Olson receives prestigious honors from Bemidji State University
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ALL NCAA-ERA TEAM — Holly Olson, pictured far left in the front row, was one of several former Bemidji State University athletes to be recently named to the school’s All NCAA-Era squad. Olson was also named to the BSU’s All 30th anniversary team. —photo submitted
OLSON HONORED — Glenwood City’s Holly (Logghe) Olson was recently named to the Bemidji State University’s All 30th Anniversary Team. Olson (far right in the second row) is pictured above with her fellow honorees. —photo submitted
By Amber Hayden
GLENWOOD CITY — Bemidji State University (BSU) alumna Holly (Logghe) Olson, class of 1997, received two honors when alumni gathered for a three day weekend, August 23-25, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BSU Women’s Athletics.
Olson received All 30th Anniversary Team and All NCAA-Era Team and was also awarded a chenille “B” for her participation in Beaver athletics.
“I am both honored and humbled by receiving these honors,” Olson said. “I also know I wouldn’t have been chosen for these honors without the great teammates that I was blessed to play with and a coach who pushed me to my limits and believed in me. They all became my family and lifetime friends!”
Olson is the daughter of the late David and Kay Logghe, and was born and raised in Glenwood City as she lived five miles north of Glenwood City on a dairy farm, and her dad was the owner of both the farm and of Logghe Trucking while her mother was an elementary teacher and the cheerleading coach.
“They were my biggest fans,” said Olson, “They made it to as many games as possible while I played at BSU.”
Olson graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1992 and played volleyball, basketball, track, and softball while she was a Hilltopper.
After graduating from GCHS, she went on to attend BSU on a basketball scholarship, but said she was also coerced into playing softball as well.
“After getting my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, I went to graduate school at South Dakota State to earn my Master’s Degree in Physical Education and was also an assistant coach with the woman’s basketball team,” she stated. “Upon graduating from SDSU, I turned down two DI assistant WBB coaching offers to return to my hometown and marry my soulmate (Patrick), teach elementary with my mom, and be close to my family.”
Holly met her husband, Patrick, when they were both coaching college basketball. They have three children together, Drew, 16, Brody, 11, and McKinley, 6.
During her time at BSU, Olson recalls her fondest memory being the road trips on the coach buses, meals at any buffet they could find, the sisterhood bond they shared as teammates, the trips to Colorado, Florida, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, the 10 in 63’s (10 sprints in 63 seconds), and of course the games where she had the privilege to wear the green and white #12 Beaver uniform.
“There were many intense games, but one that sticks out in my mind was at North Dakota State,” she explained. “They were the defending Division 2 National Champions and we were playing at the Fargo Dome.”
BSU and NDSU played a close game while the Beavers set a three point record as a team and individually. However, BSU ended up losing the game 64-75, but Olson said it felt like a win for them.
Olson explained that she had found out about the 30th anniversary team in 1999, shortly after her college career ended. This is a team that honors female athletes who are considered the top 30 athletes in the first 30 years of BSU women’s athletics.
She also explained that with it being the 50th anniversary of women’s athletic’s at BSU, 25 women were chosen for the All NCAA Era team.
“They had a big alumni celebration for the 50th anniversary, and both teams were honored at this event,” said Olson. “I just so happened to be a member of both.
The alumni dinner on Saturday evening, August 24, was hosted by Lynn Dorn and Abby (Stritesky) Meyer along with BSU’s athletic director Tracy Dill and president Dr. Faith Hensrud, and was done in honor of the founders of BSU women’s athletics, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, and members of the All 30th Anniversary and All NCAA-Era teams. During the dinner a video was shown on the history of women’s athletics at Bemidji State. BSU women’s athletics first joined the Minn-Kota Conference in 1969, then in 1992, they joined the NCAA.
“Seeing the video brought tears to my eyes. Being a part of the history of BSU women’s athletics and witnessing the progress we have made gave me a great deal of pride,” Olson stated. “I also am so grateful to those that played before me and paved the way. It was eye opening to hear the stories of how things were before us. It was also eye opening to see the progress that’s been made since I’ve been there and played.”
Those awarded the All NCAA-Era Team honors were recognized for their contributions to BSU Athletics and each member of the team received a sterling silver Beaver pendant necklace donated by athletics supporter Ken K. Thompson Jewelry.
“If I could say anything to my younger self it would be take in all in and enjoy the moments because they go by fast,” she exclaimed. “Don’t worry about the little things!”
Olson has been teaching at Glenwood City Elementary for the past 20 years. The first ten years she spent teaching first grade, and the last ten years she has been teaching second grade.
