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Alumnae Athletes Celebrate Peggy Seegers-Braun

Arike Ogunbowale, DSHA '15; Dani Reimer, DSHA '25; and Catie O'Brien Ratkowski, DSHA '02
On July 16, 2025, the DSHA community celebrated Retired Athletic Director Peggy Seegers-Braun. In addition to Peggy's words, alumnae spoke about Seegers-Braun's impact on their lives and the lasting legacy she leaves for Dasher Athletics.

From Arike Ogunbowale, DSHA '15

Dasher Athletic Hall of Fame 
4-Time WNBA All-Star (2-Time MVP) and Dallas Wings Guard

From Dani Reimer, DSHA '25


NIAA Section IV Scholarship Recipient
WIAA Scholar Athlete
Peggy Seegers-Braun Sportswoman of the Year Award Winner

I have known Mrs. Braun for four years, but she has shaped who I will be for the rest of my life… I
Good evening, everyone! I am honored to speak today about someone who has meant the world to me, our teams, and our entire school community. I have known Mrs. Braun for four years, but she has shaped who I will be for the rest of my life.

Everyone always hears the facts: She has worked here for 37 years, and changed our programs from seven sports to 16 sports and 43 teams. What some people might not hear is how she has hands-on made an impact on each athlete and the culture of the program as a whole. I was privileged to serve on the Student Athletic Advisory Council led by Mrs. Braun for three years, and in these three years, I changed from just an athlete to a leader, advocate, teammate, and collaborator. She has taught me and many others countless lessons that not only apply to sports, but apply to living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

One that will always stick out to me is “great teams have great teammates.” She taught us that being a great teammate doesn't always mean being the loudest or the best; it means working hard and being there for each other. As many athletes have experienced firsthand, work ethic and performance suffer when there are bad teammates, but when you hold each other accountable, we find success in performance and team commitment. I now strive to foster an environment of hard work and dedication, and encourage others to be a positive influence on their teams through actions and words. This lesson has been clearly taught and displayed as Mrs. Braun leaves behind a legacy of successful programs and teams that feel like family.

I have been a part of some of the lesser-known sports in my time here, and Mrs. Braun has attended my games, meets, or matches every single year. Not only did she attend but she encouraged us to take a family team photo and always cheers us on. In addition to this, she always encouraged doing team service projects. This, I believe, was integral to the culture of each team because it took us out of the competitive setting and helped us to remember to care for those around us, while bringing us closer to each other. She leads by example: always urging us to sit in the front during conferences and participate in training so we get the most out of our experiences.

I also have never met anyone so beloved as her. Everywhere we traveled, athletic directors told us how lucky we were to have Mrs. Braun in our corner, and I could not agree with them more. She not only has made an impact in my life but time and time again has demonstrated her impact on our school and everyone she meets. Mrs. Braun wasn’t just in charge of the athletics department; she built a community of integrity, excellence, and resilience by being the hardworking and incredibly caring person she is. Every time I had issues with my team come up, like in gymnastics or track, I was 100% comfortable coming to her with any problems. She never judged me or my team but was continuously there to help us resolve our problems and move on together. Her legacy isn’t just in the numerous state and national championships, it’s in the athletes she has believed in and encouraged to lead. It is in the teams that know sportsmanship and integrity go hand in hand with success, and it is in the total athletic community that will continue to support each other the way Mrs. Braun supported us.

Thank you for your guidance and your tireless dedication. You may be retiring, but your legacy is permanent. We love you and we will miss you. Enjoy every minute of retirement, you have earned it!

From Catie O'Brien Ratkowski, DSHA '02

Dasher Athletic Hall of Fame
DSHA 4-Time WIAA D1 State Championship Volleyball Head Coach

I’m honored to stand here today and attempt the impossible — to put into words what Peggy has meant to DSHA and to all of us who’ve had the privilege of working alongside her, learning from her, and being led by her. I have known Peggy much longer than my time as a student athlete and coach at DSHA; my earliest memory of her is as the Head Volleyball Coach when my sister Megan O'Brien Garczynski, DSHA '94, played for her here at DSHA in the early 1990s, so I have known Peggy since I was about eight years old.

Peggy has served this community for 37 incredible years, and in that time, she has been so much more than just an Athletic Director. She’s been a gym teacher, a head volleyball coach, a mentor, a colleague, a leader — and above all, a constant, reassuring, supportive presence through every high and low.

When Peggy started at DSHA, we had seven sports and 14 teams. Today, because of her vision and her leadership, DSHA has 15 sports and 43 teams. That growth isn’t just about numbers — it’s about opportunity, inclusion, and excellence. Under Peggy’s direction, DSHA athletics didn’t just expand; they thrived. And they thrived because Peggy never saw her role as just scheduling games or managing facilities, though let’s be honest, she did all of that too — every gym, every field, every last-minute change, she handled it with in stride with her organization and planning. She was the one behind the scenes, making sure everything just… worked. And she made it look effortless.

She earned NFHS certification and helped all coaching staff to do the same so that we are now an NFHS Level 3 Certified School, launched leadership initiatives and programs, and was instrumental in starting our Student Athlete Advisory Council — creating a space for student-athlete voices to be heard and valued. She led us through almost every imaginable and unexpected situation, including facility changes, through loss, through complicated student situations. And when COVID hit — when everything could’ve fallen apart — Peggy held it all together. Not a single DSHA team had to cancel or forfeit a game that year, a pretty incredible accomplishment, and a lot of credit to Peggy for being diligent with codes and safety.

She helped bring home state championships, celebrated multiple Gatorade Players of the Year in more than one sport, and sent countless athletes off to compete at the collegiate level. Many of those former student-athletes have come back, now as coaches themselves — a full-circle moment that speaks volumes about the impact Peggy has made.
 
But her legacy goes far beyond the trophies and titles. Peggy is the person you could always count on. Whether it was daily scheduling, hosting meetings, or her work with the Greater Metro Conference, she brought precision, care, and a remarkable ability to anticipate every challenge before it even happened. She always knew the answer — and if she didn’t, she figured it out fast. She offered advice you could trust, saw the positive even in tough moments, and always thought about every side of the story. She brought perspective, calm, and balance, and somehow managed to make even the most chaotic situations feel manageable.

One of my favorite stories that captures who Peggy is happened right after I was interviewed by Peter Miller from UW-Madison’s Sports Leadership Program: At the end of the meeting, he said, “Wow, I would love to meet your athletic director. It sounds like she does so much for the athletic programs at DSHA.” After talking more about Peggy, he made a trip to DSHA to award her with his Bell Cow Award. The Wisconsin Coaching Project identifies, honors, and learns from Bell Cows. These leaders change lives. They grow the good around them. I think that is a great description of Peggy.

She definitely grows the good around her, and the work she has put into the athletic programs at DSHA is a good summary to all the hard work she has done. Peggy always reminded us: Great teams come from great teammates. And she has been the best teammate anyone could ask for — organized, thoughtful, caring, wise, and uplifting. A cheerleader for every athlete, every coach, every team.

Peggy, you have shaped generations of student-athletes, inspired those around you, and created a legacy that will last long after your well-deserved retirement begins. Thank you for everything. We will miss your leadership, your warmth, and your smile — but we carry your lessons, your spirit, and your standard with us every single day. Congratulations on a remarkable career.

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    • Danie Reimer, DSHA '25, poses with Peggy Seegers-Braun, Retired Athletics Administrative Assistant Maureen Stowell, and her family during Peggy's retirement celebration.

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