Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter)

To better understand this post, you might want to check out the previous post.

Rolfe, Iowa's, 1970-71 Rammette state tournament basketball team. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

On April 16, 2011, in Rolfe, Iowa, our 1971 girls’ basketball state tournament team (including managers, cheerleaders, and coach) and faculty were invited to get together in the early afternoon. Following that meeting, five of the eight attending 1971 teammates got together with other 6-on-6 enthusiasts for a scrimmage.

How did this scrimmage come about? Last fall when I talked with Al Sroufe (RHS ’75) about our celebration, he suggested our having a scrimmage. After all, it had been almost twenty years since the last sanctioned 6-on-6 game in the state of Iowa. Many young women today “know” only 5-on-5. Why not educate regarding 6-on-6?

At the time of talking with Al, I thought a scrimmage might be kind of fun…if I was a spectator! I inquired as to our group’s sentiment and reported back to Rolfe saying that we shouldn’t be counted on for a scrimmage. (Although, from the get-go, Karen and Julie were game for a scrimmage.)

Those in Rolfe really, really wanted to see us scrimmage. If I put myself in their shoes, I would have felt the same. Still, except for Karen and Julie, I think the others of us either thought we’d make a spectacle of ourselves, or, of even greater concern, wanted to avoid injury.

That was until April 9th (one week before the basketball celebration) when my middle-sister Marti (RHS ’66) and I were at the Rolfe gym (now called the RAM Event Center). She and I started shooting baskets. Oh my. What pathetic arm strength I had, barely able to shoot a free throw. (I don’t mean barely able to make one. I mean barely able to get the ball to the hoop.) But, Marti and I endured, sharing nostalgia while shooting. In the period of just a few minutes, we bettered our shooting skills.

I also realized I could dribble twice (the limit in 6-on-6) without looking at the ball and without losing the ball. Victory! I felt so accomplished. I decided right then and there that on my bucket list was, on April 16th, to just once more dribble up the floor and pass the ball to one of my waiting-at-the-half-line forward teammates. I got home, emailed my teammates, and…voilà! A scrimmage was born!

Since, based upon my earlier reports, those in Rolfe were thinking the 1971 team wouldn’t be scrimmaging, they lined up enough local women to provide two teams. The five of us from the team of ’71 had a blast scrimmaging with the local women. I got to fulfill my bucket list dream of bringing the ball up the floor to one of my 1971 teammates. Other than that I pretty much flailed around the court not doing much except having my arms in the air. I excused myself early on; Laurie, Karen and Julie endured much longer than I did. They didn’t have as high a percentage of shots made as in the ’70s, but they brought everything else to the game. Also, Lynn (a fellow guard) played (no flailing on her part) for a long time.

Clicking on these photos will enlarge them. Sometimes clicking twice provides even more magnification.

Pictured is the April 16th "Red Team." If you watch the short video immediately below, you'll hear each one of us introduce ourselves. Karen, Laurie, Julie, Lynn and I played on the 1971 Rolfe girls' state tournament team. If you are wondering what Laurie, Lynn and I are up to in the video, we are working on getting a red shirt for Lynn. Carol Hudson Hallman (Pocahontas '72) played against us in high school. It was fun for all of us to have her come to Rolfe in April to play with us.

.

This next video clip shows the five of us from the ’71 team, as well as other local women on the “red team,” introducing ourselves before the scrimmage began. Al Sroufe is the official in the clip.

.

Here we are before the scrimmage. Officials Larry Pedersen (RHS '75), John Young (RHS '51) and Al Sroufe, as well as a few members of the local "white team" are pictured.

.

For any of us who had forgotten (or never knew them), John Young and/or Al is reviewing for us the basic 6-on-6 rules. John was an official while we were in high school. (Photo courtesy of Karen Vinson.)

.

Julie is shooting. Laurie is in red at the left. Karen is in red at the right. Also, in the photo in white are Kyle and Candace Brinkman's daughter, Sue Reigelsberger and Brenda Reis. (Photo courtesy of Chris Vrba.)

.

Wendy Bennett Panbecker (RHS '87) and Carole Dean Hohensee (Pocahontas '77) are going after a jump ball tossed by Larry Pedersen. (Photo courtesy of Chris Vrba.)

.

In red, L to R,, are Lynn Neugent Debel, Julie Brinkman Mintz, Laurie Brinkman Jensen, Carole Dean Hohensee, and Karen Brinkman Vinson. In white are (foreground) Lori Pedersen and (I think) Joanne Brinkman in the back court. (Photo courtesy of Chris Vrba.)

.

Pictured are Sue Feldman Reigelsberger (played for Terril), Wendy Bennett Panbecker and me. (Photo courtesy of Chris Vrba.)

.

