Club Tonka’s staff longevity is what sets it apart from the rest.  Since its inception in 1988, Club Tonka has had stable and dedicated leadership with their director, Ted Fleener. The assistant director, Diane Hauser, has served the club for over 10 years. This longevity has been pivotal to the club’s success and consistency over the years.

Leadership

Ted graduated from Hamline University with a BS in Physical Education and Health and then did post graduate work in Education at the University of Minnesota. Ted began playing volleyball at the age of seven and didn’t quit until he was 50 years old. He also participated on the USAV Men’s National Team for four years. He spent a total of 18 years coaching girls high school volleyball, including 3 state championships at Chaska, and 23 years of juniors at all levels. Ted’s philosophy is “Sports represents one of the greatest opportunities to grow as an individual physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, as well as develop life skills that last forever.”

It’s clear that Club Tonka has built a strong, family-oriented community with dedicated individuals. Ted’s wife, Lynn Fleener, has come alongside him in the journey, acting as Financial Administrator. Lynn has played a key role in creating opportunities for players who might not be able to play otherwise due to cost. The scholarship program and fundraising options have all been developed and overseen by Lynn. Club Tonka is dedicated to finding opportunities for all players to have an opportunity to play. Cost should not stop athletes from participating.

Diane Hauser’s journey is a true testament to this. Diane has been with the club since 2015 when she and her husband Mike came to coach for their daughter Hailey’s 12-1’s team. Since then, the entire family has remained involved with Club Tonka. Hailey played for six years at the club and is now a coach. Mike and Diane continue to coach and have been very successful with their teams. Diane’s advancement to Assistant Director speaks to her leadership skills and dedication to the club. She knows the game, understands operations, and ensures a positive experience for both coaches and players. Mike has also made positive impacts with his IT knowledge in website development and web-based registrations. Both Mike and Diane have been pivotal to the growth and success Club Tonka has experienced.

With the growth over the past few years, Club Tonka has been able to adapt to meeting the new demands. Two positions have since been added to the club which include a Travel Coordinator and Club Administrator. Both of these roles have helped the club handle growth effectively while maintaining high standards for everyone involved. Such dedication and multifaceted contributions truly make Club Tonka a standout organization.

“It’s inspiring to see how personal commitment and professional expertise come together to create a supportive and effective environment,” said Club Director, Ted Fleener.

Culture

In a state that has drastically grown its volleyball participation for girls and boys over the past two decades, Club Tonka was one of the first junior volleyball clubs to be recognized in the North County Region. Over the years, the club has grown dramatically and now serves over 300 families each year. A faith-based approach that prioritizes God and family while aiming to develop players as whole individuals has created a truly supportive and nurturing environment at Club Tonka. The club fosters a sense of belonging and shared values among members, creating a tight-knit community while emphasizing the importance of balancing sports with faith and family commitments, promoting a well-rounded life.

Each team kicks off the season by hosting a potluck for parents and players and the team coach(es). This allows everyone to bond over shared meals, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie from day one. It also provides a relaxed setting for a lead coach to share important information about the upcoming season. This tradition builds community, sets expectations for the year, and promotes engagement by involving parents in the success of the season early on.

Club Tonka exists to support, respect, nurture, and instruct their athletes. With the significant increase in interest over the last few years, Club Tonka has implemented a web-based app that can significantly boost operational efficiency and enhance overall communication. Some of the benefits the software and app has added to the club are enhanced communication, including real time updates about schedules, events, and changes, ensuring everyone is informed; operational efficiency that standardizes processes like player registration, payments and player information access; and coaches resources for information sharing, training, and new information. Additional plans related to the app are to utilize the performance tracking feature, where they can individualize goals for each player and track them alongside their progress during each season. By embracing technology, Club Tonka is ensuring we can provide the best possible experience for athletes, parents, and staff.

“Our ongoing commitment is to ensure that all of our players, parents and coaches treat each other with mutual respect, compassion and integrity both on and off the court. We endeavor to instill a love of the game and prepare our players for a life beyond volleyball. Good sportsmanship will continue to be an unconditional expectation and responsibility of everyone in the club. We strive to nurture the advancement of volleyball and the individual. We are committed to providing the opportunity, to every player possible, the chance to play on a junior volleyball club team that matches their skills and offers a positive growing experience,” shared Fleener.

Club Tonka (Eden Prairie, MN) is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization committed to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for club directors, coaches, players, and fans.

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