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Pair of Ranger skiers will rise again in Green Bay |
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Wednesday, 04 June 2008 |
Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
When the spring of 2012 finally rolls around, Forest Lake High School graduating seniors Annie Dehmlow and Ben Brodin might need a little break from each other.
For years now, the two have ran cross country, competed in Nordic skiing, and have been a part of the Rangers track and field teams. Starting next winter, both Dehmlow and Brodin will be taking their intellect and their skiing skills to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
 Like most high school seniors, Brodin and Dehmlow looked at various colleges in hopes of finding the right fit. When they made their respective trips to Green Bay, the decisions were quickly made.
“I went to the school and I was just really impressed with everything,” Brodin said soon after signing.
“I had gone through eight different college visits so I knew what to look for. One visit was I all needed to just confirm a few things.”
Brodin’s mother, Rochelle, toured all of the schools with Ben, and she completely agreed with her son’s assessment.
“He loved everything about it. From the moment we drove up — the campus, the coach, the facilities.
“We both really had the same feeling when we drove up to the campus; it was just like all of a sudden you realize this is the right place to be.”
Dehmlow had been talking with Bruce Reimer, the head coach of the Nordic ski program, since late 2007, but she was also considering “ski colleges” back east, like the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont.
But when Dehmlow visited the campus and finally met Reimer face-to-face, it was basically a done deal.
“I love it. It’s next to the city, but far enough away so you’re not in the middle of everything,” Dehmlow said. “It’s private and everything is brand new, so the architecture is nice.”
Just months before they begin their college years, Brodin is eyeing a career in accounting, while Dehmlow is looking into nursing.
Dehmlow said she’s imagined being able to and attend college and still continue with her passion since she was a ninth-grader. As Brodin put it: “I’m going there to ski, but it’s not just skiing. Because after college I’m not signing with the US Ski Team.
“When I went to Green Bay I got to talk a little bit more in-depth about the accounting program and it just seemed a little bit better (than his other college options)...I can’t think of a bad thing to say about Green Bay, really.”
Reimer’s coaching style and attitude were big selling points for Brodin and Dehmlow, as he leads both the men’s and woman’s teams.
On the flip side, however, they will be leaving a high school coach who helped propel them to all-state honors. Brodin closed his Ranger career with a team championship and was third overall in Minnesota, while Dehmlow took 23rd place.
“Annie has been ski racing for many years and she just keeps getting better. College racing will be a perfect fit at this moment in her ski career,” Forest Lake head coach Deno Johnson said.
“Ben has proven he has the desire and talent to succeed at the NCAA level. I anticipate a great skiing career in the future. He can take this as far as he desires.”
With Forest Lake’s graduation on Thursday, June 5, Dehmlow and Brodin can begin planning the next stage of their lives, and it’s one where they’ll still see the familiar face of someone who’s going through a similar experience.
Whether that all seems possible today or not.
“Now that it’s all over, it’s nice to just kind of sit back and wait for the move-in day for college,” Brodin said.
“I’m not going to believe it until I’m actually sitting in my dorm room on my bed, thinking, ‘Finally!’.”
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