Girls Soccer Celbrating

A podcast that captures the determination, persistence, and accomplishments of Edina High School Alumni and friends.

Episodes will be published every other Monday and, for Season 2, are available wherever you get your podcasts. Season 1 episodes are available through The Hornet Buzz Podcast on Spotify.

All episodes can be accessed on this page.

Season 2-2024-25

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. 

Drew Johnson

Season 1-2023-24

In Episode 11, Girls Varsity Hockey Coach Sami (Reber) Cowger shares her journey through Edina High School sports and in coaching. After successful hockey careers at Edina High School and Harvard University, Sami returned to EHS as the head girls hockey coach. 5 state championships later, Sami has already established herself as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Edina High School.


In Episode 10, we feature 2006 EHS graduate, Jenny Taft. Jenny graduated from Boston University where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and also played Lacrosse.
Jenny works for Fox Sports as a sideline report for College Football, is a host for Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and has served as a reporter for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand. She also worked the FIFA World Cup Qatar in 2022.


In Episode 9, we catch up with 1986 EHS graduate Jim Carroll who was a multi-sport athlete in hockey, soccer, and baseball. Jim went on to play college hockey at Michigan Tech in the WCHA and also served as the first ever public address announcer for the Minnesota Wild. Currently, Jim can be heard in the arena as the voice of MSHSL state tournaments including boys’ and girls’ hockey. We discuss with Jim his experience growing up as a Hornet and how it impacts him today.


Episode 8 features Kelly (Siemon) Deyo. Kelly is a 1997 EHS graduate and was a two-time All State and Honorable Mention All American basketball player in high school and was a major reason the Fighting Irish won a national basketball championship in 2001. She was inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.


In Episode 7, we talk to “Chef Donny” Andrew Enriquez who was a 2015 graduate of Edina High School and who is currently the host of What’s For Lunch? produced by Barstool Sports. “Chef Donny” is also the author of Not Your Mother’s Cookbook.


Episode 6 is our conversation with multi-sport star Maddie Dahlien, a 2022 graduate of Edina High School. The 2021-22 Minneapolis Star Tribune Female Athlete of the Year, Maddie is currently attending school and playing soccer at The University North Carolina.

(A quick note here: There is an episode 5 of the Hornet Buzz podcast. We don’t link to it here because it is not an episode of Always A Hornet)


In Episode 4 we welcome Hayley Nilsen, a 2022 graduate who is a team member on the MN Junior Rolling Timberwolves, plays wheelchair basketball at the University of Arizona and was a Gold Medalist at the 2023 Women’s U25 Wheel Chair World Championships.


In Episode 3, 2013 graduate Anthony Walsh joins the show for a conversation about his experience growing up playing hockey in Edina. Anthony is a Community Engagement Specialist for Hennepin County and the author of Hockey is for Everyone: Anthony’s Goal.


Episode 2 features Hornet multi-sport athlete Justin Gaard a 2001 grad who earned eight varsity letters (5 in tennis, 3 in basketball). Justin is a producer of the popular KFAN radio show, Bumper-to-Bumper. He also a sideline reporter for Golden Gopher Football and the radio play by play announcer for the University of Minnesota’s Women’s Basketball team.

(Another note here: There is an episode 1 of the Hornet Buzz podcast. We don’t link to it here because it is not an episode of Always A Hornet)

Thanks for visiting!