Appleton High School - Part I
West central Minnesota at the junction of #59 and #7
Years Represented: 1907-1934
The history of the first era of Appleton girls high school basketball is documented in a booklet, "Athletics," by former Athletic Director L "Lewie" B. Bredeson.
The years reported are from 1907-1934. Mr. Bredeson reported: "Basketball at Appleton High had its inception in the fall of 1907. And contrary to ideas held by many, girls were the first to engage in interscholastic cage wars."
The first season of boys' basketball was reported in 1913-1914.
The playing court for girls was divided into sections and guards and forwards could not cross the line. Only forwards could score.
The first local playing floor was upstairs in the City Hall, perhaps now better known as the 'Old Opera house." Games were moved to the new school in 1916.
Bredeson's report uncovered newspaper accounts of 125 games between 1907 and 1934. He belived that many games were not reported.
Teams played included: Benson, Granite Falls, Milbank, Webster, Olivia, Ortonville, Graceville, Willmar, Dawson, Milan, Wheaton, Bellingham, Montevideo, Watson, Browns Valley, Madison Normal, Holloway, Madison, Correll and Waubay, S.D.
Team members included a six player lineup: Hazel Dawson and Emma Rodberg, forwards; Emma Arneson and Thina Thompson, centers; Winnifred Hanan and Minnie Thompson, guards; substitutes included Eva Benson and Clara Pearson. The first coach was Miss Madsen.
1909-1909: there was a report of one game against Granite Falls which indicated a victory by a score of 24-12. No team members were listed.
1909-1910: team members included Winnie Hanan and Karlye Pulkrabek, guards; Avis Sloss, center/guard and Hortense DeTunq, center; Lizzie Crough and Esther Benson, forwards.
The newspaper, the Press, reported that, "Granite Falls has refused a return game and our little girls are highly insulted over their conduct."
1910-1911: team members included Nettie Lende, Esther Benson. No other names listed.
1911-1912: team members included Esther Benson, Mabel Benson, Margaret Little, Avis Sloss, Gena Peterson, Karlye Pulkrabek. Esther Benson was the star of the team.
1912-1913: team members were not listed. The team won five games and tied one. Ties were frequently not broken.
1913-1914: team members were Helma Benson, batting center; Marguerite Little, guarding center; Laura Schoeopf and Rose Pulkrabek, guards, and Alma Kerr and Marion Gray, forwards. The coach was Miss Madsen. It was reported, "The Ortonville girls were so badly beaten that they refuse to play another game with Appleton." The girls and boys teams played on the same night against Milbank. A large crowd was present.
1914-1915: team members were Ruth Benson, Olivia Eliseuson, Marion Gray, Valborg Helseth, Margaret Olson, Rose Pulkrabek, Marvel Schoepf.
1915-1916: team members were Ruth Benson, Olivia Eliseuson, Marvel Schoepf, Lucy McGowan, Laurel Schoepf, Margaret Olson, Madelyn Knutson, Florence Nothelfer. Officials were listed as: C.S. Haas, Ortonville and Art Werring of Appleton.
The girls and boys teams frequently played on the same night and traveled by sleigh and train to neighboring towns. Dawson girls and boys teams came to Appleton by sleigh. "Appleton won 15-7, led by the brilliant play of Laurel Schoepf."
In a game which Appleton won against Granite Falls, it was reported, "The result was quite a surprise to the damsels from down the (train)line. Miss Lende entertained both teams with lunch, cards and dance after the games until 2 a.m. when they took the train back to Granite. The Granite girls were 'entertained by a committee of young men recruited from the army of Appleton's best catches.'"
Officials received their share of criticism during those early days. "Dawson met defeat 15-7. Going to Waubay (S.D.), they led 10-7 at halftime but it seems the lady referee knew nothing of the rules and in the second half called an innumerable number of fouls on the Appleton girls and they lost 17-13."
1916-1917: the team was composed of Olivia Eliseusen, Lydia Hendrickson, Isabel Kerr, Madelyn Knutson, Lucy McGowan, Florence Nothelfer, Marvel Schoepf and Sylvia White. Miss Morgan was the coach.
1917-1918: team members were Lydia Hendrickson, Myrtle Knoll, Madelyn Knutson, Lorene Kraft, Dorothy Little, Lucy McGowan, and Sylvia White. The team lost 3, won 1.
