Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter)

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

Referring to Part I and Part II will help explain this post. All three posts include photos from the April 16, 2011, celebration of Rolfe, Iowa’s, road to the 1971 girls’ state basketball tournament.

For links to video and a radio broadcast of Rolfe girls’ 6-on-6 basketball from the early 1970s, click here. At that link you’ll also find links to general information about the history of Rolfe girls’ basketball.

Clicking on these photos will enlarge them.

Dave Spaulding (Rolfe faculty from 1966 to 1983) was kind enough to send to me this photo from the April 16th celebration. I was available for the photo because I opted out of the scrimmage much sooner than the rest of the women scrimmaging that day. While the red and gold uniform is of a different (but similar) style than the uniforms we wore in 1971, in this photo I am wearing a vintage Rolfe uniform, and back then I did wear #53.

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Kneeling L to R: Laurie Brinkman Jensen (RHS '71), Wendy Bennett Panbecker (RHS '87), daughter of Gus (RHS '74) and Nancy Brinkman. Middle Row: Louise Gunderson Shimon (RHS '73), Sue Feldman Reigelsberger, Karen Brinkman Vinson (RHS '72), Meg Vinson, Lynn Neugent Debel (RHS '74), Abby Hohensee (Pocahontas '07), daughter of Kyle (RHS '81) and Candace Brinkman. Back row: Julie Brinkman Mintz (RHS '74), Jolene Duitscher (red shirt), Joanne Brinkman (white shirt), Carole Dean Hohensee (Pocahontas '77), Tammy Pederson Shimon (RHS '83), Pam Radig, Lori Pedersen (currently from Rolfe), Brenda Reis (currently from Rolfe), Carol Hudson Hallman (Pocahontas '72).

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This is Rolfe's victory bell. Ok, so the Pocahontas Area superintendent says it is technically the property of the Pocahontas Area school district. But, in our hearts we know it belongs to Rolfe. (The district has offered it to Rolfe on a long-term loan basis.) Since sometime around the closing of the Rolfe school as an attendance center, the bell had resided outside the Pocahontas school building. However, there was a faction using its creative juices to figure out a way to get the bell back to Rolfe. The way I heard it was that the superintendent listened to reason, checked with the powers that be, and offered the bell on the loan basis. The bell returned to Rolfe just two or three days before our April 16th celebration. (Wasn't it nice for some of those Rolfe people, and even some that no longer are from Rolfe, to want so badly to get that bell returned in time for April 16th?! Their desire and having the bell present added to the spice of the event.)

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Pictured are the eight attending 1971 state tournament teammates with Rolfe's (loaned) victory bell. The bell had been painted white by the Pocahontas Area district. There is also lettering on it (something to have to do with PAC). In his excitement due to the bell being returned and ready for April 16th, Greg Kaiser doctored it up to once again become ROLFE'S (again...loaned) victory bell. The crepe paper on the bell was purchased by Greg at Calligan's Sundries. This crepe paper was from Greg's last two rolls, the same rolls that Greg used for the 1989 homecoming parade, with was the Rolfe district's last homecoming parade before it (the Rolfe district) was absorbed by Pocahontas Area. L to R: Carol Wiegert Franken (RHS '72), Karen Brinkman Vinson (RHS '72), Lynn Neugent Debel (RHS '74), Louise Gunderson Shimon (RHS '73), Julie Brinkman Mintz (RHS '74), Linda Pedersen Tutt (RHS '73), Laurie Brinkman Jensen (red shirt, RHS '71), Jean Brinkman Longnecker (striped sweater, RHS '73).

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John Young (RHS '51) started out as an official for junior high games. Then Al Gilbertson (high school faculty member and also athletic director) talked John into going on the road with Al to officiate. At the April 16th celebration, John spoke of his officiating experiences, including about sixty rule differences between girls' and boys' basketball.

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L to R: Karen Brinkman Vinson, John Young, Laurie Brinkman Jensen. Laurie is illustrating how, during jump ball situations, to get the tip she would hold down the arm of the opposing team's jumper.

