Jenny (Hennen) Forrest
Class of 1996

Jenny (Hennen) Forrest is one of the most accomplished athletes to have graduated in Anoka High School history, never losing a high school swimming race during grades 10-12.  Jenny recorded six state championships; the most of any athlete in the history of Anoka High School.  Her state championships include the 100 Free and 200 Free in 1993, the 100 Fly and 200 Free in 1994, and the 100 Free and 200 Free in 1995.  Jenny was awarded All-American high school honors eight-times.

After high school, Jenny was provided a full ride to the University of Minnesota for swimming.  In 1999 and 2000, she swam on the Big 10 Championship team.  She was the 1999 Big 10 Champion in the 200 Butterfly.  Jenny received College All-American honors two times and was a six-time College All-American Honorable Mention.  Jenny held seven Women's Varsity School Records at the University of Minnesota by the time she finished her collegiate career:
100 Free, 200 Fly, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay and 800 Free Relay (2 individual events and all 5 relay events).

Jenny qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in 2000; competing in the 100 Fly, 200 Fly (19th place), 50 Free and 100 Free.

The qualities that Jenny’s teammates remember most about her (along with her ability to swim fast) were that she was a great role model; she was kind and humble.  Jenny married Chris Forrest 12 years ago and they have three children; Clare 9, Reese 7, and Henry John 11 months.  She is a CPA in downtown Minneapolis.

Steve Hoag 
Class of 1965

Steve Hoag earned six letters at Anoka High School (AHS), three in track and three in Cross Country from 1962-65. He served as Captain of both teams his senior year. In Cross Country, he became the team's top runner in his sophomore and junior years and during his senior year, he set six course records, won the Suburban Conference Championship and placed 6th in the Minnesota State HS Championship. In track, he was the team's top miler as a sophomore and broke the AHS Mile Record as a junior. As a senior, he placed 2nd in the State Indoor Championship, won the AHS Invitational for the One Mile, setting a meet record. He won the Suburban Conference Mile, setting the record at 4:24.7. This was also the new AHS One Mile record. Steve was coached by Lyle McLaughlin (1962-64) and Bruce Johnson (1964-65).

Steve was recruited to run for the University of Minnesota under the legendary Roy Griak. By his sophomore year, he was one of the team's top runners, leading the Gopher squad at the 1966 Big Ten CC Championships and getting 2nd place in the Big Ten Indoor Track Championship. His junior year, he was the top Gopher runner and placed 3rd in the Big Ten Cross Country Championship. Steve was named the "Most Valuable Runner" and Fred Watson Award winner in 1967 and 1968. In track, he helped Minnesota win its first Big Ten Track Championship in years by one point over Michigan and Wisconsin. A month later, he made All-American in the 10,000 meter run, placing 3rd. He also qualified for the USA Olympic Track team trials at that distance. He placed highly enough in the semifinals to qualify for the finals. Senior year, Steve enjoyed a great Cross Country season, culminating in an unexpected 4th place team finish in the NCAA. Steve was the leading scorer, and the 4th place finish was the best ever by a Gopher squad. He culminated his career at Minnesota by winning the Big Ten 2 Mile in track.

Following graduation from Minnesota, Steve joined the Twin Cities Track Club and ran for them in road races and track from 1970 to 1984 winning many races from two miles to marathons. He set records in the 10k, 15k, 25k and Marathon. He won the National 25k in 1975. He placed 6th in the 1974 Boston Marathon and 2nd in the 1975 Boston. His time of 2:11:54 in the 1975 race was the 4th fastest Boston ever run, and was the 5th fastest ever by an American. He was ranked #4 in the world for the marathon in 1975. Steve qualified for the 1976 US Olympic Marathon trials, but was unable to finish, because of injury. He was named to the 2000 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Steve opened and operated a running and fitness store for 30 years in Minneapolis (Marathon Sports). He sold it in 2005, but he still remains active in the sport, coaching track and cross country at Minnetonka High School. He has been married to Geri for 44 years and they have one daughter, Ali, and two grandchildren. Steve and his wife reside in Shakopee.

Bruce Johnson
Coach

Bruce Johnson grew up in Cokato, Minnesota, where he excelled in high school sports; lettering as a freshman in basketball, baseball, track and field and football.  Bruce attended Macalester College where he lettered all four years in track and field, was voted captain his senior year and completed his education with a Bachelor of Arts in teaching.  Bruce was a member of the Army National Guard and reached the rank of staff sergeant E6.

Starting his coaching career at Albert Lea High School from 1958 – 1964 (7 Seasons), Coach Johnson earned one conference title and one All-State athlete four times.  Bruce came to Anoka in 1964 to coach cross country and track and field.  He has the distinction of having the third longest tenure of any coach at Anoka High School with 29 seasons.

Greatest moments: In 1977 the boys’ cross country team scored a perfect 15 points at the Conference Championship, Bruce was voted Minnesota Cross Country coach of the Year 1975 and was inducted into Minnesota Cross Country Hall of Fame.

