WYNDMERE HIGH SCHOOL

HISTORY OF TRACK AND FIELD

By Brian & Charlotte Griffen Class of '65

Track and field-the sport of the gods. Its ancient origin dates back to the year 776 B.C., when the Olympic Games were first held in Greece. Jumping, hurdling, throwing, and running events were staged by the Greeks until the Romans eventually took over the Olympics. In 394 A.D., they were halted. In the 1800's, England revived interest in the sport, which spread to the United States in 1876. The modern Olympic Games resumed in 1896, in Greece, and has been scheduled every four years throughout the world ever since. T^rack and field-THE SPORT OF THE WARRIORS. The origin of the sport at Wyndmere High School dates back to the late 1940's when Coach Bill Ordway fielded teams for a couple of years. There, also, was a gap in time when no track competition existed for WHS. In 1958, Coach Lawrence Hoffman revived interest in the sport, scheduling a couple of meets a year on days when the athletes weren't playing baseball. During the 1963-64 school year, a new superintendent, Bruce Anderson, was instrumental in the spring sport changeover from baseball to track only, and with the enthusiasm and motivation of Hoffman and a fiery new track coach named Bill Kelley, Wyndmere's modern-day track program was officially launched.

1961 Track Team

Back Row: Mr. Hoffman, coach, John Mellem, Robert Kuchera, Curtis Haberman, Marvin Fluto. Front Row: Marcus Jensen, Alvin Breuer, Ronald Hobza, Gary Charlson, Harold Haberman.

There are communities where athletic ability and natural God-given strength and speed are conspicuously evident. A glance at Wyndmere High School's team and individual track records, especially since 1965, seems to confirm that theory. There have been twelve Wild Rice Conference team championships, six District I team titles, four team state finishes in the top four, an even dozen state event champs, and a total of 90 Warrior athletes that have worn the maroon and gold into state meet competition. Not a bad record for a school that has had official sport status for only the past 20 years!

Lawrence Hoffman, whose tenure in Wyndmere as an educator and coach spanned from 1957-1977, witnessed nearly all of W HS's track history. He was the coach in 1958 when Harvey Dahl was an effective weightman, and in 1960 when Gary Charlson (100 yard dash), John Mellem (880) Richard Rapheal (shot put), Alvin Brandt (high jump), an( Harold Haberman (mile run) led the team with first place finishes and Wyndmere's first-ever track triumph in a quadrangular meet at Lidgerwood. He was also the coach u 1961, when the Warrior tracksters won an unofficial Wild Rice Conference title with a team that consisted of nine athletes. Despite his early efforts, Coach Hoffman was quick to credit Bruce Anderson as the individual that was instrumental in the development and success of Wyndmere' powerful track program and the residual effects upon th Warrior football and basketball fortunes.

In 1963, under the direction of coaches Hoffman an, Kelley, Warrior tracksters grabbed a third place finish in th Wild Rice Conference, but the junior high team gave th area a foreshadowing of some brilliant years ahead, b garnering the conference team title. Regretfully, no specific individual performances were found in the records, but standouts included: Ron Hobza, Ken Rossum, and John and Eugene Mellem.

Bill Kelley took charge of the track program in 1964, wit a varsity squad that was 30 strong. LeRoy Fickert became W HS's first state meet qualifier as a sophomore, winning t} District 1 javelin title. Eugene Mellem's leap of 5'8" earned him the conference title in the high jump.

1965 began a decade of track prominence and, at times, dominance, as the Warriors earned the first of four consecutive Wild Rice Conference team championships. This conference title was also the first official Wyndmere victory in the Wild Rice and was a true team victory. The Warriors' Gary Springer won the pole vault with a record jump of 9'9" using a steel pole, and that was the only individual victory Wyndmere had in its upset of the favored Hankinson Pirates. Two Wyndmere athletes earned state meet appearances: junior Paul Dotzenrod in the 880 and senior Brian Griffin in the 120 yard high hurdles and the 180 yard low hurdles.

[With the departure of Coach Kelley, the '66 WHS tracksters found new guidance under Tom Pfaffle. Their presence as a Class B power began to take form early in the season with impressive victories in the Jamestown Quarterback Relays and the Bison Relays in Fargo. The Wild Rice Conference string was extended to two straight and the powerful Warriors won their first of four successive District 1 track crowns. Sophomore Mick Kjar led a contingent of ten Wyndmere boys to Valley City's Hanna Field for the state track meet. Kjar became the first Warrior to win an event at the state meet, finishing first in the long jump. The other nine state qualifiers were: Gary Springer, Steve Anderson, Dave Sanden, LeRoy Fickert, Greg Boyer, Joel Dotzenrod, Paul Dotzenrod, Jeff Anderson and Dennis Krause)

Mick Kjar

Coach George Ziegler unveiled something new in 1966 on the Wyndmere sports scene-the Warriors' first girls track team! The gals started their initial season right, by winning the Wild Rice Conference title in a meet held at Casselton. Cindy Reese, in the softball throw and Marcy Karas, in the hurdles were the standouts on this team, qualifying for state meet competition in their first attempt at the sport.