The evening program was the last officially scheduled component of the celebration. Afterward, many of us ended up at Wes’ Place in Rolfe for more togetherness and to enjoy the music provided by Al Sroufe… and, for closure of such a memorable day. Not closure on relationships, though.

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P.S. Those of us from the 1971 basketball team are so very thankful for the willingness and hard work from RAM and RBI and other community members who helped make this celebration possible. Thank you.

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.)

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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.)

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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.)

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

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.)

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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.)

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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

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Rolfe (76) vs Pocahontas (66) at Pocahontas

Sectional Tournament 1971-72

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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

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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.

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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.)

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

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Below are video segments from two Rolfe girls’ basketball games during the 1971-72 season (the year after we went to Iowa’s state tournament). 1971-72 was my junior year. That year our team was minus Laurie Brinkman (Jensen) who graduated the previous spring. During her senior year Laurie led the Twin Lakes conference by averaging 39.6 points per game. She left big shoes that, beginning with the 1971-72 season, were filled by Julie Brinkman (Mintz) who was a freshman when Laurie was a senior.

I remember my dad (Deane Gunderson) would wear his long-sleeved dark red shirt to every one of our basketball games. He also filmed many of our games. The next business day, following each filmed game, he drove to Fort Dodge to deliver the film to the Don Peterson (sp) studio where the film was developed. He then ran the movie reel back to Rolfe so Mr. Van Houten could critique it for us during practice. For the critiquing he and the varsity were in the darkened art (I think?) room on the first floor of the older part of the building while the JV practiced in the gym. (The gym still stands; the art room does not.)

Toward the end of this post is the key* to players in the clip immediately below. The key** for the second clip is also included.

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*First clip — Forward court: Julie Brinkman (Mintz) #21 [short blond hair]; Karen Brinkman (Vinson) [short medium-brown hair]; Carol Wiegert (Franken) [short dark hair]. Guard court: Joyce Baade (Coburn) [medium-length blond hair]; Louise Gunderson (Shimon) [long dark hair in pigtails]; Jeanell Winkleblack (Piconi) short medium-brown hair. Toward the end of the clip: Lynn Neugent (Debel) [below-shoulder-length dark hair in pigtails].

**Second clip — Forward court: Julie #20; Karen #44; Carol #34. Guard court: Joyce #32; Michele Pomerenke (Piprude) #12 [medium-length medium-brown hair partially pulled back], Lynn #24.

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

Below is footage of our game when the Rolfe girls’* played against Mediapolis at the state tournament at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. Rolfe was a Cinderella team; Mediapolis was a veteran state tournament team.

I believe the game was filmed by the Iowa girls’ athletic union. I’m not sure why, but on the 16mm reel that I have, there are not 32 minutes of play. (I.e., part of the game is missing.)

I guarded Barb Wischmeier. She was so tall that to set a screen she had to bend over for her teammates to see over her. You can see her doing that several times in the film. Barb scored 37 points against us and just a skosh more against Allison-Bristow and eventual-champion Farragut. In Mediapolis’ next game (after us), which was against Montezuma, Wischmeier scored 71 points.

Rolfe either scored more than any other team against Mediapolis that year, or else maybe only one or two other teams scored more than we did against Mediapolis. Whatever the case, Rolfe’s forwards scored a lot of points. Mediapolis’ forward court with the high scoring pair of Wischmeier and Mary Schulte was too much for us.

I have probably a couple more weeks of video and articles to post regarding the 1970-71 and 1971-72 Rolfe girls’ teams. Then I’ll get back to my usual variety of topics.

Rolfe (75) vs Mediapolis (103)

Veterans Auditorium, Des Moines, Iowa

March 10, 1971

I have to say that I’m still on cloud 9 after the April 16th celebration. I’ve heard only positive comments about the event. A true litmus test as far as the event’s success is that two people from Rolfe…both people associating with many people…told me as recently as today that they had not heard a single solitary negative comment. Both told me that is very unusual, no matter what type of event. No kidding! Hearing their pulse-on-the-community reports should give warm fuzzies to everyone involved.

