Woodbury High School: The initial great eight

A great number of multi-talented students and skilled coaches have walked the halls of Woodbury High School over the past 37 years.

Next week, eight of them will finally be recognized.

Woodbury High School will induct eight individuals into its inaugural Hall of Fame class for 2012 on Friday, Sept. 28, as part of the Homecoming week festivities. The available Hall of Fame inductees will take part in the Homecoming Parade, a meet and greet for the public and will be introduced at Royals Stadium prior to the Woodbury football game against White Bear Lake.

“This is just the start of a really neat celebration. One that I feel is long overdue,” Woodbury Activities Director Jason Gonnion said. “It provides a connection to the past. I think the tradition at Woodbury High School has been one of excellence – not only in the classroom, but it extracurricular activities as well.”

Longtime Woodbury basketball coach Del Schiffler, 1990 graduate Douglas C. Schneider, 1983 graduate Mary Vaaler, 1985 graduate Kathryn Hughes, 1984 graduate Chip Lohmiller, 1978 graduate Michael Robb, 1988 graduate Michelle Sherman and 1995 graduate Heidi Lundervold will comprise the inaugural Hall of Fame class at Woodbury High School.

“These individuals defined excellence at our school since the day the school opened,” Gonnion said. “It’s really an amazing group of people. It’s no surprise that in the last 30 years or so, since the school opened, that there were individuals of this caliber doing amazing things at our school.”

Lundervold, now Heidi Limpert, lives in Woodbury with her husband Rich – Woodbury’s former boys lacrosse coach - and her three children - Annika, Keira and Drake.

“At first I kind of wondered if I deserved to be in the same class as the other inductees,” said Limpert, 35. “High School seems like a lifetime ago, but I definitely feel honored.”

Limpert was a three-sport standout at Woodbury High School and won five state championships – four in track and as part of the Royals state champion swim team. She won three state championships as a junior in 1994 – both hurdle events and the triple jump – and took second place in the long jump. She earned a fourth state title as a senior, taking the triple jump state championship. After high school she went to the University of Kansas and competed in track and field for the Jayhawks.

She said she’ll take part in the Homecoming festivities.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’m just going to try and enjoy it and remember the good days I had in high school,” she said. “I’m just excited about it. It’ll be neat.”

Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a committee of seven voting members: Gonnion, Woodbury Principal Linda Plante, WHSABC President Rick Beck, and athletic department representatives Doug Johnson, Pat Malicki, Dwayne Tannhill and Jennifer Starr. Any alumni or friend of Woodbury High School may nominate someone for the Hall of Fame. A nominee must satisfy these qualifications: A former Woodbury Royal who performed with unique excellence in athletics, the arts or club activities while attending WHS. The nominee must be a Woodbury graduate and out of school for at least 10 years. Nominees must be, or have been, a credit to his/her family, country and Woodbury. Advisors and coaches must have been someone who distinguished himself/herself by demonstrating exceptional leadership, character and outstanding achievement during his/her tenure at WHS. Also, a special award could be given to a person who has been a loyal and devoted supporter of WHS athletics, arts or club activities.

The inaugural Woodbury Hall of Fame induction was kicked off with the first-ever Woodbury High School Royal Rouser back on April 20 at the Prom Center in Oakdale. Gonnion said the plan is to announce each year’s Hall of Fame class at the Royal Rouser every spring and to honor that year’s inductees at a banquet during the week of Homecoming in the following fall.

Limpert said she believes the Woodbury Hall of Fame is fun for the community and beneficial to the kids growing up in Woodbury.

“Woodbury is just a great school, with a great staff and I still am friends with people I was friends with back in high school,” she said. “It’s just a great place to raise a family and a great community. I’m definitely proud to be a Woodbury High School graduate.”

Tags: sports, prep, updates