<![CDATA[Warrior 196

<![CDATA[Warrior 196 - Blog]]>Fri, 05 Sep 2025 23:52:22 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[2.5 Weeks Until Ultimate!]]>Tue, 03 May 2022 12:18:12 GMThttps://www.warrior196.org/blog/25-weeks-until-ultimateBy Peter LaVoie, Board Chair and Tournament Coordinator

Every year around the third weekend in May, hundreds of players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators gather for the annual Chris Goeke Memorial Ultimate Tournament. The Goeke Memorial draws top teams from across Minnesota in the growing sport of Ultimate (formerly known as ultimate frisbee) to compete for fun, for glory, and for one of the coveted wooden disc trophies. It has become a mainstay in the Minnesota Ultimate calendar.

Goeke playing Ultimate his senior year of high school.

The first Goeke Memorial was held in 2011. After Lt. Goeke was killed in action while serving with the US Army in Afghanistan, his friends and family wanted to honor his legacy. Chris had played Ultimate at Apple Valley High School in the days before it was recognized as a club sport, and sponsoring a tournament in his honor was a natural choice. Over the past decade, the Goeke Memorial has raised thousands of dollars to fund scholarship awards to graduating high school seniors who display outstanding leadership qualities. These are awarded by the Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation, the event's sponsor. The tournament has also introduced its many attendees to the legacy of Chris Goeke, a man whose extraordinary character continues to influence those lucky enough to have known him and those who hear his story.

Goeke with his high school Ultimate team

Chris was a renaissance man, equally adept at reading literature, playing his drum kit, or throwing a frisbee. He loved to explore difficult questions of philosophy and religion, and always tried to understand the world and the people in it. As a student, Chris was smart and inquisitive. As an athlete, he was a top performer who loved physical fitness and hard work. As a man, he was guided by his deeply-considered faith and his love for his wife and family. In honor of Chris, the tournament's motto is Mind, Body, Spirit; three words that describe his values. Each May, as volunteers set out field cones and fill water jugs, as teams arrive full of anticipation and spirit, as spectators cheer on the players, we again get the opportunity to connect with Chris Goeke's legacy. Some of us remember the man we knew. Others are inspired by the stories of Chris and the passion of his supporters. Chris keeps on giving, and his legacy thrives.

Join us May 21-22, 2022 at Aronson Park in Lakeville, Minnesota to connect with the Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation and to watch some top class Ultimate! If you would like to volunteer or your group would like to sponsor the tournament, please reach out to Pete LaVoie.

]]><![CDATA[Beyond the Scholarship]]>Wed, 02 Mar 2022 04:01:04 GMThttps://www.warrior196.org/blog/beyond-the-scholarshipBy Udaya Gadiparthi, a student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Warrior 196 Scholarship recipient

Hello! My name is Udaya Gadiparthi and I’m a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Madison studying Biochemistry and Data Science. I went to Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. I received the Warrior 196 Scholarship last May, which was such an honor for me!

Udaya Gadiparthi with her Warrior 196 scholarship recipient sign

Something that was challenging about school was being able to organize and effectively plan to handle schoolwork, activities, as well as time with family and friends. It took some time to work out how to do so, as well as determination to stick to the plan, which can be difficult as you start to feel overwhelmed and stressed. However, being able to work on this challenge during high school helped me become a much better student in college, where we have more difficult classes and less structure compared to high school. Being able to create the structure for yourself in how you choose to allocate your time can be beneficial in the long run.

On the other hand, something that I really enjoyed about high school was being able to learn a wide breadth of different subjects. I think it is a great time to understand what you’re interested in because you’re exposed to a little bit of everything, between your core and elective classes. Additionally, the activities that you do, through clubs and sports, feed into developing your passion. Taking different science classes, such as Anatomy and Physiology, helped me understand my passion for medicine and research related to the human body. For example, this class helped me develop an interest in how cellular signaling pathways play such a big role in the functions of the human body, and led me to pursue biochemistry in college. Being involved in clubs, such as Science Olympiad, also helped me discover fields such as epidemiology and pathology. Being on the Debate team helped me develop research and public speaking skills to take on leadership positions at high school and at college.

Speaking of leadership positions, I’m currently the Communications Advisor for the Students for Rare group at UW Madison, who advocate for education efforts and government legislation for people with rare diseases and their loved ones. It’s important for me, as part of this group, to communicate with speakers and other members of the group. I am also involved with fundraisers and meetings with people who come from all backgrounds, and offer different perspectives about rare diseases, from caregivers to researchers. Developing those leadership skills from an early stage, including high school, is essential to being involved in causes that matter to you. That can come from being involved in different clubs as well as connecting with your teachers and other students. Additionally, taking the initiative, whether it be for a project, a speech, or something you’re passionate about, can help you develop and refine your leadership skills.

A piece of advice I would give to students interested in applying to scholarships is to start the search early. Because there are so many opportunities, it is important to continuously keep looking around and apply for any scholarship that fits your needs and goals. It all adds up in the end and can drastically reduce the financial costs of attending college, allowing you to have more time to pursue your classes and activities. I wish you all the best!

