helping her team to a Big East regular season championship and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. MC joined us for a conversation about her basketball career and how she is looking forward to leading the Hornet girls' basketball program. 

A 2018 graduate of Edina High School, Emily Kompelien competed in cross country, track & field and Nordic skiing at Edina High School. She was a two-time team state champion in cross country , 2018 state champion in track for 1600m and 800m events and was named the 2018 Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year as well as the ExCEL Award Winner-Scholar with Distinction. After attending Brown University and competing on their cross country and track and field teams, Emily moved to New York City and is currently employed by lululemon where she works in Loyalty Strategy.  Emily talks to us about the evolution of her cross country and track career and her psychological approach to competing. 

We begin Season 3 of Always A Hornet with a home run! A 1996 Edina High School grad, Dan Fitzgerald has established himself as one of the top college baseball coaches in the country. He is currently the head baseball coach at the University of Kansas and was recently named the Big 12 coach of the year. His teams have been successful everywhere he’s been and he is known for his outstanding recruiting and his ability to develop his players. During his years at Edina High School, Dan played football, hockey and baseball. Dan shares with us his experience as a young athlete in Edina, the mentors he had through high school, and the long and winding coaching road that led him to KU. 

In this episode, we catch up with 1984 grad Lea Blackwell Favor. Lea won eight letters in soccer, tennis and basketball while at Edina High School and led the Hornets to a state Class AA runner-up finish in basketball her junior year. After Katie shares her fangirl moment, we talk to Lea about her experiences growing up in Edina, her college years that included her two All-Big Ten seasons in basketball at the University of Minnesota, the continuing role of competitive sports in her life  and the evolution of her career as a life long educator dedicated to community engagement.  

Troy Stein is the Assistant Principal in charge of Activities and Athletics at Edina High School. Troy has led the EHS athletic department for 12 years overseeing 34 varsity sports and numerous other independent and intramural opportunities for students. He started his career in education as a math teacher and coach in Edina and, after a brief detour, was hired to be the AD in Edina in May of 2013. Troy gets very high marks from his coaches for being engaged and supportive of coaches and athletes. In this episode, Troy shares with us the responsibilities his job entails, what he is looking for when hiring coaches, and what he enjoys the most about being an activities director. 

A 1996 graduate of Edina High School, Katie (Ryerse) Aafedt excelled in soccer in both high school and college at Gustavus Adolphus. As Edina High School Girls' Soccer Coach for 11 years, Katie led the Hornets to a state championship in 2023. In this episode, recorded as part of the Hornet Buzz podcast in June of 2024, Katie shares her experience growing up in Edina as the daughter and granddaughter of coaches who inspired her love of sports and, in particular, of soccer. Katie also talks about the evolution of her coaching philosophy and the difficult decision to retire after the championship season. Hornet Buzz Podcast producer Pete Waggoner gets the assist on this interview.  

A 2022 Edina High School graduate, where she was a team captain in basketball and soccer, Dorothy (Dottie) went on to play basketball at the Coast Guard Academy. Dorothy is experiencing quite a bit of success in basketball at the academy. In January, she became only the 12th player in Bears women’s basketball history to break the 1,000 point scoring mark. Dorothy was also named to the First Team All Conference Team in the New England Men and Women’s Athletic Conference. Dorothy talks about the role of her family in her athletic success, shares her experiences at the service academy and lays out her post-graduation options. Most importantly, Dorothy relates her real moment of fame when she was on an ESPN highlight video. (Thanks Paige Bueckers!)

 A 2018 Edina High School graduate who played both football and basketball for the Hornets, Luke Glenna went on to the University of St. Thomas where he became the first ever Tommie Division I All-American football player in 2022. Luke is entering his 3rd season in the European League of Football and has signed a contract with the Nordic Storm based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Luke shares his favorite memories of playing football and basketball growing up in Edina, his experience at the University of St. Thomas as the program moved from NCAA Division III to Division I, and what playing professional football in Europe has to offer. Hang with the episode to hear Luke’s story about playing in a Johnnie-Tommie game with a broken collar bone. 

This week we talk to Hilary Lunke about her youth sports experience and how she got into golf and made a career out of it. The Star Tribune 1997 Metro Scholar Athlete of the Year, Hilary shares her experiences at both EHS and being recruited to Stanford University. She also talks us through, in great detail, her experience winning the LPGA Women's US Open in 2003. 

Paul Nitz is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Edina High School. A five time Paralympian, Paul won 5 medals (4-gold, 1-bronze) in track. Paul shares with us his experience as a student and athlete in Edina and how his athletic experience evolved from basketball to track and ultimately to his competing in the Paralympics. Paul also acknowledges and explains his status as an EHS sports Superfan. 

This week we were fortunate to talk with Jeannette Cluskey Vickman, EHS Class of '00 and back to back State Class AA Singles Tennis Champion in 1998 and 1999. Jeannette went on to play college tennis at the University of Richmond and the University of Minnesota. She shares with us her experiences developing her tennis game and how they continue to impact her perspective in all areas of her life. Most importantly, Jeannette helps us identify the name of the popular sandwich shop that was a go to for so many EHS students from that era. 

As we expand our reach to persons who have become fixtures in the community but are not EHS alums, a great person to start with is Dave Dickey, the "Voice of Edina." Dave has been a public address announcer for EHS sports teams for 25 years. While his main focus lately has been football and basketball, Dave has called numerous other EHS sporting events and, beginning in 2019, became the voice of the Edina 4th of July parade. Dave shares his experience moving to Edina with his wife Ann (EHS '88) as well as some highlights of his announcing career. 

From Athens, Greece, where he is playing basketball professionally, Anders Nelson EHS '18 shares his favorite memories of youth sports, especially basketball in Edina. One of the top scorers in the history of Edina HS basketball, Anders went on to Unversity of St. Thomas where he participated in the transition from a Division III basketball program to Division I. Anders spent his post-graduate year making a huge impact on the William and Mary basketball program. After playing a professional season in Switzerland, Anders finds himself in Greece enjoying the weather and the unique experience that is overseas basketball. 

Coming off a remarkable first year of soccer at the University of Notre Dame, where she was named ACC Freshman of the Year, Izzy Engle, EHS '24, talks to us about her experience as a young athlete growing up in Edina and the challenges of playing soccer at the collegiate level. Izzy also shares with us the pressures of growing up around the corner from her high school coach and mentor Katie Aafedt as well as her go-to order at Jersey Mike's.

Join us for our conversation with Drew Johnson EHS '10 as we talk to him about his incredible swimming career both at Edina High School and The University of Minnesota. Drew shares his perspective on the EHS swim program under the leadership of the legendary Art Downey and and an appreciation for some of the people who made his experience in Edina Schools so special.