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Fick, Holien, Kelly earn scholarships
Clint Riese
Sports Editor
 Three Ranger seniors announced last Wednesday that they would be applying their athletic skills at Division I institutions next year.
Defenseman Dan Fick will play hockey at Harvard, shortstop Sammy Holien will join the North Dakota State softball team and golfer Betsy Kelly is headed to Colorado State. The trio signed National Letters of Intent in front of family, friends and teammates in the high school gym. Wednesday marked the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period for most sports.
Fick was still all smiles at the signing, having just made up his mind a day beforehand.
“Playing Division I hockey has been my dream my entire life,” he said. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Fick tallied seven goals and 19 assists as a junior on his way to all-Suburban East Conference honors.
“Danny is the epitome of a rink rat, it seems like he is always looking for somewhere to skate,” said Ranger coach Aaron Forsythe. “He is one of the strongest skaters I have ever seen and has great vision on the ice.”
The 5-11, 170-pounder also considered Princeton, Bemidji State, Nebraska-Omaha and Minnesota State-Mankato. In the end, the appeal of the Ivy League won out.
“My parents liked the Harvard idea,” Fick said with a grin.
His 3.98 GPA paid off, but Fick is even more excited about the athletic opportunity than the academic one. Unlike some of the other schools recruiting him, he will not have to play a year at the junior level before enrolling.
Fick notes the program’s success at the Division I level and at sending players on to the NHL, which remains his ultimate goal. If that does not work out, he has a good safety net – he plans to enter the pre-med program at Harvard.
NDSU and Holien are a perfect match, according to the new Bison. Before receiving the offer, she compiled a wish list of schools, and NDSU was at the top.
The program won her over when she took part in a softball clinic on campus. When Holien returned for another clinic last year, she was surprised with an offer.
“It was a miracle,” she said.
At her family’s advice, she told NDSU she would wait to decide, but ended up committing the next day.
The three-sport standout missed this spring’s softball season after hurting her knee in a basketball game, but returned to the diamond strong this fall. Holien hit .491 and slugged .800 for the Minnesota Sting Elite. As a sophomore for the Rangers, she hit .417 with four home runs and earned all-conference honors.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Sam since she was 13 years old and have seen her speed, powerful bat, defensive range and extremely strong arm firsthand over the past five years,” said Ranger coach Angie Ryan. “Sam is legitimately going to be one of, if not the best, shortstops in the state of Minnesota this spring as she finishes her softball career in Forest Lake.”
NDSU advanced to the Super Regionals in 2009 and ended the season ranked 18th, becoming the first Summit League school to earn a national ranking since 1999. Holien expects to be able to compete for playing time right away next year.
Kelly had her choice of too many schools to name after claiming the Class 3A individual state championship at Bunker Hills Golf Course this spring. In both 2008 and 2009, she earned first-team all-state honors from the Minnesota Golf Association.
Kelly said joining the Rams is a weight off her shoulders. She committed a couple of days after taking an official visit to Fort Collins this fall. She had previously taken an official visit to Iowa, and was also considering Minnesota and Montana State.
“I just fell in love with the coach and team and atmosphere,” she said.
In particular, she liked the university’s practice facility, and she also is excited to join some Minnesota friends on the team – Sarah and Emily Roering of Class 2A powerhouse Minnewaska.
“Colorado State is getting a very hard-working, dedicated, and fun team member,” said Forest Lake coach Joel Hall. “Betsy has never forgotten that the reason to play golf is to enjoy the competition of it. Both sides should be very pleased with this decision.”
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