2023 Inductees
Class of 2023 Hall of Fame Slide Show
John Buck
John was a multi-sport coach in Forest Lake for many years. He coached golf, football, basketball and baseball at the junior high and high school levels. He served as the head boys golf coach for Forest Lake Area High School for 14 years, achieving 5 section championships, 4 conference titles and earning state runner-up twice. He coached two individual state golf champions, Paul Moberg and Max Kelly. He was twice named Coach of the Year by the Minnesota State High School League. During his coaching tenure in Forest Lake, he left an impression on numerous students that benefitted them not only on the court, field or golf course, but also in life. He is passionate about coaching and understands the value his activities have brought to the schools and students he led. John continues to have a positive impact on young adults through coaching at the college level as an assistant coach for Women’s Basketball and Golf at Bethel University.
Nancy Ellias
Nancy coached the Forest Lake Area High School Gymnastics team from 1995-2010, after coaching at Southwest Junior High from 1976 to 1994. Teams under her leadership won Conference Championships in 1996 and 1997, three different section championships and made several state tournament appearances. Nearly every year of Nancy’s coaching tenure, at least one individual athlete qualified for the state tournament. In 1996 and 1997, Nancy coached Bobbie Jo Saxe to a State Championship in Floor both years and an All Around State Championship in 1997. Nancy received Section Coach of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002. Nancy and her athletes also ran Mini Gyms for many years to help young gymnasts ages 5-10 learn and grow in the sport of gymnastics. Nancy coached with an emphasis on the positive in performances, attitudes, actions and service while stressing hard work, perseverance and flexibility. She recognized academics as an important part of the student athlete’s life and her teams were frequently recognized with all-conference and all-section academic honors. After retiring from teaching and coaching, Nancy continued to be involved with the district as Prevention Coordinator and often returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher. She continues to serve as a site manager for home meets and lends her tireless support to the program, team and coaches.
Mark Fahey
Mark is one of the most decorated student-athletes in FLAHS history, and amongst the top 3 in track and field. He was the 1996 State Champion in shot put and discus and scored the most team points toward the 1996 Team 3rd place finish at the State Meet. He earned all-state recognition in 1995 and 1996. He was a multi-year conference champion in shot put and discus and is a school record holder in discus. After high school, he contributed, scored, and was a distinguished multiple-year athletic award winner at the University of Minnesota in track and field. He was the Big Ten champion in discus in 1999 & 2000 and earned All Big Ten selection. This spring he is giving back to his sport as a first-year track coach at Forest Lake Area High School. As a two-time state champion, with a brilliant college career, and a favorite amongst classmates and coaches alike, Mark exemplifies hard-work, grit, perseverance, and humble success.
Jake Matheson
As a student at Forest Lake Area High School, Jake was the 2011 Recipient of the John Philip Sousa Band Award which recognizes the top student for their superior musicianship and outstanding dedication. After graduating from Forest Lake Area High School in 2011, Jake continued to return “home” to the music department and do volunteer work. In 2016, Jake was hired as a full-time band teacher for Forest Lake Area Schools, teaching thousands of band students throughout the district. Jake has coached/taught jazz bands, pep band, marching band, community band, ranger sound, community education band lessons, summer school music and assisted with the fall musical "Addams Family.” Jake resurrected the Forest Lake Ranger Marching Band in 2016, which has since grown to an 80+ member community focused-band complete with a student leadership program. He also began a community band program, focusing on life-long musicianship and providing an opportunity for our music students to continue in the arts after graduation.
Paul Moberg
During his years at Forest Lake Area High School, Paul participated in golf and hockey and participated in band, earning all-conference honors for three years in Symphonic Winds. He was a state champion in golf in 2009 and earned all conference recognition in 2008 and 2009. He also played goalie on the Forest Lake Rangers hockey team. After High School, Paul played in the North American Hockey League for two years, where he had multiple selections of Goalie of the Week and was nominated for the league’s top prospect tournament. Paul went on to play in college for the United State Air Force Academy, where he was a letter winner in the Division 1 Hockey program for 3 years and the golf program for one year. In high school and beyond, Paul has always been a team player, working to make sure the team functions in a productive and positive way. Paul is a Captain in the United States Air Force and is now in the United States Space Force. He was one of two selected to launch an ICBM test missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2019.
Angie Ryan
An intense and dedicated player, Angie was a three-year starter at shortstop on the Forest Lake softball team and an All-Conference selection each year. She helped lead the 2000 Rangers team to 2nd place at state and was named to the Star Tribune All-Metro team that year. After college, she returned to Forest Lake in 2005 to begin an eleven-year tenure as head softball coach. Angie’s teams at Forest Lake Area High School were Conference Champions in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. She coached her team to two 2nd place section finishes, and section championships and state tournament appearances for six years between 2008-2013, earning the title of State Runner Up in 2011. Angie’s athletic career at Forest Lake Area High School and later at St. Cloud St. University, earned her a spot in this Hall of Fame as a competitive athlete in 2012, and this year she becomes the first Hall of Fame member to be inducted twice, once as an athlete and once as a coach.
Matt Wallner
Matt was an exemplary student athlete at Forest Lake Area High School. He was a member of National Honor Society, participated in basketball and was the captain of the baseball team and an exceptional baseball player, earning the statewide honors of Mr. Baseball, East Metro Baseball Player of the Year and All State in 2016. After high school, he played Division 1 Baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he became the home run record holder and earned National Freshman Player of the Year and Freshman Hitter of the Year awards. He also served as captain of his college team and was on the academic Honor Roll for multiple years. In 2019 he was the 39th overall draft pick in Major League Baseball, drafted by the Minnesota Twins. He made his debut in the 2022 Futures Game this past September. In Minor League play, Matt has been honored as a Texas Post Season All Star and Minor League Baseball Organization All Star.