Simley Hall of Fame: 2025 class announced - featuring inductees from five different decades

The Simley High School Hall of Fame exists to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academic, artistic, athletic, and/or humanitarian achievement. The Hall of Fame also serves as a way to preserve history, build a sense of community, and instill pride in students, staff, alumni, and the Inver Grove Heights community.

The seven new Simley Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Simley football game on Friday, September 5, when the Spartans host Two Rivers at 6 p.m. at Spartan Stadium in Inver Grove Heights.

The Simley Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes: Galen Prail (1965), Kelly O’Donnell (1970), Brent Waldemarsen (1978), Bob Welsh (1989), Larry Boyle (1991), Angie Dudeck Bowlby (1994), and Alec Kandt (2013).

Learn More About the Simley Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Galen Prail (1965)

A member of Simley High School’s first graduating class, Galen Prail earned 10 varsity letters in baseball, basketball, and football, helping establish the foundation for Spartan athletics. He served as baseball captain his senior year and was a three-year letterwinner in both football and basketball.

Sadly, Prail passed away on December 6, 2024. His induction is a posthumous honor recognizing his athletic achievements and decades of service to Simley and the Inver Grove Heights community.

After graduation, Prail served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1965–1968). In 1967, he was the only Marine selected to both the All-Star Basketball and All-Star baseball teams, competing against the top players from all military branches.

Returning home, he coached Inver Grove Heights traveling baseball (1990–1992), filmed Simley football games (1993–1996), and was an active booster for baseball, basketball, and football.

Prail’s service extended beyond sports. He studied law enforcement at Inver Hills Community College, served as a reserve officer with the South St. Paul Police Department, and worked as a special deputy for the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office (1977–1984). His professional career included roles at 3M, Wipaire, and Ingram Inc., where he worked in the film industry.

Prail’s commitment to Simley did not end when he left the playing field. He became a fixture at games, practices and team functions, lending his time and talents in whatever way was needed. Whether it was running the camera on a chilly Friday night, helping organize booster fundraisers, or coaching youth baseball teams, he invested himself fully in supporting athletes and coaches. He was active and involved throughout his entire life. He is the epitome of service and community involvement and will be recognized with this special recognition honor during the induction ceremony.

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Kelly O'Donnell (1970)

Few people have contributed more hours to Simley athletics than Kelly O’Donnell. A three-sport athlete who graduated from Simley in 1970, O’Donnell returned to his alma mater as a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator — roles he filled for decades while also volunteering in countless behind-the-scenes jobs that kept events running smoothly.

O’Donnell coached multiple sports, most notably serving as Simley’s head track coach for many years. As Middle School athletic director, he implemented changes that made athletic operations more efficient, reduced equipment loss, and saved coaches hours of preparation time each season.

For 40 years, O’Donnell’s work extended far beyond the job description. He was the one ensuring track meets ran on time, basketball scoreboards worked, and buses were arranged. He ensured that athletes had the necessary equipment and stepped in when coaches were unavailable. He took on extra duties without hesitation and provided continuity in a district where staff turnover could otherwise disrupt programs.

He was the first to unlock the gym and the last to leave the field — making sure hurdles were stored, locker rooms secured, and problems solved before anyone else noticed. His reach extended across sports and grade levels, influencing athletes from middle school beginners to varsity seniors.

Colleagues credit him with making life easier for everyone — administrators, coaches, parents, and, most importantly, student-athletes. His ability to anticipate needs, maintain organization, and remain calm in chaotic situations earned him the trust and respect of the entire school community.

For decades, O’Donnell was the reliable constant. Seasons, sports, and facilities changed, but his dedication did not. His induction honors a career spent ensuring Simley’s students had every chance to succeed.

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Brent Waldemarsen (1978)

For Brent Waldemarsen, athletics were only the first chapter of a life defined by commitment and service. A 1978 Simley graduate, he excelled in soccer, baseball, and hockey, earning All-Conference honors in two sports and the respect of his coaches and teammates. But his most lasting impact has come from his decades of humanitarian work.

At Simley, Waldemarsen was a member of the school’s first soccer team. On the baseball field, he was a three-year starting catcher, earning All-Conference recognition his senior year while hitting over .400 and building a reputation as the league’s best defensive catcher.