L to R in the foreground are Lori Pedersen (now of Rolfe), Carol Hudson Hallman and official Al Sroufe. In the background on the platform are Bill Shimon (RHS '71), Dick Barrett (RHS faculty in 1971), Bob Allen (RHS '71), Jim Jordan (RHS '71) and Robert Wiegert (RHS '71). Leaning over is Dennis Duerling (faculty and assistant girls' BB coach in '71). On the floor, holding his child, is Dave Duitscher (RHS '89).

.

I have a few photos from the evening program to add. I’ve also got footage of the scrimmage but either will not be posting it, or will save it for a rainy day.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

All of the photos in this post were taken on April 16, 2011, the day of our celebration. Pictured here is the outside of the gym of the Rolfe Community School District. The class of 1990 was the last class to graduate from Rolfe, Iowa. The district is now a part of the Pocahontas Area district. The gym is now owned by the City of Rolfe and is called the RAM Event Center. If you aren't already aware of the details of the celebration or of the history of Rolfe girls' basketball, you may find links for both by copying and pasting the following link into your browser: http://wp.me/PxxiA-2rL

Clicking on any of these images will enlarge them.

As a team, in the locker room we always prayed before and after our games. Several of us thought it fitting that we do the same before our marathon celebration day.

.

The basement locker room is just about the same as always! Damp, for sure. No longer is there that squishy pad that we were supposed to step on (to prevent athlete's foot?) every time we exited the shower. Apparently, until not long before our celebration, this locker room had been pretty dank and would have been unpleasant for us to spend any time there. However, due to vandalism at the school prior to our celebration, some youth had to work community service hours. Some or all of those hours were spent cleaning up this locker room. Laurie was in charge of our locker room get-together. Notice how she even had votive candles to help cover any smell (which there ended up not being much of or none at all...it was quite comfortable). Clockwise from lower left: Pam Van Houten Sukalski (head coach Al Van Houten's daughter), Carol Wiegert Franken, Karen Brinkman Vinson, Linda Pedersen Tutt, Julie Brinkman Mintz, Laurie Brinkman Jensen and assistant coach Dennis Duerling. I know...it doesn't look like we are praying, but we really did ask God to bless the day.

.

For the team, 1971 faculty, and anyone else who wished to attend, a 1:15 program was scheduled in the former home ec. room. Our assistant coach Dennis Duerling shared stories about each of the players. Interesting! (Greg Kaiser is at the left side of this photo. Once a photographer, always a photographer. Just think of all that history Greg covered as owner/editor of the Rolfe Arrow.)

.

It was in the same room as the above and next photo where we spread out the fabric for our red dresses…our team before-and-after games “uniform.” (You can see them in the last video clip in the previous post.) The way I remember it is that Beverly Weigert (who was a former home ec. teacher and mom of teammate Carol) was instrumental in the construction of these dresses.

Here we are at our 1:15 program in the former home ec. room. Dennis provided his introductions after which we took turns with free-flowing conversation from anyone who wished to speak. Hmmm...who knew that some of the teachers used to drink beer in the home ec. room??? And, who knew that Mrs. Pohlman loved her job of teaching so much that at the beginning of one Thanksgiving break she cried because she'd be away from her students for four days?! Or, who knew that the teachers got scolded by Mr. Strickfaden for there being too much of the teachers' laughter heard in the hall outside the teachers' lounge? Our teachers were so dedicated. A common thread of discussion from the "students" that afternoon was that we so appreciated when we got to college and, because of our Rolfe educators, had a leg up compared to many other students, especially in the sciences, math and language arts. Clockwise starting at the far left with Bette Brinkman in the green sweater, Dave Spaulding, Pam Van Houten Sukalski, Laurie Brinkman Jensen, Linda Pedersen Tutt, LeRoy Mann, Robert Detmering, Jill Brinkman Detmering, Linda Lopour's husband, Linda Lopour, Cheryl Rickard Van De Voorde, Jean Brinkman Longnecker, Ilene Pohlman, Roger Pohlman, Bob Liston, Al Gilbertson, Donna Gilbertson, Suzie Liston, Carol Wiegert Franken, Karen Brinkman Vinson, Julie Brinkman Mintz, Louise Gunderson Shimon.

.

We caught a moment after our 1:15 program for a group photo. Front row L to R: Laurie Brinkman Jensen^, Louise Gunderson Shimon^, Carol Wiegert Franken^, Karen Brinkman Vinson^. Middle row seated: Dennis Duerling, Jill Brinkman Detmering+, Cheryl Rickard Van De Voorde+, Deb Zeman Gillespie>, Pam Van Houten Sukalski. Back row: Jean Brinkman Longnecker^, Paulelda Harrold Gilbert<, Connie Henderson Boyd<, Lynn Neugent Debel^, Linda Pedersen Tutt^, Julie Brinkman Mintz^, Karin Zeman Ives<. (Varsity unable to attend: players Michele Pomerenke Piprude^, Lynn Robinson^, Joyce Baade Coburn^, Jeanell Winkleblack Piconi^, manager Mary Martin Field+, and our beloved head coach Al Van Houten who passed away in 1996. Present but not in the photo was Joan Behrendsen Gouge+.)