1918-1919: team members were Gertrude Eliseusen, Mary Harrison, Lydia Hendrickson, Ruth Johnson, Loraine Kraft, Dorothy Little, Irene McLaughlin and Frances Stotts. Esther Benson was coach. It was reported about the game with Benson, "The work of the girls was so fast that they did the unprecedented, that of not allowing an opponent to ring a basket during the entire game." Appleton won 11-0.
1919-1920: only two players are listed in a report: "Olson and Kraft showed exceptional qualification as basketeers when it comes to guard duty and playing near but not on the color line."
1920-1921; two players were mentioned - Lorene Kraft, Alice Clapp.
1921-1922: team members included Frances Clapp, Ethel Barnes, Vivian Barnes, Dorothy Harrison, Alice Clapp, Camilla Persen, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Ida Nelson, Alice Persen. Coach was Miss Anderson.
1921-1922: "Miss Anderson's cagers for the year were Ethel and Vivian Barnes, Alice and Frances Clapp, Dorothy Harrison, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Ida Nelson, Alice and Camilla Persen."
1922-1923: team members were Vivian Barnes, Alice Clapp, Francis Clapp, Dorothy Harrison, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Lesta Lawrentz and Camilla Persen. Coach Anderson.
1923-1924: Coach Berget's roster included Lesta Lawrenz, Mabel Holtey, Vivian Barnes, Alice Clapp, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Alice Persen and Camilla Persen.
1924-1927: no record of girls basketball games were recorded.
1927-1928: it was reported "this is the first girls team in years." No roster was listed.
1928-1929: 20 girls came out for practice under Coach Miss K.E. Anderson. The team photo shows - Front: Mildred Nelson, Alice Shoening, Valborg Boe, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring. Back: Supt. Youngberg, Josephine Zinda, Virginia Mills, Lola Graves, Marion Maher, Coach Anderson.
Ortonville was the dominant team in the area. A report said that the Appleton girls team played Dawson as a "curtain raiser to the District boys finals."
District 11 Champions.
1929-1930: the Appleton girls team became the District 11 champions. The team photo listed - Front: Alice Schoening, Valborg Boe, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring, Mildred Bartz. Back: Supt. G.T. Rugland, Mildred Nelson, Anna Clapp, Marion Maher, Josephine Zinda, Coach Miss Anderson.
The team won games against Madison Normal, Dawson, Browns Valley and Wheaton, losing only one game against Ortonville with two players out with the flu. The report added, "Wheaton was commended for coming to Appleton in the worst blizzard of the year."
Appleton and Wheaton had the same record and met for a playoff game at Ortonville. Appleton won 19-17 and played Dawson for the District title. Appleton won 29-18 and brought home the District 11 trophy.
1930-1931: team members were - Front: Anna Clapp, Anna Zinda, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring, Frances Anderson, Rose Maher. Back: Supt. G.T. Rugland, Eleanor Gabrielson, Alta Nelson, Mildred Bartz, Thelma Olson, Coach Elsie Krause. Appleton lost any chance to try for a place in the District playoffs when they lost twice to Ortonville.
1931-1932: team members were - Front: Jean Meyer, Shirley Samuelson, Anna Clapp, Anna Zinda. Back: Evelyn Schreck, Rose Maher, Carolyn Passer, Jean Stotts, Coach Elsie Krause. Alta Nelson not pictured.
1932-1933: team photo included - Shirley Samuelson, Jean Meyer, Nell Werring, Nellie Veum, Jean Stotts, Evelyn Schreck, Mildred Evans, Rose Maher, Coach Elsie Krause, Helen Schoening.
1933-1934: the last Appleton girls team of the first era included - Front: Jane Hastad, Mildred Evans, Nell Werring, Dorothy Kerbs, Shirley Samuelson. Back: Helen Schoening, Evelyn Schreck, Irene Shelstad, Nellie Veum, Muriel Risch, Coach Elsie Krause.
L.B. Bredesen's report concluded, "In the spring of the year (1934), the girls organized a Girls Athletic Association and that seemed to put an end to girls basketball. No reason seemed to be given. Contact with the State High School League has been fruitless. They could not provide an answer."
Information from family archives and community publications were gathered by Barbara Zinda Schrupp, daughter of Josephine Zinda. Barbara said her mother loved sports throughout her life. When it was time for the World Series, Josephine would close up her house and notify family and friends that they were welcome after the Series was over.
The years reported are from 1907-1934. Mr. Bredeson reported: "Basketball at Appleton High had its inception in the fall of 1907. And contrary to ideas held by many, girls were the first to engage in interscholastic cage wars."
