Saints saying goodbye to their MVP

She has never hit a home run, connected on a 3-point shot, made a game-winning kill or attempted a corner kick.

She hasn't even put on a uniform before.

But if you were to conduct a poll amongst St. Charles East coaches, Cheryl Fredericksen might be a unanimous choice as the school's most valuable person.

Serving as the Saints' athletic secretary for the past 10 years, Fredricksen has performed a wide variety of tasks while maintaining a genuine love for all things St. Charles East.

Perhaps it's not just a coincidence that she is the first person you come across upon entering the Saints' athletic office located in the Sports Center.

"She probably is the face of our athletic program," said St. Charles East athletic director Jerry Krieg. "At all of the schools I've been at, if you want to know what's going on you either talk to someone on the maintenance staff or to the athletic secretary.

"She knows every coach and every sports program and knows their needs."

As we recently turned the calendar to May, Fredricksen is currently in her final two months on the job after announcing her retirement earlier this year.

Her last official day will be June 30.

Fredricksen, who was hired by former Saints athletic director Wayne DeMaar before the 1998-99 school year, had previously spent 9 years as a secretary for the assistant superintendent of business services with St. Charles Community Unit District 303.

She was already familiar with the St. Charles schools, as her three children, Jim, Bill and Nicole, all attended St. Charles High School.

"They were active in sports like soccer, baseball and swimming," Fredricksen said. "They were used to attending high school athletic events because after moving here in 1978 my husband worked the afternoon shift with Commonwealth Edison so I would bring the kids to high school games for entertainment.

"My son had played baseball for Wayne (DeMaar) when he was the coach at St. Charles."

Whether it is handling paperwork, dealing with media members, making or receiving last-minute phone calls, sending e-mails or helping out coaches, an athletic secretary often turns into the hub of the athletic office on game day.

"You really can't tell someone what the job is like," said Krieg. "You have to live it. She knows the important phone numbers by heart. She knows what calls to put through and the ones not to put through.

"She knows when it's necessary to call me, plus she has good rapport with the coaches. Having her around is truly like having an assistant athletic director."

Ironically, Fredricksen was the first person Krieg met when he interviewed for the Saints head basketball coaching position with DeMaar.

"She immediately made me feel comfortable," said Krieg. "It was like talking to your sister.

"When I was the head basketball coach and Wayne was the AD, I always worried about making a mistake. She'd just laugh about it. Now that I'm the AD, she's always double-checking my paperwork. She probably saves me at least once a day."

From setting up a temporary office in the football concession stand during the school's mold issues in 2001-02 to dealing with occasional water leaks in the athletic office, Fredricksen has learned to roll with the punches.

Due to this spring's inclement weather, Fredricksen has been kept very busy with last-minute cancellations and location changes.

"This spring has probably been the worst ever," she said. "Some people say I said the same thing last year and the year before that. You have so much to do, making sure you're doing the right thing."

However, don't think for a moment that Fredricksen hasn't enjoyed her work.

"It's a great job," she said. "It keeps you young being around all of the kids and the coaches. I have developed some great friendships and relationships with the coaches. You really get to work with some nice people."

"Cheryl is the most amazing person," said Saints volleyball coach/assistant athletic director Jennie Kull. "She really runs the show, and she truly cares about the kids. I always know that she's got my back, no questions asked."

Fredricksen herself has learned a great deal about athletics at the high school level.

"I didn't know before just how agonizing it was for coaches when they're making cuts," she said.

"And I know that most people don't realize how hard an athletic director works or the hours they put in. A normal work day for them is 11-12 hours, and that includes weekends."

While Fredricksen will soon get an opportunity to spend more time with her husband, children and three grandchildren, the 2008-09 school year is right around the corner.

"I'm going to miss her," said Krieg. "It won't be the same without her."