Dave Ryerse, Class of '51

One of Edina's first great athletes, Ryerse earned letters in football, basketball, tennis, and track. In the first football game of his senior year at Edina-Morningside High, Ryerse scored touchdowns on his first three carries. The touchdown string was broken on the fourth carry, but his momentum con­tinued for the remainder of the season as he made the All-Lake Conference team. Track was Dave's best sport. In 1951, he set a District 18 record in the quarter-mile that lasted for 20 years. Ryerse was the first Hornet athlete to play two sports simultaneously when he starred in tennis and track in the same season. Dave is president and CEO of Thompson Lumber Company and a member of the Orono Planning Commission. He and his wife, Mary, live in Wayzata.

Bill Larson, Class of '54

Nicknamed "Lousy" by his Edina-Morningside High classmates, Larson started his high school career as a 133-pound sophomore. He was eager to please the coaches and used his speed and tenacity to overcome his lack of size. Larson showed "the heart of a lion," according to the late Warren Beson, Edina's football coach. In Larson's senior year, the Edina-Morningside football team set a single-game scoring record by demolishing Bloomington 69-0. By the time Larson graduated, the Hornet football team had an 18- game winning streak and the tradition was in place. He lettered three years in football and baseball and two years in basketball. Larson was the first and only Hornet football player to have his jersey number retired, although his number, 23, has found its way back into circulation. Bill and his wife, Lincla, have three grown sons and live in Burnsville.

Rick Giertsen, Class of '64

Best known for his exploits as an All-American swimmer, Giertsen was equally comfortable on land as a track star and a football letter-winner. He led Art Downey's Hornets to their first state swimming title in 1964 and was a three-time state champion in his specialty event, the 100-yard butterfly. On the running track, Giertsen was also a winner. He helped Edina's mile relay advance to the state championship in his senior season. One of Giertsen's greatest thrills was to see his sons, Rick and Drew, swim for coach Downey at Edina High. A third son, Kevin, kept the family's athletic tradition by playing soccer at Edina. Rick and his wife of 37 years, Cathleen, live in west Edina. He is chairman of the board for his family's business, the Giertsen Company, which was founded by his grandfather in 1918.

John Deasy, Class of '81

One of the premier all-around athletes in Edina history, Deasey competed at Edina-West High and led the Cougars to their only state hockey tournament berth. A tough, physical competitor, Deasey was the football quarterback, a forward in hockey, and a sure-fielding infielder for the baseball team. He earned All-Lake Conference honors in all three sports and was captain in each sport, as well. After graduating from high school, Deasey accepted an offer to play hockey at the University of Notre Dame. He later transferred and finished his hockey career at Providence College in Providence, R.I. John now lives in New York City.

Liz Zeller Turner, Class of '89

A 1,000-point scorer during her four-year varsity basketball career at Edina High, Liz led the Hornets to their only state girls’ basketball championship in 1988. Known as an all-around player, Liz scored 17.2 points per game as a senior. She lettered in volleyball and also played on the softball and golf teams. After graduating from Edina High, Liz accepted a full-ride scholarship at Texas Christian University. She led the team in scoring and rebounding in her sophomore year, but her career ended nine games into her junior year when she severely injured her knee. Liz is married to a Navy pilot, Kevin Turner, and the couple lives in Orange Park, Florida with sons, Benjamin, 2 years, and Joseph, 10 months.

Jackie Moe Kramer, Class of '90

A three-time state tennis champion at Edina High School, Jackie is the daughter of Tom Moe, who was inducted in the first class of the Edina Athletic Hall of Fame. Jackie won the Edina High Athena Award as a senior. She was a four-year letter-winner in tennis and lettered three years in basketball. She played on Edina's state-championship basketball team in 1988. Jackie's main rival in high school tennis was her sister, Jennie. They met twice in the state Class AA tennis titles with each sister gaining one victory. Jackie went on to become a four-time tennis All-American at the University of Texas in Austin. She and her husband, Steve, live in Eden Prairie with their sons, Cole and Cade.

Tom Nevers, Class of '90

Edina's baseball "bonus baby" signed a pro contract as a first-round draft choice of the Houston Astros. Nevers always had a tough time choosing between opportunities in his two favorite sports, baseball and hockey. As good as he was in baseball, he was just as good in hockey. He was the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Metro Player of the Year in baseball. He was also a Mr. Hockey of Minnesota finalist in 1990 and a high school All-American. In addition to being drafted by the Astros, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. Nevers played 13 years of minor-league baseball before announcing his retirement at the conclusion of the 2002 season. He and his wife, Stacy, live in Chanhassen and work together in the real estate business. They have a son Mason.

Ed Hendrickson, Coach

Elected to the Minnesota Track and Field Coaches' Hall of Fame in 1999, Ed was a track and cross country coach in Edina from 1954-1984. He led three Edina teams to state track championships and had numerous state champions, including Mark Becker, John Berg, Mike Braun, Ted Carlson, Ray Dunn, Steve Garlock, Rick Giertsen, Mike Goblirsch, Art Horecki, Scott McGarvey, Jim Olson, Phil Olson, Andy Overman, and Ben Porter. As a track coach, Ed's specialty was training mile relay teams to win state championships. The Hornets won the mile relay at the state meet in 1961, '64, '65, '66, '68 and '69. He also coached Tom Page, the only state cross country running champion in Edina history. Ed is now retired and living in Virginia, Minnesota.