Eight elected to Simley High School Hall of Fame Class of 2022

The Simley High School Hall of Fame exists to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academic, arts, athletic, and/or humanitarian achievement. The Hall of Fame also serves as a way to preserve history, build a sense of community, and connect the past with the present.

The newest additions to the Simley Hall of Fame – an 8-member group that makes up the Simley High School Hall of Fame Class of 2022 - will be recognized at halftime of the 2 p.m. Simley football game against Hastings Saturday, September 17.

The eight inductees include Jill Richgels (2012), Angela Garin (1998), Colleen Sweeney (1981), Steve Rohlf (1973), Mike Cadwell (1973), and softball coaches Tom Begich, Jim Newman, and Russ Hansen.

Learn more about the 2022 Simley Hall of Fame inductees:

Jill Richgels (2012)
Richgels graduated from Simley High School with a plethora of athletic and academic accomplishments. She was Minnesota's Miss Soccer 2011 and finished her high school career with a school-record 72 goals and 36 assists. Richgels was a two-time All-State first-team selection and an All-State honorable mention selection. She was a two-time team MVP and team captain. Richgels was also nominated for the Gatorade Minnesota State Player of the Year Award and received recognition from ESPN. In gymnastics, Richgels was All-Conference honorable mention on the vault and an Academic All-State selection. She earned a combined six varsity letters in soccer (four) and gymnastics (two). Richgels was an AP Scholar, and active with the National Honor Society and student council.

Richgels went on to play soccer for Creighton University, a Division I program in Omaha, Nebraska. She was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team and led the team in assists her sophomore year. Richgels also played for the Minnesota Thunder Academy, the top soccer club in Minnesota, and helped lead her team to Minnesota State Cup Championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009. She now works at Wells Fargo in financial crimes.

Angela Garin (1998)
Angela Garin was a standout gymnast and softball player at Simley High School and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She was captain and a key contributor on the 1997 Spartans gymnastics team that qualified for the state tournament. She was also a three-year All-State selection, five-time All-Section selection, five-time All-Conference selection, Academic All-State selection, and three-time Simley MVP. Garin still holds school records in the vault, floor, and all-around, and is second all-time in the bars and beam. In softball, she played centerfield where she was a 1998 All-State selection, and two-time All-Conference selection. She was the 1998 Simley Athena Award winner as Simley's best female athlete.

At UW-River Falls Garin was a 2001 and 2002 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship qualifier, qualifying in the All-Around and competing in all four events (vault, beam, floor, bars) both years. She finished 13th in the nation in the vault in 2001 and 17th in the nation in the All-Around in 2002. In 2002 UWRF finished eighth in the nation in the final team standings. Garin was named All-WIAC in the vault and All-Around in 1999, All-WIAC in the All-Around and team MVP in 2001, and All-WIAC in the vault and all-around in 2002. She was also named WIAC Gymnastics Athlete of the Week for her performance during the week of January 18-24, 1999. In softball Garin continued to play CF at UWRF. She was named All-WIAC Honorable Mention and the team's best offensive player in 2001. She was an All-WIAC first-team selection in 2002 and Great Lakes Region third-team All-American in 2002. Angela and her husband Eric and two children now live in River Falls, where Angela is the President of the River Falls Youth Softball Organization.

Steve Rohlf (1973)
Steve Rohlf was a three-sport athlete at Simley in the early 1970s. In football he was a three-year starter as a running back and defensive lineman, earning All-Conference honors in 1972 and 1973. He was a two-year starter on the Simley wrestling team at 155 pounds and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors his senior year. In baseball, he was a two-year starter in centerfield and the 1973 team MVP. He went on to play football at Inver Hills Community College where he was a two-time All-JUCO safety and team captain. He then went on to play football at Northern Michigan University where he was a member of the Wildcats' 1975 team that went 13-1 and won the NCAA Division II national championship. That team was quarterbacked by legendary NFL coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci. What was also memorable about that championship season was that the team went 0-10 in 1974, completing a truly remarkable turnaround by winning the 1975 national championship.

Rohlf was also a successful Golden Gloves boxer, going 24-6 from 1969-1972. In addition, he spent 24 years as an assistant team photographer for the Minnesota Vikings, photographing over 270 games, including 12 playoff games and three NFC Championship games. Rohlf was also a longtime volunteer youth and high school hockey, football, and baseball coach in St. Michael/Albertville, Woodbury, Stillwater, and Inver Grove Heights. In the early 1990s Rohlf returned to Simley to coach defensive backs for the Simley high school football team. Rohlf worked for 3M for 37 years, married his high school sweetheart, Kristi Peterson, and has three children and three grandchildren.