It was in hockey that Waldemarsen made his biggest mark. A three-year starter in goal, he led the league in save percentage, total saves, and goals-against average during both his junior and senior seasons. He earned All-Missota Conference and All-Southern Minnesota Conference honors in both years, cementing his status as one of the top high school goalies in the region.

His play drew the attention of legendary University of Minnesota coach Herb Brooks, who recruited him as a preferred walk-on. Waldemarsen earned the starting spot on the Gophers’ JV team, which routinely beat MIAC varsity programs and USHL clubs. The following year, he played for the USHL’s St. Paul Vulcans, helping them reach the playoffs. One of his most memorable experiences came when he was asked to practice with the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team for a week while starting goalie Jim Craig was away — just months before that squad’s “Miracle on Ice” gold medal run.

When his competitive playing days ended, Waldemarsen redirected that same discipline and drive toward serving others. Earning a ministry degree in 1997 and becoming ordained in 1999, he assumed the role of Senior Pastor at Harvest Community Church in Willmar. In 2000, he began a small food giveaway from the back of his truck. That grassroots effort grew into a nonprofit that now serves 1,000 families each month.

He also created a clothing distribution program that has been in operation for more than 12 years, led mission trips to Haiti and Jamaica, and since 2015 has worked at The Fortress in Willmar, providing recovery ministry and spiritual counseling to men in transitional sober living.

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Bob Welsh (1989)

In the late 1980's Bob Welsh was an elite three-sport standout — a true difference-maker in football, basketball, and baseball. Over the course of his career, Welsh earned All-Conference honors in all three sports, tied a school football record, captained a basketball team, and anchored top-ranked baseball squads.

In football, Welsh was a two-year starter at free safety and wide receiver, while also handling punting duties. His senior year included a legendary performance against eventual state semifinalist Totino Grace: Four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), a receiving touchdown, and leading the Spartans to a hard fought 21-19 victory. Welsh tied the school record for interceptions in that game, and finished the season with seven. He also added two punt return touchdowns. At one point in the football season he led the St. Paul Suburban Conference in receiving yards with 439 yards - on 15 receptions. He was a deep threat who averaged nearly 30 yards per catch. He was a two-way standout at safety and wide receiver.

In basketball, Welsh was a two-year starter, senior-year captain, and team MVP. He averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 assists per game, shot 40% from beyond the arc, and hit 80% from the free-throw line during that season. He also ranked in the top 5 in the conference in scoring and was a leader on one of the best Simley basketball teams of the 1980’s.

On the baseball field, Welsh was a standout centerfielder and pitcher. As a junior, he earned All-Conference and All-Region honors, hit six home runs, and went 7–1 on the mound. He followed with another All-Conference season as a senior, helping Simley secure back-to-back top 10 state rankings in 1988 and 1989.

At the University of Wisconsin–Superior, Welsh was a four-year starting centerfielder and played one season of football (the UW-Superior football program was dropped after his freshman season). His football debut was a statement game — seven receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns against Concordia College — showing the same playmaking ability that defined his high school career.

After college, Welsh transitioned to coaching and officiating, working more than 1,200 high school games across baseball, basketball, football, and softball, along with Legion, VFW, amateur baseball, and semi-pro football. Welsh also coached high school football and baseball, plus youth volleyball, softball, and soccer.

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Larry Boyle (1991)

In the late 1980s and early ’90s, Larry Boyle excelled in football and baseball before going on to become a two-sport standout at Hamline University.

At Simley, Boyle was a two-year starter and All-Conference defensive end in football. On the baseball field, he was one of the St. Paul Suburban Conference’s top players, excelling in both left field and as a pitcher. Boyle earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior in 1991, Boyle hit .429 with five home runs and 29 RBI, while going 6–1 on the mound with a 1.80 ERA. The Spartans won the St. Paul Suburban conference title that year and played in the Twin Cities Championship game.

At Hamline University (1991–1995), Boyle earned seven varsity letters in football and baseball. On the gridiron, he was a three-time letterwinner as an outside linebacker, a two-time First Team All-MIAC selection, and team co-captain. In 1994, he helped lead the Pipers to an 8–2 record and a landmark 27–26 win at St. John’s, snapping the Johnnies’ 30-game home winning streak.