The Warrior 196 scholarship applications are open now for graduating seniors.
Apply today!

]]><![CDATA[It's Scholarship Time!]]>Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:16:26 GMThttps://www.warrior196.org/blog/its-scholarship-timeBy Jill Englund, Board Member and Scholarship Coordinator

‘Tis the season to apply for scholarships!

As scholarship coordinator, I have the honor of reading applications, working with schools, and informing our recipients that they have won! I have been part of the Board of Directors for Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation for about a year and a half now, and am proud to be part of a team that gives back to the community where I grew up, in memory of my dear friend Chris Goeke. Reading each years' scholarship applications is a favorite annual experience. Students write inspiring essays about leaders in their community and in the world, and it makes me proud to be part of their journey as they pursue higher education.

If you are a senior at Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview or Rosemount High School, please consider applying for one of our $2000 scholarships. Applications are due at the end of spring break: Sunday, March 27, 2022. Winners will be announced at each school’s awards ceremony in May.

Applications are submitted here. We recommend students write their answers in another program, use a spelling and grammar check, then copy/paste responses into the forms linked below because you cannot save it and come back to it on our website.

Any District 196 senior is eligible to apply here.
Students who participate in the AVID program can apply here.

Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation is proud to have awarded over $100,000 in scholarship funds since 2011 to District 196 graduates. Encouraging young leaders is a core part of our mission as an organization, and all funds raised go directly back to that mission. We are grateful for contributions from the Apple Valley Rotary Club, which has helped us increase our award amounts to $2000 per award. This will make 2022 a great year of giving!

We can’t wait to hear your stories!
Check out our scholarship page for more information, and to see our past winners!

]]><![CDATA[Reflections from the 5K]]>Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:52:14 GMThttps://www.warrior196.org/blog/reflections-from-the-5kBy Joel Kiekbusch, Race Coordinator
Joel has been a high school teacher at Eastview since 1998 and he and his wife have a strong sense of duty to the five 196 warriors.

After having to settle for a “virtual” event for the evolution of the Eight Annual Warrior 196 Memorial 5K, planning and anticipating the Ninth Annual Warrior 196 Memorial 5K event was a combination of excitement and apprehension: excitement for having the event back outside…for real…with actual people running, walking, and rucking a real course, and apprehension that folks would show up, that a pandemic uptick wouldn’t push us back into our homes, and that we could have a successful event after what really was a year of hiatus.

I’ve learned that after registration opens on Memorial Day each spring, to not pay attention to the registration numbers because they’re always slow and low in June and July, and even for the first weeks of August. Of course, I checked to see if Vietnam veteran Charlie Krautbauer was the first participant to register, because Charlie has been the first registrant to sign up since 2015. He did. Thank you, Charlie! When I did take the first look, I got a lump in my throat and a sinking feeling in my stomach. Numbers were dramatically low and I expressed my concern to Jennifer at Anderson Race Management. She told me that road races around the region were all experiencing dramatically low registration numbers.

Oh-oh…this wasn’t good.

And yet, there was a small voice in my head that simply said: “Trust! They’ll be there…they’ll all sign up! It’s gonna be okay.” Sure enough, the numbers started climbing and I knew we would have a good event!

On the Monday before the race, someone told me that rain was forecast for Saturday, race day. I replied: “It won’t rain…it’ll be a nice day.” How did I know? Our five ‘196 Warriors’, take care of the weather for race day. Thank you, Nathanael, Daniel, Benjamin, Christopher, and Andrew…thank you.

Then, in the early hours of Friday morning – 17 September, Rosemount (and other cities in the southeast metro) got hit by a small tornado. Much of Rosemount lost power and there was substantial damage to several neighborhoods, including my own. After work, my neighbor Eric and I tossed two chain saws into the back of his pickup and drove the race course to check for downed trees and branches we were certain we would find. To our surprise, the course was clear…no damage, no debris. The race remained “on” and we didn’t have to resort to any contingencies.

After eight years of Warrior 196 Memorial 5K race day mornings, I’ve become used to hearing about and experiencing unique stories of serendipity on race day. There have been those moments when I’ve looked at others square in the eye based on a mutual experience or observation, and known that whatever uncommon providence we just witnessed was not just chance. It was karma; or it was BENERGY, or it was some eternal, ancient spirit slipping through a hidden dimension to remind us that as long as we say their names: Nathanael, Daniel, Benjamin, Christopher, and Andrew – they shall never die. I’ve come to anticipate these moments and sure enough, Shawn and Peter approached me after the race and told me of the bald eagle that shadowed their path as they rucked the 5K. I’ve always sensed that the bald eagle (having made several appearances at the Warrior 196 since 2014) is my dad…making sure that things go well. Thanks, Dad.

