TCO's Geerdes is school Superfan

Left: Nolen Geerdes, holding the flag, is part of Rogers High School's official Blue Crew that helps organize the Royals' student cheering section. Courtesy photo. Right: Geerdes is in his second season as a defenseman playing for the Elite League's Twin Cities Orthopedics.

Nolen Geerdes is determined to make the most of his final year of high school.

For the Rogers defenseman, that means declining opportunities to play hockey elsewhere, starring in the New Hope-based Upper Midwest High School Elite League and displaying the maximum amount of school spirit.

“Being your senior year, I feel like you're never gonna get that back,” he said. “I feel like there's always time for (junior hockey) and other stuff … opportunities for the future. I don't see the reason to rush it.”

When Geerdes isn’t playing for the Elite League’s Twin Cities Orthopedics, he morphs into a Rogers Royals superfan. This fall he’s been to every Royals football game and most all of the volleyball matches, sitting in the front row and waving a royal blue flag emblazoned with the school’s mascot, a fierce-looking wildcat nicknamed “Rog.” The flag is, of course, affixed to a hockey stick.

For Geerdes, who this week committed to play at Western Michigan, “Every day is a great day to be a Royals fan” (spelled out in so many words at the bottom of that same flag).

“Yeah, me and my buddies are superfans,” Geerdes said with a grin. “Got to get the crowd going a little bit.”

Geerdes’ role as part of Rogers’ official Blue Crew (all members are seniors) goes beyond just screaming his lungs out. He helps encourage other students to attend games through social media messaging and in-person salesmanship in the school hallways. He also helps choose the student section’s themed attire for each game, such as Hawaiian Shirt Night, USA Night and White Out.

“There are so many paths for every kid,” said Brien Geerdes, Nolen’s dad. “(Nolen), he thrives on the social piece. It really makes me happy to see him go to school and embrace the Royal pride and be a part of the social fabric of the school. And to just be with his friends.”

Two seasons ago Geerdes helped Rogers reach a section final at a packed Furniture & Things Community Event Center in Elk River. The wild scene included a massive Royals student section loaded with athletes from the football and volleyball teams - among other sports.

“We go to their games, they come to ours,” Geerdes said. 

So when the hockey players are flinging themselves against glass after a goal, do they recognize many of the faces staring back at them?

“Oh yeah, all the boys are front row,” said Geerdes, who recently was selected to play on the Elite League’s All-Star team that played a two-game series against the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U17 squad. “Maybe give them a wink when we’re going by.”