Raiders On The Record

Doug Plumb is a 2006 alum of Hastings High School, who was All-State in basketball and graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer.  He played collegiately and professionally, worked for Nike North America, and is currently the head coach of the London Lightning professional basketball team in Ontario, Canada.   Doug is renown for his one-of-a-kind work ethic that has led him to all corners of the basketball world including starting his own basketball academy.    Athletes, coaches, and parents will find tons of wisdom in this episode!

Aaron Fox is a 1994 Raider graduate. After graduating high school, Aaron played two seasons for the junior hockey team, The Green Bay Gamblers, where they won the junior division during his second season. He then went on to play at MSU-Mankato where is still the all-time leading scorer in the program history. Aaron also helped the team transition the D-1 level. He was also inducted into the MSU-Mankato Halls of Fame in 2021. After college, Aaron began a professional hockey career where he played more than 15 seasons throughout Europe. Some countries he played in include Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia. Towards the end of his playing career, Aaron transitioned to the other side of the puck and began as a GM in the KHL, Russia's pro-league. Currently, Aaron is the head coach and GM for the Sheffield Steelers, in Sheffield, London. 

Jon Watson is a 2022 Raider graduate. Jon moved to Hastings at the beginning of his 9th grade year and has played baseball and basketball during his time at HHS. Jon went from not making the basketball team during his 7th and 8th grade year, to being voted the captain of the Hastings basketball team. John plans to major in mechanical engineering and has deep advice for parents and coaches, and urges them to focus on the heart of their athletes and notice the words they use.

Phil Jensen is a 2022 Raider graduate. Throughout his high school career, he has swam in multiple events but has excelled in the 100 meter fly and 100 meter back stroke. Phil has earned many awards during his time at Hastings such as 5 varsity letters, captain during his senior year, two- time state qualifier, and was all-state during his junior year taking 7th in the 100 meter backstroke. Phil is wrapping up his senior year and season and has great advice from young athletes.

Paul Olson is a 2005 graduate of Buffalo High School. After high school, he attended NDSU where he was a student manager for the men’s basketball team. Paul taught at Mahtomedi HS for one year before coming to Hastings. For the past 12 years, Paul has taught a variety of math classes such as Algebra and AP Stats. He has also been an assistant coach for a variety of sports such as varsity football, varsity golf, and boys basketball. Paul’s experiences as a teacher and a coach have given a unique insight into the role sports can play in one’s life. Paul also has great advice for parents, coaches and student athletes.

Lindsay Williams is a 2002 Raider graduate. During her high school career, she participated in cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field. In her 10th grade year, she took 3rd at the Nordic skiing state championship. She followed that up with a state championship her junior year and a 2nd place finish her senior year. During high school, Lindsay also participated in the Junior Nationals and Junior World Championships. After high school, she attended Northern Michigan University where she was a US National Champion in the sprint and a 2007 5K skate National Champion. Finally, Lindsay was a 2006 Olympian, participating in Nordic skiing. Throughout the interview, Lindsay gives great advice on how to make massive improvements through training and demonstrates the jumps one can make in sports with focus and hard work.

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Dr. Peter Zak is a 1986 graduate of Rochester Mayo High School. After graduating from college, he spent time coaching and teaching in Mankato, Texas, Bloomington, and then found his way to Hastings. During his time at Hastings, Pete taught at both the middle and high school and coached a wide variety of sports. The sports include 9th grade football, middle school football, head coach for track and field, and as an assistant coach for the girls basketball team. Pete was a coach on both the 1996 girls basketball state championship team and the 2001 boys football state championship team. Pete has also coached his four children in a variety of sports such as football and basketball. Pete has some great stories from his years of coaching and awesome advice for parents, coaches, and students athletes. Sit back and enjoy.

Dana Strain is a 1988 graduate of Ellsworth High School. After graduating from UW-Eau Claire, he stayed on staff and coached football for 5 years before moving onto UND as a graduate assistant coach for 1 ½ years. After both of those coaching opportunities, Dana coached and taught for 8 years at Ashwaubenon High school before coming to Hastings where he has been a math teacher and head football coach for 15 years. During this time, he has also coached MS baseball. Coach Strain brings a ton of passion and energy to the football field and his players. Throughout the interview, he talks about focusing on the process and not the outcome while measuring his players for growth and progress. His advice to parents, coaches, and athletes truly hits home especially to anyone who is on the fence or thinking about getting into coaching.

Sue Frost McVicker is a 1995 Raider graduate. During her time at Hastings High School, Sue played multiple sports and collected numerous awards and accolades. In soccer, she was a three year letter winner, captain of the team, and won awards such as most offensive, MVP, All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-Section. In basketball, Sue was a two-year letter winner, and won  awards for being All-Section and All-conference. She also led her team to the section finals her senior year where they were narrowly beaten. In track, she participated in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump, 4x200m relay, and numerous other races or relays. Sue was also All-Conference two times for track. Finally during her senior year, she participated in golf. After high school, she attended River Falls and then St. Olaf where she played soccer for three seasons. Since graduating college, Sue has coached multiple teams and sports in Hastings such as HFC soccer, high school JV soccer, and numerous travel basketball teams. Sue has great insight into the unique role sports can play in one’s life and ends the conversation with wise advice for parents, coaches, and athletes.

Claire Keller is a sophomore at Hastings High School. Through her life, she has played many sports, but fell in love with tennis and has excelled at the high school level. She is a three time letter winner during her 8th, 9th, and 10th grade years and also won All-Conference recognition during each of these years. Throughout the interview, Claire shares thoughtful answers on why she chooses to play sports and how she defines success. She also has extremely insightful answers for advice for parents, coaches, and other student-athletes.