Little information was available pertaining to Coach Ziegler's 1967 girls squad. Two dozen girls comprised the team, which excelled in sprint relay performance. Peggy Hager, Bonnie Rhymes, Nancy Rudolph, and Paulette Hendricks were consistent point-getters in the 440 relay. Coach Pfaffle's boys squad, however, completed the first of the Warriors' glory years in the sport, notching victories in the prestigious Otter Relays in Fergus Falls, a third straight Wild Rice title, and made it two in a row in District I. Wyndmere entered the '67 state meet as a likely choice to win it all, but came away with a still successful third place finish. Mick Kjar successfully defended his long jump title and ran a leg of the victorious 440 relay team, with team members Greg Boyer, Chuck Haberman and Stu Boyer. Greg Boyer placed in the 100 yard dash, sprinting to consistent times during the season of 10.2 and 10.3.

In 1968, Diane Hager made her first of six appearances in the state meet. This is a record that has been equalled by no other Warrior, and, perhaps, by few other athletes in the entire state. Her consistency in the sprints made her a threat to her competitors every time she stepped into the starting blocks. Blessed with other fine sprinters, the Wyndmere girls had another fine year in both the 440 and 880 relays. Lawrence Hoffman assumed the head coaching position again in 1968, with Doug Groth and Lynn Peterson assisting. The Warriors had repeat victories in the Jamestown Quarterback Relays, the Bison Relays, the Otter Relays, their fourth successive Wild Rice win, and a third consecutive District I performance. The teams' fourth place finish in the state meet, held at Valley City's Lokken Field, fell beneath their expectations, but the competition for the top spot was fierce. Minot Model displayed sprint power that ran head to head with the Warriors, nosing them out in both short relays. Don Thymian, of Minot Model, edged Chuck Haberman in a photo finish in the 880 relay. It took the better part of a half an hour to determine the winner. Joel Dotzenrod was the only Warrior to win an event, as he ran a 2:02.5 to capture the 880 yard run. Mick Kjar leaped a career best of 23'2" in the long jump, only to be edged out by Grandin's Rich Goff on his last jump by 1/2". Kjar, Stu Boyer and Chuck Haberman ran both short relays, teaming with Larry Muehlberg in the 440 unit and with Brad Rhodenbaugh in the 880 relay. Boyer, Jeff Anderson, and Tim Vosberg teamed with Dotzenrod in the mile relay, and Anderson, Gordon Vosberg, and Mick Kjar qualified in individual events. Kjar ran at 15.3 in the high hurdles to finish third.

1969 was a rebuilding year for both the Warrior track squads, but even in reconstruction, both teams were contenders at all regular season meets. Both squads had runner-up performances in the Wild Rice, the girls were second in District l, and the boys finished second in the Bison Relays and the Jamestown Quarterback Relays. The guys did win their fourth successive District 1 crown. State qualifiers included: Diane Hager, Angie Dinger, Patti Schmit, Nancy Anderson, Dave Reese, Brad Rhodenbaugh, Paul Muehlberg, Gordon Vosberg, and for his third year, Stu Boyer. Lynn Peterson and Denise Sailer were the teams' coaches.

Again, in 1970, the Warriors' strength continued to be their relay and sprint depth on both squads. Coach Sailer's girls squad placed third in both the conference and district

meets, qualifying Patti Schmit and Diane Hager for the state meet. This was Patti's second trip in the high jump and Diane's third in the 75, 100 and 220 yard dashes. Wayne Benz assumed the direction of the boys team and witnessed another successful Warrior spring season. Dave Reese and Paul Muehlberg were again mainstays for the second year in the 440 and 880 relays, along with newcomers Tim Vosberg, Don Hager and Jeff Heitkamp. The 880 relay won a state title, Reese placed third in the long jump, and the 440 unit was fourth.

