Raiders On The Record

Japhi Gudissa is a senior at Hastings High School and will be a 2021 Raider Graduate. He participates in soccer and basketball. Japhi has started on the varsity soccer team since his sophomore year and was all-conference honorable mention during his junior year and captain of the team his senior year. He also has started on the varsity basketball team during his junior and senior year where he earned all-conference honorable mention his junior year and was a team captain for both years. Japhi has a unique background and uses his life experiences to have a positive impact at Hastings High school and in the community of Hastings. 

Dr. Gerry Rupp is a 1980 Raider graduate. During his time at Hastings High School he participated in football and swimming. Dr. Rupp was a state place winner in the 100m backstroke in 1977 and a state champ in the 100m backstroke in 1979 and 1980. He was also a high school all-american in 79 and 80 as well. From there, Dr. Rupp competed in swimming at the University of Minnesota where he was a 4 year varsity letter winner, 11 time Big Ten finalist, co-captain in 1983 and 1984, and was an Olympic Trials qualifier in 1984. He came back to Hastings after graduation and became the Hastings High School boys head swim coach in 1988 and girls head coach in 1991. After a short hiatus in the early 2000s, Dr. Rupp took over the boys program again in 2004 and became an assistant girls coach in 2006 which he has held since.  

In this episode, we bring you Taylor and Abby Pelava.  Taylor is a Junior at HHS and will be a 2022 Raider graduate. She participates in soccer, alpine skiing, track, and will join trap shooting this year. Taylor has received numerous all-conference awards and academic awards during her time at HHS.  Abby is a Freshman at HHS and will be a 2024 Raider graduate. She participates in soccer and alpine skiing.  Listen to the end of the interview where the girls give great advice for parents, coaches, and current athletes in order for them to find success. 

Josh McLay is a 2000 Raider graduate. While at HHS, he played multiple sports including football, wrestling, and track. During his senior year, he was a part of the football team that took 2nd in state. He also was a three time state champion for wrestling and part of five wrestling teams that placed at the state tournament including the State Championship team of 1996. Josh wrestled for the U of M, is married with three children, and is currently a teacher at HHS and a football and wrestling coach. 

Dick Cragg has served the Raiders athletic programs in a variety of roles for over 30 years.   Dick has likely seen more live Raiders sports events than any other person in the last 40 years!  Did you know that Dick attended military school?  That his favorite sport to follow is Gopher Hockey?That he was a former athletic administrator?    That his favorite in-person memories include Raiders state championship teams from 1996 and 2001?   Be sure to listen to the very end to hear Dick describe what differentiates Hastings - and also to hear his words of wisdom for parents and coaches.

Linnea Urban is a current Raider in her Senior year of high school (2021 graduate). She is a three sport athlete competing in Cross Country, Nordic Skiing, and Track. Throughout her high school career, she has won multiple all- conference awards and was all-state in Nordic Skiing during her sophomore and junior years. She plans to attend St. Scholastica where she will run Cross Country and Nordic Ski.

Today’s episode features Michael Bauer.  Michael is a 1999 graduate of Hastings High School who was all-state in track and field and basketball.   He led the boys basketball team to the school’s first conference title in over 40 years as well as back-to-back section finals appearances.  Did you know Michael recorded incredible statistical feats like a 52-point game and a game with 14-blocks?  Michael was a finalist for Mr. Basketball who earned a full Division I scholarship to the University of Minnesota and then played professional basketball in Europe for 8 years? Did you know he played against Kevin Garnett?  Did you know he was a 2x champion in the Euroleague?   Listen in for lots more from Michael.

Torry Kraftson is a 1991 Raider graduate. He was a three sport athlete during his time at Hastings High School competing in Cross Country, Nordic Skiiing, and Track. Torry collected numerous all-conference and all-state accolades in all three sports including a team state title in Nordic Skiing, three individual state titles in Nordic Skiing, one individual state title in Cross Country, and a 3rd place finish in Track. He attended The University of Utah where he competed in Cross Country and Nordic Skiing where he was an NCAA Division 1 All-American in Nordic. Currently, Torry is a teacher at Stillwater High School.

This episode features Katy Hertel. Katy is a 1997 Raiders graduate. She was a three-sport athlete competing in soccer, basketball, and softball. While a Raider athlete, Katy accumulated multiple academic, all-conference, and all-state honorable mention awards and was the starting point guard for the 1996 Girls State Basketball Championship team. She went on to play Division II basketball as a UM-Duluth Bulldog and then became a scrumhalf for the Minnesota Valkyries Rugby Club (15’s). Katy won several National All-Star Championships with the Midwest Thunderbirds (15’s + 7’s) and earned one international cap playing #9 for the USA Eagles in the 2008 Nations Cup (London) before retiring from competitive sports. Currently, Katy works in talent management/talent strategy & performance and is a leadership coach and photographer on the side. Katy has a passion for investing in people, challenging and supporting them to realize their full potential while leading meaningful careers and lives. Katy places a high value on her close relationships with family and friends, and continues to be grateful for the coaches and teammates she has had the privilege to compete with throughout her life.

Dr. Cindra Kamphoff is speaker, best-selling author, and certified sports performance consultant. She is a based at Minnesota State University-Mankato, where she directs the Center for Sport & Performance Psychology.  Cindra works regularly with professional and collegiate athletes, as well organizations like the Minnesota Vikings, Target, and the Mayo Clinic Health System.  Cindra has been working directly with Hastings High School athletic teams since 2018 in a unique mental training partnership.  This is an episode packed with great tips, take-aways, and advice.