Cannon Falls Area Schools ISD# 252

One of the most active and influential people in Bomber Athletics history, Mike served as Athletic Director, Head Wrestling Coach, Head Football Coach, Head Boys Track and Field Coach and assisted with Boys Basketball, Girls Track and Field and stayed with the wrestling team as an assistant beyond his head coaching days.

As Athletic Director for 25 years, Mike oversaw the start of many programs, including the start of female athletics for the Bombers in the 1970’s, paving the way for the 10 female activities that are offered today and the 7 state championships they have compiled.

He became the first coach in Bomber Wrestling history in 1959 and served as the Head Football Coach for 18 years where he compiled 54 total victories, the most of any coach in Bomber Football history.  Mike worked as a teacher, athletic director and coach from 1967 until he retired in 1994 but still can be seen at CFHS often.

A two sport athlete for the Bombers who excelled on both the football and baseball fields during the 1994-1997 seasons.  In both sports, Keith led the Bombers to the State Tournament, a 3^rd place finish in baseball during the 1997 season and the Bombers’ only trip to the State Tournament in football during the 1996 season.

As quarterback for the Bombers, Keith set multiple school and state records.  To this day, Keith owns school records in single game completions, career completions, single game, season and career passing attempts, single game, season and career touchdown passes and yards per completion.  In addition to the school records, Keith was twice named All-Conference, Republican Co-Player of the Year, Post Bulletin Offensive Player of the Year and All State performer. Keith’s 503 passing yards vs. Montgomery-Lonsdale once stood as a state record and now sits at #2 all-time.

On the baseball diamond, Keith helped the Bombers to a 3^rd place finish at the state tournament.  In addition, Keith also sits in the top 3 statistical categories both as a pitcher and offensively: Pitching Victories (31, 1^st), Innings pitched (241, 1^st), single season ERA (0.81, 2^nd), Single season hits (41, 1^st), Career walks (52, 2^nd), Career RBI’s (76, 2^nd), Career doubles (23, 2^nd), and on-base percentage (.658%, 2^nd).  His efforts earned him 4 All-Conference honors, All State (1997), Lions All-Star (1997) and Republican Eagle Player of the Year (1997).

Keith went on to star for the Mankato State (Minnesota State – Mankato) Mavericks where he once held the pitching appearances record.  Keith also had a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball in 2001 and also spent two seasons with the St. Paul Saints.

Active in football, weightlifting and track and field during the 2001-2003 years, Nate twice earned All-Conference honors in both football and track and field, All-State in football (2002) and set a school record in the shot put while on his way to earning 2^nd place at the State Track and Field Tournament.  In addition, Nate was a 5-time State Champion and AAU National Champion (2001) weightlifter for the Bombers and earned 2nd place at the Junior Nationals (2002).

Nate earned a scholarship to play football for the Bison of North Dakota State where he helped pave the way for Bison teams that compiled a 35-9 record while transitioning from Division II to Division I FCS, winning a Great West Conference Championship along the way and earning three All-Conference Selections. 

Nate earned a host of national awards and recognition during his time at NDSU including: Street & Smith's FCS Preseason All-America First Team (2007), Associated Press FCS All-American 2nd Team (2006), All Great West Conference First Team (2006, 2007), Walter Camp All-American (2007), Associated Press All American 2nd Team (2007) and in 2011, Nate was named the Left Tackle on the All-Time Great West Conference Football Team.

Ken started teaching and coaching at CFHS in 1963, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach to the start-up wrestling program for 4 years (1963-1966), he became Head Wrestling Coach in 1967 where he held the position for 27 years (1967-1994) and also spent 20 years as an Assistant Football Coach.

During his time as the Wrestling Coach, the Bombers compiled an overall record of 235-135, 6 Conference Championships and 15 District/Sub-Section Championships and sent 26 individuals to the State Tournament.

To this day, Ken still volunteers his time as a tournament coordinator for the Wrestling Program and also volunteers at the Section and State Wrestling Tournaments.  Ken has also been inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (2000), the St. Cloud State University Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1962-1963 wrestling team (2004) and the Mayo Civic Center Region I Wrestling Alumni Hall of Fame (2010).  In 1995, Ken was honored with the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award.

A dedicated Bomber supporter who can always be found cheering on the Bombers, Ken also dedicated many years as an event supervisor and was a Minnesota State High School League registered official in football, wrestling and softball where he spent many years giving back to the sports he coached.  To this day, he still umpires Junior Varsity softball and remains a registered wrestling official.

A 4-sport athlete from the class of 1947 who compiled a total of 13 varsity letters, Jim was active in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track and Field during his time at Cannon Falls High School.

Pressed into action as a 7^th grader on the Bomber Baseball team due to World War II, Jim racked up 6 letters in baseball while serving as the team’s catcher for his final 3 years.  One baseball season, Coach Bernie Fridell said they were going to start a track and field team and asked Jim if he wanted to participate.   Jim agreed and the next day competed in the 100 yard dash, 220 yard dash, 440 relay and 880 relay.

On the basketball court, Jim earned 3 varsity letters while leading his team in scoring both his junior and senior seasons.  He also went on to earn All Sub-District team twice and All-District team his senior season

Jim saw success on the football field as well, serving as the Bombers’ tailback and linebacker, Jim received All-State Honorable Mention honors as a senior and helped the Bombers secure the “Little Brown Jug” for the first time in 22 years in 1946. Upon graduation, Jim attended Augustana College for one year where he was a member of the football team before coming home to work.

Jim is a life-long Bomber who bleeds Red and Black.  He turns 85 years old today and rarely misses a Bomber football or basketball game.

The only Bomber football team to advance to the State Tournament and also won the first HVL Conference title in school history.

The team featured a prolific offense that still owns numerous school records, numbers that also sit in the top-5 for many offensive categories in the state record book. As a team, the Bombers scored 411 points over the course of the season, over 100 points more than the next highest scoring season in school history.  Running back Brian Hernke owns the school record for carries in a game (46), Quarterback Keith Meyers owns school records in nearly every passing category, Wide Receiver Rob Hedeen caught 49 passes for 1,039* yards and 11* touchdowns, Tight End Matt Norstad caught 47 passes for 843 yards and 11* touchdowns, Receiver Matt Sand caught 52 passes for 891 yards and 8 touchdowns.  Rob Hedeen’s 11-catch, 307 yards and 4 touchdown game vs. Montgomery-Lonsdale is the second highest receiving yard game in state history.  Keith Meyers’ 503-yard passing and 7 touchdown game are both 2^nd best in state history and his 3,070 passing yards for the season ranks 4^th in state history.

The defense featured a line that earned the nickname “BEEF” due to their size and run stopping ability. The defense was led by Matt Norstad (112 tackles), Matt Sand (7* interceptions) and Ian Rifenberick (6 sacks).  The Bombers were coached by Jeff Erdmann.