Here’s a huge and hearty CONGRATULATIONS to all of this year’s high school graduates! You have passed the “test of time” and accomplished much, while being a part of many worthwhile experiences during your years as students. Best of luck in your future plans — be as positive and flexible as possible!
I would also to express a sincere sense of gratitude and appreciation for the school administrators, teachers and support staff who have certainly needed to be positive and flexible over the past 10 weeks. Your continued commitment to students and your ability to adapt to the mandated changes — resulting from the unknowns of the current corona virus situation — has been a good example of leadership and dedication. Good work!
With graduation pictures taking up lots of space in this week’s issue, I am not going to have a feature highlighting area high school track and field accomplishments from past state meets. The series will return next week with a look at the girls who placed in the high-caliber early-June showcase in the years, 1995-1999.
Among the top performances were back-to-back state championship runs by the combination of Southwest Star Concept (Heron Lake-Okabena) and Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster in winning the girls 4 x 200-meter relay in both 1998 and 1999. As the Silver Bullets of Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield (1988-1997) and as the Quasars of SSC / SV-RL-B, the girls placed in relay races at state-meet competition an amazing total of 10 times during a four-year span from 1996-1999. The girls placed in three relay races three consecutive times, 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Individually, HL-O-L’s Kelli Haar, Adrian’s Lori Hokeness and Fulda’s Laura Wendorff were multiple repeat placers at the state meet in the late ‘90s, while Fulda hurdler Nancy Grandgeorge and Murray County Central pole vaulter Teresa Kramer also placed more than once.
The following week, I will highlight the area boys who achieved state-meet success during those same five years (’95-99). A state championship 4 x 800-meter relay performance by MCC in 1998 — along with the triple jump exploits of SSC’s Ryan Heisinger and the multiple high jumping accomplishments of Ellsworth’s Jobi Coulter, Fulda’s Jeff Baumgartner and SV-RL-B’s Mathias Wilson — will be among those featured.
Enjoy the summer — it has a way of passing by fast!!