It really was a sweet weekend, all the way from hearing two good bands at Wes’s Place in Rolfe to listening to John Young at the RAM Event Center (the former Rolfe school) tell about how he got his start in officiating. (I didn’t know it was Mr. Gilbertson who got John started.) We players got to work with each other once again on the floor during an afternoon scrimmage. (I was so proud of myself that I could still, barely, bring the ball up the court!) Of course, sharing memories with teammates, managers, cheerleaders and faculty in the afternoon and into the evening was the double-thick layer of icing on the cake.

Eight members of the 1971 state tournament girls’ varsity team attended, as well as three JV teammates, three managers and I think two cheerleaders. Also, the class of ’71 (of which Bill is a member) piggy-backed on the basketball celebration and had a class reunion. Faculty members who returned were Dave Spaulding, Dennis Duerling (our assistant coach), Al (and Donna) Gilbertson, Roger and Ilene Pohlman, Bob (and Suzie) Liston and Dick Barrett. And…our Rolfe community!

As my Great-aunt Ruth would say, “Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!”

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*Starters in the forward court were Laurie Brinkman (Jensen) [pigtails], Karen Brinkman (Vinson) [short medium-brown hair] and Carol Wiegert (Franken) [short dark brown hair]. Starters in the guard court were Joyce Baade (Coburn) [blond hair not pulled back], Michele Pomerenke (Pipurde) and Louise Gunderson (Shimon) [long dark hair not in pigtails]. Lynn Neugent (Debel) [dark long hair in a ponytail] played most of the game, especially after Michele Pomerenke was injured. Toward the end of the game the bench was substituted in including guards Jeanell Winkleblack (Piconi) [short medium brown hair] and Linda Pedersen (Tutt) [long blond hair] and forwards Julie Brinkman (Mintz) [short light blond hair, more at the bottom of the screen], Jean Brinkman (Longnecker) [short medium blond hair] and Lynn Robinson [shoulder length blond hair].

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

Words cannot express how phenomenal this celebration weekend was in Rolfe. While I’ve received many very, very gratifying thank-yous, those same thank-yous go to the team and those in the Rolfe-and-beyond community who helped make the day/evening a success by volunteering their elbow grease, time and expertise, by contributing funds, by attending AND by offering their enthusiasm. Absolutely priceless.

I’m unwinding, sort of. There’s so much I want to say, although, I don’t know if I will say much because words seem so inadequate. Whatever I post about the weekend might take a little while. Perhaps check back in a week or two. Hopefully I’ll have something posted by then.

For certain, by Friday of this week I’ll post video of more Rolfe girls’ games from the early ’70s, and maybe even a Rolfe boys’ game or two.

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

Here is the radio broadcast to the second quarter of the 1971 Rolfe vs Manson girls’ basketball district final game at Fort Dodge: 1971 Rolfe vs Manson District Final Girls’ BB game at Fort Dodge: 2nd quarter

I posted the first quarter audio yesterday and will post the final two quarters this week. The game ended in overtime. Unfortunately I do not have the audio from the overtime.

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

From the November 12, 1970, Rolfe Arrow. Notice all of the sponsoring Rolfe businesses listed at the bottom of this ad. The bound volume containing this ad will be on display at the Rolfe Public Library this Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 9:30 AM until 12:30 PM. It will also be available at the library this Friday from 3:00 until 5:00. (Click twice on the image to enlarge.)

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Each day of today through Friday I’ll post the audio* to one quarter of play from the Rolfe vs Manson girls’ basketball district game…the game to go to State! That game ended in overtime. I’m reluctant to say that I do not have the minutes of overtime audio (i.e., after the regulation period buzzer sounded). We’ll just have to imagine the play-by-play of the overtime. For now…here’s the first quarter (about 16 minutes), ending with the mention of local businesses sponsoring the broadcast. Enjoy! I’ll post the second quarter tomorrow.

My favorite quote from the first quarter is, after Laurie Brinkman makes a layup, “You’d almost say it’s a power layup, if you could use that term for girls’ basketball!”

