212 ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HISTORY

1947 - 1974

SACRED HEART

Home

Football and Basketball Records

Final Conference Placing

Sacred Heart High School All-Conference Players

The Early Years

Alden Wickstrom (50) was an All Conference pick in 1947 and 1948.  He scored 15 TD’s in his career.

Alton Dysband (50) was an All Conference football and basketball player in the late 40’s and early 50’s

Jack Davidson (50) was a 3 year starter in football and basketball.  He was selected All Conference in basketball his senior year.

Rod Trongard (50) was an all around athlete in the late 1940’s.  He later became a sportscaster for the Minnesota Vikings.

Jack Gorder (50) was one of the best linemen in the conference in the late 1940’s. He was All Conference in 1949

Jerry Omholt (52) was a very successful student-athlete in the early 1950’s.  He is the only athlete in 212 history to be voted All Conference six times.

Coach LeRoy Norsted was a highly successful football and basketball coach for the Vikings in the early 1950’s.  He also was the principal of the SHS school system.

1949 squad included:
Front Row: G. Fischer, J.Omholt, J.Davidson, J.Gorder, Johnson, Dysband.
2^nd Row: Samuelson, DeGreest, Trongard, C. Gorder, Skalbeck.
Back Row: Slater, B. Davidson, Knutson, Coach Norsted, S.Fischer, Agre Anderson.  
Sacred Heart High School had four consecutive winning seasons from 1949 to 1951.

1950 Vikings: Rod Trongard, Alton Dysband, Jack Gorder, Jack Davidson, Jerry Fischer, Charles Gorder, Jerry Omholt. 
The 1950 Vikings finished with a 16 and 5 record.  The best in SHHS history.  They were runner up to Danube in the conference standings in 1950 and 1951.  Being short in stature, they were an outstanding shooting team that played a great pressing defense.  The Viking “B” Squad went 18 and 1.

The Blue Notes were musicians that formed a Sacred Heart High School Dance Band that entertained and played for local dances. 
The lead saxophone played for the band was all around student-athlete, Jerry Omholt.

Harvey Refsland (61),Keith Gorder (60), Paul Trongard (58) and Archie Ellior (56) in action against Renville in 1954.

Everett Sagness (62), Merle Barnaal (54) and Harvey Refsland (61) in 1954.

1954 212 Conference Runner Up. 
Front Row: Jerry Meyer, Dave Dahlager, Ed Heggerston, Archie Elliot, Dick Deason, Coach Worden, Paul Trongard, Coach Madsen, Ev Sagnes Harvey Refsland, Merle Barnaal, Keith Gorder, Gene Zimmer, (Student Manager, Billy Olsen).
Second Row: John Skoberg, Trygve Anderson, John Docken, Dave Ellefson, Ron Sagness, Bill Kist, John Eitrem, Milan Skalbeck, Don Dahlager,  Sheldon Wickstrom, Otis Odegard, Jim Davidson, Jim Schimming.

A cold and windy October day at the Sacred Heart Athletic Field in 1954.  Picture was taken looking west, toward downtown.

Dave Dahlager scoring the winning touchdown in the first game of the year vs. Echo, 1954.

1955 Conference Runner Up and District 12 Runner Up.
Front Row: Ron Sagness, Dave Dahlager, Archie Elliot, Jerome (Bud) Ashburn, Vern Tebben, Paul Trongard, Dick Deason, Jim Davidson.
Second Row: Coach Tom Kelly, John Docken, Ed Heggerston, John Eitrem, Harvey Refsland.

     The Class of 1955 is considered to be the most athletic class in SHHS history.  Led by 6’6 center Vern Tebben, along with other seniors Paul Trongard, Bud Ashburn and outstanding juniors Dave Dahlager,  Dick Deason and Archie Elliot, and sophomore John Eitrem, the 1955 Vikings were the only team in the conference to beat Renville who were 22 and 2 during the season.  The Vikings finished 16 and 4.

Paul Trongard tries to out run Renville's Junior Groen and Chuck Huselid in the District Finals game.  Number 25 is Jerome Ashburn.

Vern Tebben grabs a rebound in the first game of year against  Brownton. Number 31 is Dave Dahlager, number 20 is Dick Deason.

Jerome (Bud) Ashburn (55) was an outstanding  basketball player for the Vikings in the mid-50’s. He was known as a player that had his best games against arch rival, Renville.

Vern Tebben (55) was a 6’6 center. He scored a record breaking 41 points against Olivia in 1955.

Paul Trongard (55) was one of the outstanding three sport athletes in the conference in the mid-50’s.  He was a three year starter in Football, Basketball and Baseball.

Dick Deason (56) led the Vikings to outstanding seasons in Football and Basketball in the mid-50’s. He was a three year starter as a Quarterback and a All Conference Basketball player in 1956.

Keith Gorder (56)  was one of the outstanding linemen in the 212 Conference in the mid-50’s. He was a two time All Conference player in 1954 and 1955.

Harvey Refsland (56) was a three year starter for the Vikings and a two time All-Conference player in 1954 and 1955.

John Eitrem (57) was a 6’4 center for SHHS.  He was one of the outstanding big men in the conference in the mid 50’s. He was All Conference in 1957.

Jim Davidson (58)  was a two time All Conference selection in Football and Basketball in 1957 and 1958.