In baseball, Boyle was a four-year letterwinner, team captain, and model of durability — never missing a game in four seasons. He played multiple positions, including catcher, and in 1995 earned both the Coaches Award and Gold Glove Award. That same year, he received Hamline’s prestigious William G. Cloon Award, recognizing excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service. Boyle was also inducted into the Hamline University Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Angie Dudeck Bowlby (1994)

The 1994 Simley Female Athlete of the Year, Angie Dudeck Bowlby, built one of the most decorated three-sport careers in school history, earning 13 varsity letters in tennis, basketball, and softball before going on to a successful tennis career at Gustavus Adolphus College.

At Simley, Dudeck was a six-year letterwinner in tennis (1988–1993), earning All-Conference honors five times and All-Conference Honorable Mention once. In 1993, she made history as the first female individual in Simley history to qualify for the state tennis tournament.

On the basketball court, Dudeck was a three-year letterwinner and two-time All-Conference Honorable Mention. She finished in the top 10 in scoring in the St. Paul Suburban Conference in 1994, averaging nearly 11 points per game as a senior.

In softball, Dudeck was a four-year letterwinner, earning All-Conference honors twice, All-Conference Honorable Mention once, and All-State Honorable Mention in 1994. That same year, she was named to the Star Tribune’s preseason Top 50 Players to Watch, earned All-Metro Honorable Mention at third base, and was one of 60 players out of 2,000 statewide selected for the Minnesota All-Star Classic Softball Series. A menace on the basepath, an example of the impact Dudeck made came in a June 1, 1994 game against St. Paul Johnson when Dudeck scored three runs and stole four bases in an 8-2 Spartans win.

At Gustavus, Dudeck was a two-time All-MIAC selection and went 62-26 in three years. She was on a Gusties team that won three MIAC championships - going 33-0 in conference action during those three years. Dudeck competed in the NCAA DIII championships in 1995 and 1996 on a team that was ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation all three seasons.

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Alec Kandt (2013)

Alec Kandt is not only one of Simley’s most decorated swimmers, he is one of the most accomplished swimmers in Minnesota swimming and diving history.

At Simley, Kandt earned High School All-American honors in the 100 breaststroke (2013) and 200 free relay (2010), a Minnesota Class A State Championship in the 100 breaststroke (2013), six Section 1A individual titles, and five Section 1A relay titles. He was Section 1A Swimmer of the Year in 2013, set multiple school and Suburban Conference records, and left Simley holding marks in the 200 IM, 100 fly, 100 back, and 100 breaststroke, as well as three relay records.

At Michigan State University, Kandt was a four-year letterwinner, Freshman of the Year and Swimmer of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017. He is still the school record holder in the 100 breaststroke (53.26) and owns the second-fastest 200 breaststroke time in program history (1:56.38). He was a Big Ten Championship Finalist all four years, placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, and swam on multiple varsity record relay teams, including the 200 and 400 medley relays. He posted top-five finishes at the U.S. Winter Nationals, and represented the Spartans at both the U.S. Open and 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Kandt also recorded career-best times of 25.16 in the 50 breaststroke, 52.43 in the 100 breaststroke relay split, and 1:56.38 in the 200 breaststroke — all among the fastest in MSU history. In international-level competition, he faced some of the world’s top swimmers at national meets, earning multiple top-20 finishes against Olympic and World Championship medalists.

After his competitive career, Kandt transitioned into coaching, serving as a volunteer assistant at the University of Florida, where the Gators won the SEC Championship. He was Head Master Coach at East Grand Rapids Aquatics (2018–2021).

He then moved to Davenport University as an assistant coach (2020–2022), leading men’s teams to top-eight GLIAC finishes and women’s teams to top-five finishes. He is now an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas, working in one of the NCAA’s most competitive conferences.

His list of successes — from state titles to NCAA records, Big Ten finals appearances, national-level competitions, and international-caliber meets — is extensive and will be fully detailed in the expanded profile of Alec Kandt.

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Congratulations to the Simley Hall of Fame Class of 2025.