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Coach Carl Fruechte: ‘This is for my family’
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“This is something I’m doing for my family. It’s got nothing to do with our season last year, we had a fantastic season. You can’t win the state championship every year.
“Our daughter Alecia only has two more years left to play volleyball at Mankato (Minnesota State University-Mankato) and most of her games are on Friday. I’ve missed many of her games during the past two years. Those are years I can’t get back.
“This was a tough decision, but I’m sure the program here will do fine. All of the coaches are on the same page. I’ll still be around to help with weight lifting and speed work. I’ll be around for basically everything but Friday nights. I have complete confidence in the coaching staff and our kids.”
That’s the way Caledonia head football Carl Fruechte explained why he requested a two-year leave of absence for the 2011 and 2012 football seasons. Fruechte, who was named Class AA Coach of the Year, led the Warriors to four Section 1AA titles in five years, three Class AA Championship games in a four-year period and back-to-back Class AA state titles in 2007 and 2008, was granted the two-year leave at the Jan. 25 school board meeting.
Fruechte will be spending Friday nights next fall watching the Mustang volleyball team.
“It’s going to be different not being on the field on Friday nights,” the veteran coach admitted. Fruechte has been the Warriors’ head coach for the past 12 years. He served as an assistant coach at Caledonia for six years prior to that.
“This wasn’t a snap decision,” he thoughtfully noted. “Becky (his wife) and I have talked about it for some time. I discussed it with my coaching staff last summer. Alecia has volleyball matches on Tuesdays, Fridays and tournaments on Saturdays. I want to be there to watch her.”
The two-year leave will also give Coach Carl an opportunity to watch his son Isaac who recently agreed to a “walk-on” agreement with the University of Minnesota. The 6’3” high school senior hopes to make it with the Golden Gophers as a wide receiver.
If things work out for Isaac, the Fruechtes will really be putting a lot of miles on the family car in the upcoming years.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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You deserve it!!! Thanks for allowing me to be part of your run.