by Les Knutson
Sports Reporter
Starting with John Bunkers, FHS has been blessed with quality track and field coaches
With John Bunkers as the driving force, construction began in 1973 on Fulda’s new track and field facility on the north side of the high school. Supporting the plan were long-time FHS superintendent Alex Fisher, along with school board members Duane Jans, AW Koopman, Robert Horn, Don Stewart, Dale Brock, Chuck Holinka and Tom Webb.
The hard-surfaced track was ready for competition the following spring and the Raiders hosted meets there during April of 1974 when Grand Funk Railroad was climbing Billboard’s Top 40 with its remake of Little Eva’s 1962 hit record, “The Loco-Motion,” and Blue Swede was doing the same with “Hooked On A Feeling,” which was recorded years earlier by B.J. Thomas.
“Seasons In The Sun” by Terry Jacks, which had topped the charts throughout March, was still popular when Fulda’s inaugural meet — the Fulda Invitational — was held on April 18 with nine schools participating in boys’ only competition.
Fulda scored 80 points to win the team title, while Jasper finished a distant second with its score of 56. Edgerton (41 points) was third, followed by Adrian (29), Southwest Christian (20), Brewster (18), Chandler-Lake Wilson (13), Tyler (9) and Minneota (2).
Senior hurdler Tom Schreiber, junior sprinter Steve Verdugt and junior all-around performer Brad Holinka each had big days for the Raiders in that first meet, hosted by FHS.
A few days later, the girls held a triangular meet on Fulda’s new six-lane track with Magnolia and Southwest Christian joining the Raiders in a small event, two seasons before most meets began being staged together.
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