As the first school to hit 200 state championship wins in Minnesota, Edina High School has fostered a strong and ever-growing sports community for decades. Edina’s strong athletic department begs the question: how essential is legacy in athletic success? 

Parental lineage

At EHS, student-athletes who have had a parent participate in the same sport as them are especially common as many build off the path created by their parents. Additionally, athlete alumni contribute to the community and play a role in EHS’s notable athletic feats, whether it be through coaching or providing in-depth training to young athletes, as seen with Nevers-Larkin Baseball and Steffen’s time coaching the synchronized swim team. “One of the most memorable moments [of my career] was finally becoming section champions with both my daughters on the team,” former synchronized swimming Head Coach and 1985 alum Carla Steffen said. “The three of us did that together.”  

For Steffen, the parent-child dynamic introduces a new challenge to coaching. “It is different. You have to figure that out, sometimes they’re more comfortable with you so they sometimes lose it with you or you lose it with them and sometimes that affects the team,” Steffens said. 

Many legacy athletes find themselves participating in the same sport as their parents, despite most parents emphasizing that their children were free to choose their own activity. “When they’re younger, you get them all involved with everything [different sports]… but as for how they got into it, I think just naturally get them into an activity and then they grabbed on to it,” 1990 alum and parent Tom Nevers said. 

Steffens had a similar experience with how her children got into their sport. “I didn’t plan on [my kids being a part of synchronized swimming]. I mean, I thought they might find synchro and [I] hoped they would love it [but] I never imagined that I would watch them go through like 13 and 14 years of synchronized swimming and [that it would] become a complete lifestyle for our family.”

Modern Challenges 

Parents and students both experience the common joys that come with the community surrounding sports. Likewise can be said about the challenges that can range from jam-packed schedules to injuries, however, there is a key difference between these two generations: social media. “The overall care from [hockey] fans and people is pretty consistent [but] I think that right now, social media has caused way too much insecurity… The effect social media has on kids’ self-worth is a bigger problem than one might want to admit because people actually believe everything that’s put on social media,” Nevers said. 

Watching their kids experience the same ups and downs that come with Edina sports is something the parents know will shape who their children become. “There’s nothing I appreciate more than the high school experience that I had. I think that it helped shape me as a person… I will do anything and everything for these high school programs because I care deeply for them. My kids have gone through the experience that they have and are forever grateful for it. At the end of the day, I know how special it is,” Nevers said. 

According to a study by Dr. Cassidy Foley Davelaar in the American Association of Pediatrics, 65% of student-athletes surveyed stated they believed they “did not look right for their sport.” The study connects these confidence issues in athletes with images found on social media, emphasizing the importance of showing “a more diverse, inclusive and imperfect image of what it means to be athletic.” 

Social media has the effect of not only changing how athletes perceive themselves but also highlighting how they stack up in comparison to others. “I think the most challenging thing in sports is your mind—your self-worth, how you feel, how you talk to yourself, how you process things,” Nevers said. 

Legacy

Edina’s commitment to creating well-rounded and innovative athletes through their athletics program builds the foundation for a strong student-athlete legacy. To achieve this, students and faculty actively take part in fostering the environment surrounding athletic excellence. “I think we have an athletic office that is so supportive, so positive, and there for our athletes and for our coaches, and even our parents. I think that is a true, true gift that I’ve always felt empowered by,” Steffens said. 

One of the ways past athletes and other supporters are commended is through the EHS Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame not only serves as acknowledgment but also as a public record of people who have contributed to the school’s athletic legacy. “We are very fortunate to have a very strong athletic tradition at Edina and it is nice to recognize the accomplishments of our athletes, coaching staff and Edina Boosters in a special way,” Co-Chair of the Edina Athletic Boosters Hall of Fame Committee Zibby Nunn said in a statement via email. “For an athlete, coach and booster, who has given so much time to their sport, the Hall of Fame is a way to recognize their accomplishments and the legacy they created at Edina High School.”

While the program emphasizes accomplishment, students are primarily encouraged to participate in team activities to understand the importance of forming lasting positive connections with those they play with and those who came before them.

“It’s not about the individual. It’s about how you can impact people around you,” Nevers said. “Play hard, play fast, and make sure your teammates want to play with you. That’s been the overall message for all these years.”

This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on January 25, 2024.