Seemingly riding the wave of the boys' 1971 state basketball championship, both Warrior track squads enjoyed their best year to date. The girls, under the leadership of Coach Jane Hatzenbihler, entered seven girls in the state track meet. Diane Hager was entered for the fourth time in three events, placing for the second year in a row. Patti Schmit qualified in the hurdles this year, for her third trip to the state meet. Other state meet entrants were: Julie Puetz (discus) and Mary Link, Carol Nagel, Shirley Boyer, and Angie Dinger (880 relay). Wayne Benz's boys etched victories in the Wild Rice Conference and District 1, enroute to their slim one point, second place finish in the North Dakota Class B Track Meet, being edged by New Rockford. The Warriors' 880 relay unit successfully defended their state title by clocking a 1:33.8. Terry Rudolph, Jeff Fluto, Paul Muehlberg, and Dave Reese comprised the quartet. However, it was WHS's 440 relay team that set a new state B record of 44.7 in notching yet another state championship effort. Dale Sellner joined Rudolph, Muehlberg and Reese for the victory. Reese and Rudolph finished second and fourth in the long jump and Muehlberg ran a 20.6 in qualifying, to finish second in the 180 low hurdles. 1971 was quite an athletic year in Wyndmere!

Dave Reese, Jeff Fluto, Dale Sellner, Terry Rudolph, Paul Muehlberg.

Something strange happened in the fall of 1971-72 school year. While the football season was again in full swing, runners began working out and attending meets. This was to be the only year Wyndmere would field a cross country team. Coach Groth conducted workouts for nine runners and entered them in a few meets in the southeastern part of the state. In the spring, things returned to normal. Normal meant a fifth trip to the state track meet for Diane Hager and another place-winning performance. The girls 880 relay again qualified. Those accompanying Diane and Coach Jane Benz to the state meet were: Sandy Fluto, Carol Ziegler, Carol Nagel, Patrice Veit, and Mary Link. There were no team championships to note in '72, but seven boys joined the six girls in the trip to state. Those boys included: Chuck Hendricks, Jeff Fluto, Kyle Bailey and Scott McDonald in the 440 and 880 relays; Scott Link, Ron Becker, Bailey and Fluto in the mile relay; and Marty Boyer in the pole vault.

 There was another change of coaches in 1973, as Laura Martin assumed the head position in the girls' program and Dave Lawson directed to boys' fortunes. This was another of those golden years, as Warrior athletes climbed atop the awards platform to accept their state championship trophies in three events. Diane Hager culminated a six-year career by accepting the first place award in the 100 yard dash. She also received the second place award in the 220. The Warrior boys' 440 and 880 relay units also captured the top spot, with Terry Rudolph, Chuck Hendricks, Jeff Fluto and Mark Herbranson handling the baton. Rudolph also qualified in the long jump. Their efforts yielded a second place team finish in the state meet, after winning a sixth Wild Rice Conference title in eight years

 In 1974, Jan Vangsness was the new girls head coach and Shelley Muehlberg became the girls new sprint star. Shelly qualified for the state meet in the 440 relay with Karen Haberman, Kim Braaten and Donna Blazek. Connie Hager and Kathy Stone were state qualifiers in the mile and the 880 respectively. Coach Lawson's boys contingent entered four boys at the state level in the mile relay. Bill Klosterman, Scott Link, Curt lwen and Marty Boyer comprised the unit.

1975 was another of those years when information was hard to attain, but it was one of those valuable learning years for Randy Iwen, a junior hurdler. He made his first trip into state competition in the 120 yard high hurdles, and came away hungry for another shot at it his senior year. The Warrior boys powered their way to a seventh Wild Rice Conference title during the '75 campaign.

Iwen continued his team leadership in 1976, with a state title in the 120 yard high hurdles and a second place finish in the 180 yard low hurdles. Steve Becker and Wes Bailey high jumped at the state meet and Doug Erbes qualified in the shot put. The boys crew added their eighth Wild Rice crown in eleven years and added the school's sixth District 1 title. Bob Tyler and Rod Oksendahl coached the bicentennial Warrior boys. Leann Schroeder guided the gals team to a runner-up finish in the Wild Rice and took two girls to the state meet finals: Karen Haberman in the long jump, and Wanda Jensen, the fourth place finisher in the softball throw.

Sharon Borgstahl and Rod Oksendahl tackled the coaching duties in 1977. The boys team title hopes vanished when sprinter Paul Veit pulled a hamstring muscle at the conference meet. Wes Bailey became the new team leader, establishing a new District I high jump record at 6'I" and going on to the state meet to finish second in the high hurdles and fifth in the high jump. Four girls advanced to the state classic. Included in that quartet were: Donna Blazek,

Yvonne Simdorn, Karen Haberman and Shelley Muehlberg in the 440 relay. This was Haberman's third successive trip to the state meet. Muehlberg also long jumped in the state meet, and enjoyed her second appearance in state competition.