Billy Olson (59) was an outstanding three sport athlete at SHHS in the late 50’s.  He was an All Conference Basketball player and scored 638 points in his basketball career.

John Eitrem scores against Renville in 1957 in the Sacred Heart gym.  Eitrem was one of the leading scorers in the conference in 1956 and 1957.

Jim Davidson (58)  drives against Stewart in 1958.  Davidson was a three year starter for the Vikings and  scored 738 points in his career.

Jim Schimming (59) was an outstanding halfback for the Vikings in the late 50’s.  He was a two time All Conference HB.

Jim Schimming scores a touchdown against Hector in 1958.  Schimming scored 19 touchdowns in his football career at Sacred Heart High School.

A scene in the locker room at Olivia after the Vikings upset number one seed, Brownton, in the first round of the 1959 District 12 Tournament.  It was one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota High School history. Front Row: Jim Schimming, Billy Olson, Jerry Romness, Rudy Hoff.  Back Row: LeWayne Benedict, Rog Berge, Donley Ruter, John Homme, Paul Schwinghammer, Sheldon Hovda, Marc Reinerston, Coach Don Lockery, Floyd Flaata.

King Gary Engen (62) and Queen Pam Romness (62).  Engen was a one of the outstanding linemen in the conference for two years.  The 6’1, 190 offensive guard is regarded as one of the best linemen in SHHS football history.  Both students went on to Gustavus Adolphus College.  Engen coached high school football for many years in the Twin Cities area.

Brian Skalbeck (62) was an outstanding football and basketball player at SHHS in the early 60’s.  The 6’4 Skalbeck was a 1962 All Conference basketball player and  one of the leading scorers in the conference.

1962 Sacred Heart High School Cheerleaders: Linda Slater, Pam Romness, Aimee Agre, Marge Homme, Ingrid Evanson, Pat Lueck.

Larry Brown (64) was an outstanding athlete In four sports at SHHS.  He was All Conference in Football and Basketball, and the conference champion in the Low Hurdles.

Jim Roste (65) was a three time All Conference football lineman in the early 60’s.

Howard Dahlager, (65) was an All Conference Football and Basketball player for the Vikings in the mid 60’s. He scored 940 points in his basketball career.

Wally Hagen (68) is considered to be one of best basketball players ever to play at SHHS.  An all around athlete, the 6’2 forward was a two time All Conference selection and scored 978 points in his basketball career.

Steve Williams (69) on the left, and Wayne Anderson (70) on the right, won the 212 Conference Wrestling Tournament in 1969.  Williams went on to finish 2nd in the Region 3 Tournament to qualify to the State Tournament.  Going into the “State meet,”  Anderson had an 18-2-2 record.

Rich Roste (72) was a three time All Conference selection in football as a linemen. He was the younger brother of Jim Roste, who also was selected to the All Conference team three times.

Mike Knapper (72) was an All Conference football and basketball player.  He was one of the outstanding three sport athletes in the conference in 1972.  He scored 987 points in his basketball career which was more than anyone else in SHHS history.

Wayne Anderson (72) lost his only match of the season in the first round of the state tournament to make his final record 25-1 for his senior year. He was the conference champion three years in a row and District 12 champion in 1971 and 1972.

1972 Conference Co-Champion:
Back Row: R. Knutson, L. Imes, M.Knapper, B.Bergstrom, D.Loe,R.Roste, J.Hoberg, M.Kingston, R.Hagen, Coach Grams. 
Middle Row: M.Hoberg, M.Stai, M.Erickson, P.Rustand, P.Knapper, J.Agre, M.Peterson, J.Hoberg, T.Kjersten.
Front Row: D. Loe, P. Hamre, J.Knutson, F.Bjorndal, D. Wolf.

Back Row: B. Schjenken, J.Arends,P.Knapper, B.Bergstrom, D.Frieborg, G.Seehusen, M.Hamilton, Coach Ford.
Front Row: K.Beekman, manager, D. Johnson, T.Kjertsen, S.Swartz, M.Stai, L.Northouse, G.Dikken, manager.

The 1974 SHHS Basketball team is considered to be the best team in Viking history.  Led by twin 6’5 post players,Brian Bergstrom and Don Frieborg, they went on to a 17-3 record, the best in SHHS history. Bergstrom and Frieborg were selected to the All Conference team, Paul Knapper and J. Arends were honorable mention.

Paul Knapper drives in for a easy basketball against Stewart in the SHHS’s  “old” gym.  Number 33 is Don Frieborg and number 35 is Brian Bergstrom.

Brothers Lon and Keith Holien with coaches Tom Vickerman (left) and Ray Miller, ready to leave for the 1974 State Wrestling tournament.

Galen Seehusen (74) won the 880 in the District 12 Meet in 1974.

Randy Ashburn (74) won the 212 Conference Mile Run in 1974.

Paul Anderson (74) won the 212 Conference Championship at 180.

Keith Holien (75) placed in the Conference Wrestling Meet six straight years and winning it 1973, 74 and 75. He was also District 12 Champion in 1974 and 1975 and qualified for the State Meet two years.  Keith Holien won 109 matches in his SHHS career.

Lon Holien (74) was a 212 Conference and District 12 Champion in 1973 and 1974 in the 165 pound class.  In 1974 he won the Region 3 Tournament. Holien was also an All Conference football player in 1973.  He went on to wrestle at Willmar Junior  College and St. Cloud State College, winning championships at both colleges.

Back To Top