And so, the race went off! A beautiful September morning; crisp, clean Canadian air, warmed by a light southern breeze, made another incredible Warrior 196 5K day. We had overall and age group winners (and yeah, we didn’t allow for any ‘double dipping’ for awards): Jen Lenarz (age 47) won the overall for women with a solid time: 21:32, running at a 6:55/mile pace! Nice run, Jen!

Bill Butler (age 45) won the overall for men with a great time: 19:30, a 6:16/mile pace. Another nice run! Way to go, Bill! (And, no Bill, I measured the course three times as per USATF protocol and it was actually 3.13 miles, or 5.04K.)

Our age group winners were:

Female 0-19: Elizabeth Snyder
Female 20-29: Hannah Moland
Female 30-39: Joelle Gamble
Female 40-49: Lindsay Larson
Female 50-59: Amy Hutsell
Female 60+: Tracey Casey
Male 0-19: Mathew Snyder
Male 20-29: John Streed
Male 30-39: Stephan Hays
Male 40-49: Patrick Enderlein
Male 50-59: Mark Matijasevich
Male 60+: John Fouts

As race coordinator, I pain over this event from the day after the race, to the day of the next race day the following year. I hope and pray for an event that will be fun, meaningful, and memorable. As a foundation, all we ask of our participants is to take a few moments before the race to remember and honor five young men who gave their lives in the service of our country, who heard and listened to a higher calling to serve. Then, go have a great time!

What is generated from the event is, of course, funds for scholarship dollars awarded to graduating high school seniors, in the name of our five ‘196 Warriors’. Their collective legacy is paid forward. But what else is generated?
Those of you who come out and run, walk, and ruck…you choose to honor and remember the valor and heroism of these five young men. You choose to take time from the hustle and bustle of daily life, to pause and reflect. You choose to look those Gold Star parents in the eye and collectively tell them that we will always remember their sons…we will always hold them dear to us, as if they were our own. Because deep down, they ARE our own…as we ALL belong to each other. Personally, I think we should ponder that precept a LOT more than we do.

So, until year 10…at Apple Valley High School on 24 September at 9:00 AM…(subtle hint there…we already set a date!)

My sincerest THANK YOU to ALL of you who participate in and support the Warrior 196 Memorial 5K. You are amazing folks and as the race director, please know I so much appreciate ALL OF YOU.

And to our sponsors: without the selflessness and charity of your organizations, the Warrior 196 Memorial 5K would not exist. Your understanding of our mission to honor, remember, and pay forward is so much appreciated. In what seems like too much of a cynical world, your support is evidence that we can all be in a better place if we simply try. THANK YOU for your generosity.

]]><![CDATA[Welcome to the Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation Blog!]]>Thu, 12 Aug 2021 02:55:19 GMThttps://www.warrior196.org/blog/welcome-to-the-warrior-196-leadership-foundation-blogBy Pam Shultz, Board Treasurer
Pam is an Addiction Medicine physician and lived in Apple Valley for more than 20 years, where she raised her four children. She currently resides in Lake Elmo, MN.

This is the first edition of the new Warrior 196 blog so we thought we’d start with a little history to catch you all up!

The Founding of Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation

2010 - Christopher Goeke Leadership Foundation (CGLF) was founded by friends and family of Chris, to honor his sacrifice and carry on the memory of his contributions to our community.

2011 – CGLF hosted its first annual Goeke Memorial Ultimate Frisbee Tournament and silent auction fundraiser and awarded its first scholarship.

2014 – Warrior 196 Memorial Trust formed to honor all five service members from District 196 who were killed in action. The Trust hosted its first annual 5K run and awarded scholarships to a student from each high school.

2015 – Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation (W196LF) formed by merging these two organizations.

Today - The work of W196LF continues! With an all-volunteer Board of Directors, 100% of funds raised go to our mission, including annual scholarships to three students at each high school. Our two main events are the Chris Goeke Memorial Frisbee Tournament in May and Warrior 196 Memorial 5K in September.

Scholarships
I am most proud to say that over the years we have awarded over $106,000 in scholarships to 77 graduating seniors from Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview and Rosemount high schools. This includes twelve students from the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at each school. Applications are judged on a student’s community service, extracurricular experiences and their essays on the characteristics important to becoming a leader. Check out our Scholarships page for names and photos of our recent scholarship winners!

Honor and Remember
From the beginning, we thought that the best way to honor and remember the young men from School District 196 killed in action, was to give back. Awarding scholarships in their memory to students who show similar leadership potential and commitment to their communities just made sense. As a member of the Board of Directors since the organization’s inception, and Chris Goeke’s mother, I can truly say that I am proud of what W196LF has done and continues to do. All five of these young men deserve to be honored and remembered!

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Focusing on our mission to honor service and encourage leaders, this blog will feature authors from the wide range of community members involved with the foundation. Watch for future blog posts from people like:

Scholarship recipients
Ultimate frisbee players and coaches
Runners
Active and former service members
Board members

If you have a topic you feel could contribute to this community blog, or know of someone with a story to tell, please get in touch via our Contact page!

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