To listen click on the following link:

Rolfe vs Manson Girls’ BB Regional Final 1st quarter

In case you aren’t already aware, the team and community (which we feel extends beyond Rolfe) are celebrating in Rolfe this Saturday, April 16th. The agenda for the day is here.

Also, links to other Rolfe girls’ basketball-related postings, including video are here: www.mariongundersonart.com/6on6/

I’ll post more video after the celebration…including some video of Rolfe boys’ basketball.

For kicks and giggles I’m also posting a portion of the D.A.R.T. (the student portion of the Rolfe Arrow) from November 26, 1971.

From the November 26, 1970, issue of the Rolfe Arrow. All of the authors of columns in this image were involved with the Rolfe girls' basketball team that went to State in 1971. Jean Brinkman, Lynn Robinson and Louise Gunderson (me) were all on the varsity team. Jill Brinkman was a manager for our team. (Click on image to enlarge.)

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*I believe Bob Brown is one of the announcers on this Fort Dodge radio station broadcast.

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

At the bottom of this post is video from the December 4, 1970, Rolfe vs (most likely) Rockwell City girls’ game.

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In the photo below are the most probable starters for the 1970-71 Rolfe girls’ basketball team. That team eventually played in the state tournament at the end of that same season. One of those probable starters pictured is Cynthia Lanning. She was a starter until she was injured early that 1970-71 season, after which she did not return to competition. I think I played just a little before she was injured; after she was injured I took her place as a starter.

The previous year I played forward. At the beginning of the 1970-71 year, assistant coach Dennis Duerling had a chat with me asking if I’d be willing to switch from forward (which I had played in my 1969-70 freshman year) and instead play guard. That was probably a good idea since I didn’t make very many baskets when I was a freshman playing on the junior varsity team. And, I don’t think I shot the ball very much during that freshman year. In fact, I think I shot the ball so little that for the JV game at Manson during my freshman year, my dad said he’d pay me for each field goal I made.

Man alive, I shot and shot and shot, not making any of those two-pointers. However, I did make five free-throws during that game…for which I did not get paid! (Free-throws were not a part of the bargain.) That was the only game there was ever even a hint from my dad that I should shoot more. That type of thing was not indicative of him, but I think it makes for a good story.

Further below is video from a game played in the Rolfe gym (now known as the RAM Event Center where we will have our community celebration on April 16th). Rolfe is in the white uniforms. A couple of us think the opposing team forward with the medium brown long pony tail is Teresa Bond. Teresa played for Rockwell City…so we think this video is of Rolfe vs Rockwell City on December 4th, 1970*.

That Rockwell City game was our fourth game of the season. In this footage (below) Cynthia Lanning is playing toward the beginning, and I’m playing later in the footage. The stats for Cynthia indicate she played 19 quarters that season, which makes me wonder if it was during this game that Cynthia was injured.

This photo is from the November 12, 1970, Rolfe Arrow. (Click on image to enlarge.)

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In the forward court for Rolfe (white uniforms) the players are as follows according to hair style: Laurie Brinkman (two shoulder length pigtails), Carol Wiegert (short dark hair) and Karen Brinkman (short medium brown hair). In Rolfe’s guard court it is a little more difficult to differentiate because we have three guards with about chin-length medium brown-to-blond hair. They are Michele Pomerenke, Joyce Baade and Cynthia Lanning. Later in the game I come into the picture (long dark hair) as Cynthia’s replacement.

At the mid-point of this video there is blank footage, which may appear to be the end of the video. It is not the end. There is about a 30-second segment of blank footage between the ~first 3 minutes of video (Rolfe’s forwards) and the ~last three minutes (Rolfe’s guards).

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*December 4th, 1970, also happened to be the night of Bill’s and my first date. I was a sophomore; Bill was a senior. What did we do on that first date? After the boys’ game, we took Bill’s “little” brother, Rich, home. Then Bill and I went to the high school dance in the Rolfe school’s basement-lunchroom where I’m pretty sure In-A-Gadda-DaVida was played.

A YouTube video of Iron Butterfly performing In-A-Gadda-DaVida is here.

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