Olson carries on from Class of ‘99

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published 12:00 p.m., November 23, 2009

During his high school days, Aaron Olson was a fierce competitor as an all-around athlete who graduated with the Fergus Falls High School Class of 1999. He was on the Otter boys hockey team that took third at state and also played football and baseball.

Fast forward ten years and Olson, who has worked five years for Wells Fargo, was a member of the 2009 Shakopee baseball team near the Twin Cities that won the state baseball title.

“To win a championship in amateur baseball is a big feat, but to win it in Class B is even tougher,” said Olson. “When I played with the Fergus Falls Hurricanes in Class C, we never won more than a game during the state tournament. Playing in Class B, the competition is much tougher and you still need to win to get into double elimination.”

Shakopee, a city southwest of Minneapolis, won five consecutive games at state to win the title.

“It was something I’ll never forget,” said Olson, “especially winning the state title with three other guys from Fergus Falls — Nate Brown, Troy Wasiloski and Dan Harris.”

The Shakopee Indians won the title with a 5-1 win over Prior Lake in the

championship game. They opened play with a 4-2 win over Hutchinson and

followed that win with a pair of 3-2 victories against Miesville and Savage. On Sept. 5 they defeated Prior Lake 4-3 and then defeated them again in the title game.

In the five state tournament games played by the Indians, Olson

hit .333 (5 for 15) with two doubles, two homers and five runs batted in. He also scored four runs and walked three times.

Olson previously played baseball at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“My career at Mankato was awesome,” said Olson. “I played four years and we won three conference championships, went to three regional tournaments, and I had the privilege of being captain my senior year. Our coach was Dean Bowyer who is a legendary coach who grew up in Ada. I learned a lot from him and the other coaches throughout my four years in Mankato.”

Olson was a baseball all-conference honoree for two years and all region honoree for two years, as well.

He’s now a loan officer with Wells Fargo who deals with mortgages, auto loans, and many other types of credit options. He started in Mankato and was promoted to branch manager up in Eden Prairie in 2007.

“I have a physical education degree, but there were no jobs open when I graduated,” said Olson, “and I was fortunate to start a career with Wells Fargo.”

He married in 2005 and he and his wife, Kimberly, have a son, Kaden, who was born in 2007.

“He keeps us busy now, but we always find time to spend with our families up in Fergus Falls and down near Fairmont, where Kimberly is from,” said Olson.

He’s always been proud to say that he grew up in Fergus Falls.

“I’ve had so many good friends, teachers, and coaches that I’ll never forget Fergus Falls,” said Olson. “There were a lot of people who helped me get to where I am today, from Phil Link, Scott Bjerke, Don Stueve, to Mike Klinnert. I could go on and on with all the people I’ve looked up to throughout the years.”

He said his family has always been a big part of his life.

“I can always look back to where everything started in Fergus Falls,” said Olson. “I always wanted to move back and coach, but it just hasn't worked out for me and my family. But life is good.”

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