Mike Cadwell (1973)
Mike Cadwell was a three-sport athlete at Simley in the early 1970s. In hockey, he was a two-time All-Conference selection and two-time team MVP. He not only led the team in scoring, but he was twice voted the team’s best defensive player. In football, he was a three-year starter at center and linebacker. He played second base and was a two-year letter winner in baseball. He went on to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he was a four-year letterman, two-time All-Conference selection, two-time team MVP, and 1978 NAIA All-American. River Falls qualified for the NAIA national tournament all four years Cadwell was at UWRF.

Cadwell now resides in Colstrip, Montana, where he has served as President and as a board member of the Colstrip Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, he has served as a volunteer and committee member for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and local Ducks Unlimited chapter. He is currently a board member for the Making a Better Tomorrow for Colstrip organization and has coached youth and adult athletics in Colstrip. Through it all, Cadwell says his greatest honor is being a father and grandfather.

Colleen Sweeney (1981)
While Colleen Sweeney Wallin was an exceptional student-athlete at Simley High school in the early 1980s, it is what she has done since that has captured statewide and national attention. Colleen Wallin has been competing in the 300-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon since 1995, finishing as the top female competitor in more than a dozen races and taking third overall in 2014 and 2022. The success of the 1982 Simley graduate has been featured locally by the Star Tribune, nationally on CBS News, on radio shows, and in magazines worldwide.

The multi-day Beargrease is both physically and mentally grueling, with the top priority being the safety of the mushers and their dogs. It commemorates John Beargrease, son of an Anishinabe chief. He and his brothers delivered mail weekly along the rugged Superior shoreline between Two Harbors and Grand Marais from 1879 to 1899. The event was created in 1980 and is the premiere sled dog race series in North America. World-class mushers face off against other seasoned competitors as well as the extremes of northern Minnesota weather and the deceivingly rugged terrain of the trail. The “Beargrease” is a qualifier for the famed Iditarod race in Alaska.

While at Simley, Sweeney participated in several extra-curricular activities, including band, tennis, and track and field, where she ran the 440 and competed in shotput and discus. She was also on the Spartanettes dance team that finished first in the state and was the emcee for the Simley synchronized swim team.

Today, Colleen and her husband, Ward, own Silver Creek Sled Dogs in Two Harbors. Their son Ero also competes in sled dog racing. In 2022 when Colleen finished third, Ero finished moments after her in fourth place. Raising sled dogs and competing in sled dog races is a true family affair. Colleen told Fox 21 News Duluth: "It’s just a real celebration of being a Minnesotan and loving the winter.”

Watch this video to learn more about Colleen Wallin and her family’s sled dog journey.

Tom Begich, Jim Newman, Russ Hansen
In 1978 Tom Begich became head coach of the inaugural Simley softball team. A year later, assistant coaches Jim "Newmie" Newman and Russ “Bubba” Hansen joined the program. Under this trio's leadership, the Spartans had winning records in 20 of 21 seasons from 1980-2001. This success included a 1982 state tournament berth, three Missota Conference championships, and one St. Paul Suburban Conference championship.

"I came here in 1981 and the softball program was still young," said Ron Haala, former Simley teacher and coach. "These coaches grew the program because of their passion and vigor. While in a 2-class system they would take on all the biggest schools and succeed. They were section contenders every year. Begich, Newman, and Hansen created teams built on fundamentals and work ethic, with the foundation of the program built in the offseason because of the work that the coaches and players put in."

Begich, Newman, and Hansen were considered pioneers of Minnesota softball for creating opportunities and working to grow the sport. Tom and his wife, Ann, ran Tri-County summer softball league for 20 years. This allowed east metro softball players the chance to get more opportunities and experience playing competitive softball. It was one of the first summer programs of its kind and helped launch, what is now, a highly competitive Minnesota club softball scene. They were also instrumental in the Minnesota State Softball Coaches' Association, the Minnesota All-Star Softball Series, and launching several softball coaching clinics.

Hansen, a Ramsey County Deputy Sheriff, volunteered to coach Simley pitchers until his passing in 2001. He developed many of Minnesota’s best pitchers. Newman spent 25 years as an elementary speech clinician in District 199 and was one of the first junior high soccer coaches in the district. He was also a sports official and teacher’s union officer. In addition to serving as head coach, Begich was an elementary teacher and librarian for 41 years in District 199. He also coached football and basketball, and was a teacher’s union official.

Minnesota high school softball is thriving – and it would not be where it is today without the dedication, commitment, and vision of Begich, Newmie, and Hansen.

About the Simley Hall of Fame induction ceremony

All current Simley students and staff, alumni, current Simley Hall of Fame members, and community members are encouraged to come to Spartan Stadium Saturday, September 17 at 2 p.m. to help recognize the Simley Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

View the interactive Simley Hall of Fame

Simley Hall of Fame nomination form