Buendorf nominated for Minnesota Coach of the Year
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Talent and intelligence: the NRHEG High School cheer team is showing it has both.
Earlier this month, the squad and advisor Kari Buendorf attended the Minnesota Cheer Coaches Association banquet at Roy Wilkins Arena in St. Paul. There, they were named the Southeast Regional Academic Award winners, an honor they have garnered in the past.
Included in the NRHEG group were Hailey Westrum, Paige Peterson, Grace Wilkenson, Avery Hill, Cami Nissen, Josie Strom, Aracelis Sepulveda, Madi Kormann, Lorelei Strom, Caty Nelson, Karenna Strom, Laura Worrell, Sydney Schlinger, Brenlee Knudson, Cassie Kormann, Taya Lembke, Eva Wayne, Maggie Maloney, Grace Kofstad, Cary Solland, Makayla Knutson and Sofia Mrotz.
Westrum was named to the All-State Sideline Cheer Team, earning the right to perform with other all-state cheerleaders from throughout Minnesota. It was her second year making the all-state team.
“She’s well deserving of the honor,” said Buendorf.
Seniors Westrum, Worrell, Schlinger and Strom were named to the Honor Team, which combines leadership, community involvement and academic status.
This year, the MCCA awarded six $500 and six $1,000 scholarships, and two of the $1,000 scholarships went to Worrell and Strom.
Five members of the team also competed, doing a one-minute routine comprised solely of stunts. They placed fourth out of 13 squads. The five were Maloney, Worrell, Schlinger, Karenna Strom and Lorelei Strom.
“I was very proud of how they did and hope that next year we can do it again,” said Buendorf.
To top it all off, Buendorf was nominated for Coach of the Year.
She’s guided the NRHEG cheerleaders to great success, including a state championship.
“I was very humbled,” she said. “I have wonderful support from [the cheerleaders], their families and the communities of NRHEG. The administration at both Ellendale and New Richland have been wonderful to work with and they support our cheer program, which I am very grateful for.”
Buendorf, in her 20th year of coaching, credits the late Carol Reese for getting her started down the coaching path.
“I want to thank Carol for seeking me out when I moved to the community after college,” said Buendorf. “She was a great mentor.”
Buendorf cheered herself in her school days at Worthington and later participated in competitive dance in college. She met her husband, Chad, in New Richland. They have a son, Devin, a senior, a daughter, Kia, a seventh-grader, and a dog named Tubby.
“Being nominated [for Coach of the Year] was an honor and I am humbled,” said Buendorf. “Cheer has changed so much over the years and as in any sport there are ups and downs.”
The quality of athletes at NRHEG has helped create more positives than negatives, however.
“I have been blessed throughout my coaching career to have worked with some amazing young athletes and also families,” said Buendorf. “It is always exciting getting that call or text from former cheerleaders with exciting life news: baby announcements, wedding invites, and everything in between.”
There are challenges, though Buendorf said in the end it’s all worth it.
“Being a coach is not an easy job and I definitely have had some challenges, but in the end it has made me a better person learning lessons I can share as I continue to coach,” she said. “The girls would say that I challenge them and have high expectations, but I think that is what has made NRHEG cheer a success. We are definitely a family and support each other on the sideline and also in our personal lives. The communities of NRHEG have been wonderful and having the support of the school and administration is a big part of that. I am proud to have the opportunity to coach at NRHEG and look forward to more years of great athletes on the sidelines doing something they love.”