Bruce coached Boy’s cross country teams that produced two State Runner-ups, Third, Fifth and two Ninth Places at State, Four Region Titles, Ten District Titles, Five Conference Titles and one individual State Champion.  He coached Girls Cross Country teams that placed Fourth at State, a Conference Title and two individual State Champions.

Under his direction, Bruce coached Boy’s Track and Field, which finished with two Fifth, Seventh, Tenth Places at State and Sixth and Seventh Place as a team at State, Two Region Titles and Three District Titles and produced four individual State Champions, one relay team and 24 individual all-state athletes.  The boys team qualified for True Team State three times between 1987-1993. 

Many of Bruce’s athletes went on to compete at collegiate and high amateur events, including Three All-Americans and one American record holder.

Bruce and his wife Gloria moved back to Cokato, Minnesota. In 1998, Bruce was elected mayor and served in that role for 12 years.  They are blessed with two children, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Known as Coach “BJ” and “Beef”

Dave Nelson
Class of 1974

A 1974 graduate of Anoka High School in Anoka, Minnesota, Dave Nelson was a two-sport athlete, lettering in football and baseball.  After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota in Duluth (UMD).  At UMD, Dave was a four-year letter winner in baseball and football and was a captain in both sports his senior season.  He graduated from UMD in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education.  Dave continued his schooling in 1985, earning a master’s degree from Saint Cloud State University.

Blaine High School gave Dave his first teaching job.  He taught physical education and was an assistant baseball and football coach before becoming the head football coach in 1984.  While at Blaine, he amassed a 152-50 record with ten conference and eight section titles and earned his first State championship in 1988.  In the fall of 2002, Dave accepted a new head coaching and physical education position at Minnetonka High School.  His record is 90-55 through the 2015 season, giving him a career record of 242-105.  His Minnetonka teams have won three conference titles and one state championship (2004).  He has won numerous conference and section Coach of the Year honors.  Highlights of Dave’s career include having the opportunity to coach in two great communities for two great schools and the joy of coaching his son, Jesse, and later coaching with Jesse and with his son-in-law, Josh Stephan, at Minnetonka. 

Dave was named the class Coach of the Year in both 1988 and 2004 and was named Minnesota State Coach of the year in 2004.  He was inducted into the UMD Hall of Fame in 2000.  He received the MFCA Power of Influence Award in 2009, the Semper Fidelis Leadership Award in 2012 and the Tom Mahoney Man of the Year Award in 2013.  As a very active member of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, he has served as the Hall of Fame Banquet chair for the past 25 years.  He initiated the MFCA Recruiting Fair and is involved with “Tackle Cancer”, which has raised more than $750,000 in just four years.  Dave is a member of the MFCA’s clinic and executive committees and served as president of the MFCA in 2002. 

Dave and his wife, Maureen, have three children – Sarah, Ashley, and Jesse, along with seven grandchildren.  Dave’s free time is filled with spending time with his family and traveling with Maureen.  He also serves on the West Metro Fellowship of Christian Athletes board.

Carl Youngquist
Class of 1960

At Anoka High School, Carl Youngquist lettered two years in basketball and three years in golf, playing in the State golf tournament as a sophomore and again as a senior.

After high school, Carl continued his dedication to Anoka by serving on the City Council for four years, six years on the Anoka Park Board, the Anoka Economic Development Committee, was a board member for the Anoka Area Chamber, and was the Past President of the Anoka Men’s Golf Club.  Today, he continues as Chair of the Anoka Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Carl also served the community in his chosen profession, a Realtor.  He served as President of the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors, was a board member of the Minnesota Association of Realtors, and a board member of the Regional Multiple Listing Service.  For more than 40 years, he has helped Anoka County residents with their residential real estate needs.

Carl’s most extraordinary representation of and contribution to Anoka High School is demonstrated in his role as Chairman of the Anoka Alumni Lettermen’s Club.  Under his leadership, over several decades, the organization has tripled in size by fostering attendance at the annual banquet, establishing Greenhaven as a home, convincing Billy Bye to MC and attracting exceptional speakers.  Carl led the board to add new programs such as honorary members, a golf program and the Century Club along with other fundraising activities.  The Billy Bye Memorial Activity Fund was established to support individual students’ needs and, year after year, has grown the scholarship program from one award of a few hundred dollars, to two scholarships each in the thousands.  Now, in 2016, the A Club will present three $5,000 awards to outstanding Anoka High School student athletes.

Carl has dedicated his life to serving and helping the students, both past and present, of Anoka High School as well as people living in the city and county of Anoka.  Carl’s classmate, Kathy Moran, married him 52 years ago!  They have two daughters, Mary and Kari, and four grandchildren, Morgan, Nick, Jenna and Amanda.  Carl and Kathy reside in Anoka.