MN says farewell to first and only Athletic Secretary

The Mustang athletic department will be losing a key component of the staff following the season. After 25 years of service for MN sports, athletic secretary Sande Linbo will be calling it quits.

Mustang sports were not always the influential powerhouse that we see today. When MN opened its doors in 1981, sports were the least of its concerns.

However, times changed heading into the 90’s and athletics were growing in popularity. Because of this, MN hired the school’s first athletic secretary, Linbo, to assist in whatever paperwork is required while also handling the NSAA rules and guidelines.

“People bring me their paperwork. I handle all of that. I need the insurance information. I make all of the roster sheets and take the transportation forms,” Linbo said.

With years of experience under her belt, Linbo has proven to be one of the most vital people in the entire department, and has more than earned the respect of others around her.

“She’s been the only athletic secretary in the school’s history. She started in the building in ’91. Her knowledge base of the building and the position is tremendous. She has a great personality, works hard, and builds good relationships,” athletic director Chad Zimmerman said.

In the seemingly endless tasks for each of the programs at MN, Linbo makes frequent contact with coaches, making relationships between them vital for success.

“Mrs. Linbo is that rare combination of a person that can pay attention to detail and crack you up while doing it. I always felt that she understood that the teams were really invested in their seasons and she understood that she could be a part of that,” boys soccer coach Bill Cunningham said.

Because of Linbo’s long tenure at MN, she has witnessed one of the most fascinating elements of the modern day high schools. Athletic departments have developed more and more in recent years.

“Since I started, the athletic programs have become a lot bigger than they used to. Back then, we only entered everything for the kids on paper instead of how it is today,” Linbo said.

The growth of the department also set in place much more success for the participating teams. Since her first year in 1991, the progression can be clearly seen, with five championships in football, five more in girls soccer, and a slew of titles in many of the other sports.

“It is always fun when we win a state championship. For three years in a row, we won the all sports titles in 2005, 2006, and 2007. This means that as a school, we had the best athletic year of any high school in the state of Nebraska,” Linbo said.

While the job of an athletic secretary is incessant and difficult at times, it has had a positive impact on Linbo. It has brought excitement and relationships; but perhaps most of all, it has delivered a variety.

“What I love about my job is that everyday is different. I can come in one day, fully expecting a specific thing to happen, and it will end up completely different. Something always comes up,” Linbo said.

After 25 years as the first and only athletic secretary at MN, Linbo will enter retirement. Her long and challenging career will come to a close, leaving a bittersweet ending.

“My favorite part is always working with the kids. I am excited for retirement, but I will miss the people, and that is for both the kids and teachers. It is the relationships that I will miss the most,” Linbo said.