The Laker Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be honored on Sept. 19-20.
The annual tradition provides recognition for deserving graduates and staff of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools for their accomplishments while a student in the district and as an adult. The slate of distinguished graduates and staff represent high achieving individuals in the areas of activities, athletics or as a distinguished individual with career accomplishments.
Inductees will be introduced during the Prior Lake varsity football game being held at Dan Patch Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19.
An induction ceremony and awards dinner is also planned for Saturday, Sept. 20 at Legends Golf Club, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased through this link.
The Laker Hall of Fame is coordinated by the Laker Educational Foundation.
The following summary of each Laker Hall of Fame inductee was provided by the induction committee.
Joey Shimek / Athletics / Class of 2002
Joey Shimek had a remarkable athletic and academic record while attending Prior Lake High School. He was a four -letter winner in baseball, Rookie of the Year, All Conference, MVP, captain, and named best hitter. He was also a two-time letter winner in basketball. Aside from being the captain of the team, he received All Metro, All State, All Conference, MVP, Best Offensive Player, Highest GPA, and played in the MN All Star Game. He was a finalist for Mr. Basketball (2002). He was also a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. He continued his basketball career at the University of St. Thomas, where he was a four-year letter winner, three year starter, 1st Team All MIAC, All Defensive Team, and captain. He participated in the NCAA Basketball tournament, is currently an active member of the Student Alumni Association, and was named to the Dean’s List at UST. He continues to volunteer in the Prior Lake community.
Matthew (Matt) Brown / Athletics / Class of 2000
Matt Brown was one of the best offensive linemen in the school’s history, if not the best, according to his coach, Darwin Busselman. His football accomplishments in high school included being a four-year player on the varsity team, a three-year starter, two-time all conference, two-time all metro, two-time all state. He was voted the team’s best lineman his junior and senior year and was captain his senior year. He continued his football career as a four-year player at Winona State University. He was a three-year starter, three-time all conference, two-time all region, and honorable mention All-American his junior year. He was voted the team’s best lineman his junior and senior year. His team was conference champion three times and had one bowl win. Since high school Matt has been extremely successful in the restaurant industry. He is currently the owner and operator of two restaurants in Harmony, Minnesota. One of his restaurants consistently has been voted the best restaurant in the “driftless” area ever since it has been open. Matt credits his football career at both Prior Lake and Winona State as instrumental in how he works with the employees in both of his restaurants.
Rob Edwards / Athletics / Class of 1996
Rob Edwards excelled as a three-season athlete during his time at Prior Lake High School. He was a twelve time letter winner, was a team captain across three sports, had numerous all-conference honors, numerous regional placings, and participated in four state meets. He was named all-state in the Track 3200 meters and was the state champion in the 800 meters. He set multiple school records. He continued his athletic career at Saint Mary’s University where he was a three sport collegiate athlete. He was All-MIAC five times in three different sports. Rob continued his education at the University of Minnesota where he received a Masters Degree in Social Work and later a post-grad certificate in permanency and adoption competency. He is a social worker, a CEO of non-profit organizations, on the Board of Regents at Saint Mary’s University, and a Community Faculty member at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. He continues to run and to race, consistently winning in his age group category.
Alexandria (Citrowske) Hirsch / Athletics / Class of 2011
Alexandria (Citrowske) Hirsch had an outstanding career as a three-sport athlete during her time at PLHS. She was a letter winner in both hockey and track and field while in 8th grade and later a varsity letter winner in soccer. She received thirteen varsity letters, and was captain of all three sports her senior year. She was also captain of the hockey team her sophomore and junior year. She was a state participant in track and field during her entire high school career, set school records, and was named to the Millennium Honor Roll in the 100, 200, and 400 meter races. She also achieved all-state and all-conference in track and field in multiple years, all-conference in hockey in multiple years, MVP in hockey her junior and senior year, MVP in soccer her senior year, and MVP in track her senior year. She was also named Rookie of the Year for all three sports, hockey and track as an 8th grader and soccer as a sophomore. As a senior she received the Kemper Award for outstanding student athlete and the Athena Award for outstanding female athlete. She continued playing hockey at Bemidji State University, a Division I school. She earned her Masters Degree in DAPE from Minnesota State University Mankato and is currently a K-4 physical education teacher in Baxter, Minnesota and an assistant girls’ hockey coach and soccer coach in Brainerd.