Seven of the eighteen 1970-71 Rolfe High School faculty members attended the April 16th celebration. Front row L to R: Dennis Duerling, Ilene Pohlman, Roger Pohlman, Dave Spaulding. Back row: Bob Liston, Al Gilbertson, Dick Barrett. (Photo supplied by Linda Tutt.)

.

* * * * * * * *

.

I have more photos to post and will do so, hopefully within the next week. I’m sorry to say that I have very few action photos.

^designates varsity player on the 1970-71 Rolfe girls’ state tournament team

+ designates managers/statisticians for the 1970-71 Rolfe girl’s state tournament team

<designates player on the 1970-71 Rolfe girls’ JV team

>designates 1970-71 Rolfe high school varsity basketball cheerleader

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

This is the Rolfe girls' 1971-72 basketball team. Front row L to R: Michele Pomerenke Piprude, Joyce Baade Coburn, Louise Gunderson Shimon, Carol Wiegert Franken, Karen Brinkman Vinson, Julie Brinkman Mintz. Back row: Head Coach Al Van Houten, Jean Brinkman Longnecker, Lynn Robinson, Linda Pedersen Tutt, Lynn Neugent Debel, Connie Henderson Boyd, Becky Smith Mcmullen, Jeanell Winkleblack Piconi, Assistant Coach Dennis Duerling. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

.

In this post are four videos related to Rolfe, Iowa, girls’ 6-on-6 basketball.

One of the videos is from a game played on February 11, 1972. In this video the Rolfe girls’ 1971-72 basketball team is playing rival Manson at Rolfe. Rolfe won the game, which was the last game of the regular season, by a score of 84-72. With this victory the Rolfe girls secured, outright, the championship of the Twin Lakes Conference. Rolfe’s conference record that ’71-’72 season was 14-0. Manson’s was 12-2 with their only conference losses being to Rolfe.

That 1971-72 conference championship followed the 1970-71 season (the previous season) when the Rolfe girls defeated Manson in the district finals, earning for Rolfe a trip to the 1971 girls’ state tournament.

During the 1971-72 post-season, the opposite happened when Manson defeated Rolfe in the district finals. While that was heartbreaking, to this day when I think of that 1971-72 season, the first thing, and only thing I remember vividly, is what happened after sitting in the bleachers in the Fort Dodge gym watching the game prior to ours. At about the end of the third quarter of that game, in unison our team and managers stood, walked down the bleachers, and along the end of the gym to dress for our game against Manson. We wore our red dresses, which we had made (sewn…which…how many teams do that today?!).

What made that moment in time so spine-tingling and memorable was that three-fourths of the spectators stood, clapped and cheered for us as we were on our way to dress. It wasn’t just “sort of like” or that we imagined or embellished that three-fourths stood and cheered. Nope. Except for the Manson crowd, which was clearly delineated and clearly one-fourth of the spectators, the crowd, including those from the three other districts playing that night, honored us as we walked down those bleacher steps and exited the gym.

There’s no sound, and you see only the Rolfe spectators and a few of the Manson spectators, but use your imagination as you watch the last clip in this post. The first three clips are of tournament games leading to the district finals.

Rolfe (84) vs Manson (72) at Rolfe

for 1971-72 Twin Lakes Conference Championship

Rolfe (76) vs Pocahontas (66) at Pocahontas

Sectional Tournament 1971-72

The next clip is of Rolfe vs Laurens in the sectional finals. According to the February 17th, 1972, Rolfe Arrow, this was the first time the Rolfe girls’ basketball team ever advanced to the sectional finals, and therefore, (again according to the Arrow) the first time in the history of girls basketball that Rolfe took home a sectional championship trophy. (Interesting since the year before, we had gone to State. But…we got to State at the end of the ’70-’71 season without a sectional championship. Just a sectional consolation round victory allowing us to advance to districts.)

Rolfe (71) vs Laurens (64) at Pocahontas

Sectional Championship 1971-72

.

This next clip is of that thrilling (very thrilling) walk to the locker room (mentioned above) with three-fourths of the spectators cheering us on. Thanks to the supporters, teammates and coaches, I have an emotional high every time I think about it.

* * * * * * * *

Click here for a listing of other posts regarding Rolfe girls’ basketball. Several of the posts include videos, as well as photos.

I’m anxious to get this posted. If you are wondering who is whom in any of the videos, let me know or reference the photo at the top of this post. mariongundersonart@gmail.com I’ll probably add some identifiers within the next week or so.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)