Shelley Muehlberg

Season highlights in 1978 did not include any team championships, but saw seven Warriors advance to the state track meet. Shelley Muehlberg made the best of her third trip into the big meet with a fourth place finish in the 100 yard dash. The boys two mile relay, consisting of Jon Skillings, Jesse Heitkamp, Mitch Strege, and Joel Sanden, ran in the state meet. Tony Laddusaw became the first Warrior to enter javelin competition at the state level since LeRoy Fickert's second qualification in 1966. Wes Bailey capped a fine career with a fourth place finish in the high hurdles, a fifth place finish in the high jump, and being named to a prep All-American team in track.

Wahpeton's Frank Vertin Field was the site of the 1979 State Track Meet, and nine WHS athletes made the 25 mile trip to compete. Tony Laddusaw became the twelfth Warrior trackster to be crowned state champ in the past fourteen years. His toss of 187'7" is also a current school record. Shelley Muehlberg matched her '78 state meet performance in the 100 yard dash, by finishing fourth again in her fourth state meet appearance. The Warrior boys 880 relay unit notched a third place finish, with a foursome of Joel Sanden, Mitch Strege, Don Stallman, and Rich Veit. Strege also qualified in the 880 yard run for Coach Dave Hodgson's trackmen. Tom Tamlyn's girls track contingent also sent Jill McCormick in the 1 10 yard hurdles and the two short relays, Shelley Muehlberg in the long jump and the two sprint relays, and Diane and Deanna Kjar in the 440 and 880 relays. Wyndmere's girls won their first Wild Rice Conference Indoor title in early spring at Wahpeton Science.

In 1980, Wyndmere's Rich Veit bolted to a second place finish in the State Class B Meet in the 100 meter dash and ran a season best 10.9 to rank him as the fastest short sprinter in school history. Jill McCormick placed in two events in the state meet, grabbing fifth in the 200 meter hurdles and a sixth in the 100 meter hurdles. Two other girls, Deanna Kjar and Patti Breuer competed in the state 200 meter hurdle prelims, and the 800 meter relay unit of Leila King, McCormick and the Kjar twins delivered a good effort, but didn't place. Veit, John Becker, Joe Wittenburg, and Steve Sikorski qualified to compete at state in the 400 meter relay, and Mike Frisch, AI and Dan Heitkamp, and Sikorski ran in the 3200 meter relay. Coaches Karen Moreland, Tom Tamlyn, Dave Hodgson, and Chip Lyslo provided the motivation and technical expertise during the 1980 campaign.

Warrior track in 1981 again provided many thrills, beginning with a boys conference indoor championship. Six boys qualified for the state meet in Dickinson, including John Braun in the 400 meter dash, Andy Braaten in the high jump, and Mike Frisch, AI and Dan Heitkamp, and Errol Schoenfish in the 3200 meter relay. The girls fourteen member track team set three new school records, but qualified no one for state competition. Karen David and Dave Hodgson piloted the Warriors in '81 and have continued to do so until the current time.

The Wild Rice Conference team title again belonged to Wyndmere in 1982, as the boys ran away with the trophy. Team standouts who entered state competition were: Tom Breuer in the pole vault, Andy Braaten in the 110 meter high hurdles and the high jump, and the 3200 meter relay unit of Breuer, Tim Herbranson, Errol Schoenfish and Joe Wittenburg. Janelle Lillestol paced the girls by winning the right to run in the state meet in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles.

There was one boys' team title in 1983, that being the North Central Athletic Association championship at Valley City. Janelle Lillestol made a second visit to state competition in the 300 meter hurdles, and Andy Braaten's third attempt at grabbing a state meet medal was successful, as he notched a sixth place finish in the 110 meter high hurdles. Tom Breuer toppled Gary Springer's eighteen-year­old pole vault record, as he leaped 11'6". Janelle Lillestol and Andy Braaten each lowered the school's 300 meter hurdle standards with respective times of 50.98 and 43.68.

Andy Braaten

A blend of veterans and newcomers entered state meet competition in 1984. Andy Braaten became the first Warrior boy to make a fourth appearance in the State B Track Meet, and made good on his opportunity by placing fifth in the high hurdles in school record time of 15.29. Janelle Lillestol made her third trip to the state meet, this year in the 100 meter hurdles. She was joined by Barb Gelinske in the long jump and several boys in the state classic at Valley City. Corey Fluto, Jim Moffet, Joe Breuer, and Brett Johnson ran in the 3200 meter relay; Johnson, Breuer, Braaten, and Scott Kressin ran in the 1600 meter relay; and Brett Johnson threw the javelin. Nine broken school records marked an excellent season by Warrior athletes.

The maroon and gold worn by Wyndmere High School athletes has become a familiar and often-times fearsome sight on North Dakota tracks. The success that the Warrior

athletes have enjoyed over the past quarter of a century should dictate a much longer presence of the sport in our school. Due to many dedicated athletes and coaches, track and field can truly be proclaimed-THE SPORT OF THE WARRIORS!

Wesley Bailey