Paige Kuplic / Athletics / Class of 2009
Paige Kuplic had a remarkable high school career as both an athlete and as a student. She was extremely successful athletically in both soccer and track and field. In soccer, she was awarded the “12th Man” in 2008 and the “Golden Boot” in 2009. As a runner, she did not lose a conference race in four years, held four school records (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay), competed in the Class AA state meet four straight years, and was the state champion in the 200m dash in 2009. She was the Athena Award winner for outstanding female athlete her senior year. Paige was also a Board Scholar all four years of high school. She continued running track at the University of North Dakota where she set the 4x200m relay school record. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Biomimicry. She has co-authored a couple of scientific published articles. She continues to expand on the foundation that she received at PLHS as a chemist. After college, she played soccer on a variety of teams, was a captain and blocker for the roller derby team the Garda Belts (Minnesota Roller Derby), and was a running back for the Women’s Football Alliance Pro team the Minnesota Vixen.
Erinn Liebhard / Activities / Class of 2003
Erinn Liebhard was extremely active in curricular and extracurricular activities while she was in high school. Her big commitment to the band program included being part of the concert band, the jazz band, and the marching band, where she was the drum major. She also served as president of the band and lettered all four years. In addition to band, Erinn was active in choir and the National Honor Society. She was deeply involved in theater throughout high school and received the MVP award her senior year. Erinn’s true passion in high school and in her career has been dance. Since PLHS did not have a dance team at the time, she was able to use some of those skills as a basketball cheerleader her senior year, where she also lettered. Erinn graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BFA in dance and a minor in political science. She also has an MFA in dance from the University of Colorado. Erinn is a well-known dance professional in the Twin City area. She began her professional dance career with Electric Edge Ensemble and founded her own company Rhythmically Speaking, which she is still running. She has had two scholarly articles published and currently teaches at Carlton College, St. Olaf College, and Winona State University in addition to being also an independent choreographer and serving as an advocate for the arts. Erinn has performed for several dance organizations throughout the country and also performs frequently as her self-created character Nerdette for the St. Paul Saints Baseball team.
Terry Hurni / Distinguished Achievement
Terry Hurni was a pivotal teacher, coach, and innovative technology leader in the Prior Lake-Savage Area School district for the 38 years he taught in the district. He was a math educator, coach, mentor, technology guru, union steward, and all-around leader at PLHS. He was awarded the Prior Lake Teacher of the Year two times during his tenure (1974 and 1984) and was instrumental in the entire school district’s technology journey. He truly led PL-Savage Schools into the digital age. He initiated and taught the first computer programming course, wired the first network, and adapted many applications to navigate the technology pathway prior to the purchase of software suites. Terry also coached athletics at PLHS for 25 years, including 15 years as assistant softball coach, helping to build the program into a softball powerhouse. The essence of Terry is found in this beautiful comment entitled “A True Hero” given to him at his retirement: “A true hero gets out of bed and goes about life’s daily tasks unnoticed, unassuming, and unsung. . .A true hero speaks kindly, acts fairly, endures patiently, and enjoys it easily. Facing every day with simple strength, a true hero persists in the things that really matter.” Terry Hurni is such a hero, and his influence continues to this day.
1998 One Act Team / Team of Distinction
There are not many ways that activities in the Prior Lake School district can be considered a competitive team; however, this particular activities team has been selected to the Hall of Fame since this team set the standard to which Prior Lake competitive theater now strives to achieve. The 1998 One Act play When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet was the first Prior Lake one act group to ever make the State One Act Festival. This occurred after placing first in the highly competitive Section meet. This one act, being the first to succeed at this level, provided early benchmarks for a challenging and educational theater activity program at Prior Lake High School, which continues to this day.
