Monday evening was another milestone for long-time Becker coach Trish Reimer-Kealy, as she was inducted into the Minnesota Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

Reimer-Kealy, who retired from her CC duties after last season but continues to lead the girls track team, received the honor at the annual coaches clinic in Northfield, MN.

“Trish Kealy is very deserving of the Hall of Fame,” Becker Activities Director Dave Niemi said.  “She has worked hard to build the girls cross country and track and field programs here in Becker into top notch programs.”

Reimer-Kealy led the Becker CC program for 19 years, and also had coaching stops in Rockford, Bemidji and Pipestone.

The program’s accomplishments under her tutelage include having 83 runners named All-Conference, 10 team Conference Championships, and five MSHSL State Tournament teams.

The Hall of Fame honor will come with an added bonus, as Reimer-Kealy’s sister, Jane Reimer-Morgan is already a member of the elite club.

“I am excited because my sister is already a member of the Hall of Fame, and I don’t think there are any other siblings in the hall,” Reimer- Kealy said.

With her induction, she will be just the fifth woman to be inducted into the prestigious club.

Trish was nominated for the award by BHS coach Dustin Weege, who worked alongside his mentor for many years.

“Trish has helped mentor me with gaining more knowledge about the sport as we worked together to have many positive experiences for student athletes,” Weege said in his nomination form.  “The Bulldog teams that Trish has worked to assemble and develop have competed at high levels for a long time, and it is fun to see the traditions and new adventures that she has done with these crews.”

Weege also offered praise for Reimer-Kealy’s emphasis on sportsmanship and encouraging style, as well as her work to mentor and recognize other women’s coaches in his recommendation.

“Becker cross country will most certainly be different following Trish’s retirement,” Weege concluded.  “I’ve only known Becker Cross Country with her here and having her to bounce ideas off of especially with all of the behind the scenes stuff that is involved with coaching.”

For Niemi, the honor goes way beyond the winning ways of the program and is a testament to the relationships she has built.

“Trish has shown that she can get the best from the student athletes that she works with, but it’s also about the way she builds trusting relationships with her athletes and helps them through each day, not just each meet,” Niemi said.  “Having that attitude and making kids feel that way doesn’t happen as often in coaching today because coaches feel more pressure to not get too close to any individual because that could show favoritism. Trish has shown that she cares for each athlete and they perform as best as they can for her because they trust her and know that she cares.”