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​Introducing the 2019 class
Minnesota Senior sports association
hall of fame

​
​Kate Ellis
Nordic Skiing/Canoeing
  • Three-time Nordic Skiing World Masters Champ
  • National Masters Champion
  • Two-time winner of world’s oldest cross-country race – Mora, Sweden
  • U.S. Masters Ski Team
  • U.S. Canoe Association National Master and Open Medal
  • Month-long canoe trip in the Arctic
  • Coaches at Loppet Nordic Racing Club
  • Past President, Loppet Foundation Board

​Tom Fridinger
Tennis
  • Number One Singles Ranking in USTA Northern Section in three age groups
  • Number One Doubles Ranking in USTA Northern Section in every age group
  • USTA National Section Hall of Fame
  • Volunteer Coach East Ridge Tennis Association and Inner City Tennis
  • Family Affair – National Tennis Family of the Year – 2018
​

Sonya Goins
Half Marathon
  • Trains for events despite Crohn’s disease and getting nutrition from IV
  • Will compete in 10th half marathon June 2nd in San Diego
  • Member Platinum Park Flyers Track and Field Team
  • Gives back as Board Member, Crohn’s Colitis Foundation
  • “I have Crohn’s disease, Crohn’s disease doesn’t have me”​


​Fran Lauenstein
Volleyball
  • 10 Gold Medals, 15 Silver Medals, 18 Bronze Medals
  • Two All-Tournament Awards
  • Completed 6 months of chemo 3 weeks before winning the National Senior Games
  • Captain, manager and player
  • Championships at National Senior Games, U.S. Volleyball and Huntsman Games
​

Vic Marotta
Baseball
  • Started Minnesota 50 and over Baseball League (M50BL)
  • Commissioner of M50BL since founding
  • 8 State Championships
  • Roy Hobbs national Baseball player for 21 years with 6 National Championships 
  • Player/manager of 2 teams


Garry Morris
Softball
  • 9 World Tournament Championships
  • 27 Times All World
  • 6 times World Tournament MVP
  • Considered by many to be Minnesota’s best Senior softball player of all time
​

​Denny Nelson
Boxing
  • Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame
  • Refereed 84 bouts after the age of 50
  • Ringside judge of 525 bouts after the age of 50
  • Officiated fights with George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton and Buster Mathis
  • In demand to officiate worldwide
  • Serves sport as an instructor
​Mark Nelson
Boxing
  • Refereed 702 bouts, 121 after age 50
  • Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame
  • Officiates worldwide
  • Officiated 96 world title bouts
  • Ring official for 30 years
  • Serves sport as an instructor
​

Don Wright
Marathon
  • 100 marathons, including Boston – never failed to finish
  • First place in age group 11 times, including Grandma’s Marathon
  • 2006 USATF Runner of the Year
  • Wore out 6 pairs of shoes in one year
  • 2003 – Diagnosed with multiple myeloma – given 3-5 years
  • Created “eRace Cancer Foundation”
Mike Schmid
Bowling
  • National tournament – 58 years
  • One of twenty-two bowlers to knock down100,000 pins at national tournaments
  • Five perfect (300) games
  • Highest team score in Minnesota history
  • Winner of numerous city and state senior and masters tournaments
Jim Schoffman
Track
  • Minnesota masters all-time 400m record holder
  • Seven Minnesota open and masters championship records
  • Nationally ranked for 15 years despite stage 4 cancer treatments and surgeries
  • Competes at 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m
  • Volunteer coach for high school track team

2019 Team of the year
mINNESOTA lADYSLIPPERS
​Eight Time - Women's national hockey Champions

Row One:
Barb Jaeger - Cindy Thompson - Viv Davy - Marilyn Franzen - Sheryl Ekberg
Row Two:
Jean Daavettila - Sue Ring Jarvi - Nan McDonald - Nancy Wolf - Marlene Brodt - Judy Jungwirth
Row Three:
Sue Gage - Carol Adelman - Beth Mitchell - Kris Duryea
Row Four:
Mary Vandergrift - Karen Ela - Nina Novitski - Dana Lawrence - Kristi Odegard - Sandy Brogren - Janet Marvin