The first season of boys' basketball was reported in 1913-1914.
The playing court for girls was divided into sections and guards and forwards could not cross the line. Only forwards could score.
The first local playing floor was upstairs in the City Hall, perhaps now better known as the 'Old Opera house." Games were moved to the new school in 1916.
Bredeson's report uncovered newspaper accounts of 125 games between 1907 and 1934. He belived that many games were not reported.
Teams played included: Benson, Granite Falls, Milbank, Webster, Olivia, Ortonville, Graceville, Willmar, Dawson, Milan, Wheaton, Bellingham, Montevideo, Watson, Browns Valley, Madison Normal, Holloway, Madison, Correll and Waubay, S.D.
Team members included a six player lineup: Hazel Dawson and Emma Rodberg, forwards; Emma Arneson and Thina Thompson, centers; Winnifred Hanan and Minnie Thompson, guards; substitutes included Eva Benson and Clara Pearson. The first coach was Miss Madsen.
1909-1909: there was a report of one game against Granite Falls which indicated a victory by a score of 24-12. No team members were listed.
1909-1910: team members included Winnie Hanan and Karlye Pulkrabek, guards; Avis Sloss, center/guard and Hortense DeTunq, center; Lizzie Crough and Esther Benson, forwards.
The newspaper, the Press, reported that, "Granite Falls has refused a return game and our little girls are highly insulted over their conduct."
1910-1911: team members included Nettie Lende, Esther Benson. No other names listed.
1911-1912: team members included Esther Benson, Mabel Benson, Margaret Little, Avis Sloss, Gena Peterson, Karlye Pulkrabek. Esther Benson was the star of the team.
1912-1913: team members were not listed. The team won five games and tied one. Ties were frequently not broken.
1913-1914: team members were Helma Benson, batting center; Marguerite Little, guarding center; Laura Schoeopf and Rose Pulkrabek, guards, and Alma Kerr and Marion Gray, forwards. The coach was Miss Madsen. It was reported, "The Ortonville girls were so badly beaten that they refuse to play another game with Appleton." The girls and boys teams played on the same night against Milbank. A large crowd was present.
1914-1915: team members were Ruth Benson, Olivia Eliseuson, Marion Gray, Valborg Helseth, Margaret Olson, Rose Pulkrabek, Marvel Schoepf.
1915-1916: team members were Ruth Benson, Olivia Eliseuson, Marvel Schoepf, Lucy McGowan, Laurel Schoepf, Margaret Olson, Madelyn Knutson, Florence Nothelfer. Officials were listed as: C.S. Haas, Ortonville and Art Werring of Appleton.
The girls and boys teams frequently played on the same night and traveled by sleigh and train to neighboring towns. Dawson girls and boys teams came to Appleton by sleigh. "Appleton won 15-7, led by the brilliant play of Laurel Schoepf."
In a game which Appleton won against Granite Falls, it was reported, "The result was quite a surprise to the damsels from down the (train)line. Miss Lende entertained both teams with lunch, cards and dance after the games until 2 a.m. when they took the train back to Granite. The Granite girls were 'entertained by a committee of young men recruited from the army of Appleton's best catches.'"
Officials received their share of criticism during those early days. "Dawson met defeat 15-7. Going to Waubay (S.D.), they led 10-7 at halftime but it seems the lady referee knew nothing of the rules and in the second half called an innumerable number of fouls on the Appleton girls and they lost 17-13."
1916-1917: the team was composed of Olivia Eliseusen, Lydia Hendrickson, Isabel Kerr, Madelyn Knutson, Lucy McGowan, Florence Nothelfer, Marvel Schoepf and Sylvia White. Miss Morgan was the coach.
1917-1918: team members were Lydia Hendrickson, Myrtle Knoll, Madelyn Knutson, Lorene Kraft, Dorothy Little, Lucy McGowan, and Sylvia White. The team lost 3, won 1.
1918-1919: team members were Gertrude Eliseusen, Mary Harrison, Lydia Hendrickson, Ruth Johnson, Loraine Kraft, Dorothy Little, Irene McLaughlin and Frances Stotts. Esther Benson was coach. It was reported about the game with Benson, "The work of the girls was so fast that they did the unprecedented, that of not allowing an opponent to ring a basket during the entire game." Appleton won 11-0.
1919-1920: only two players are listed in a report: "Olson and Kraft showed exceptional qualification as basketeers when it comes to guard duty and playing near but not on the color line."
1920-1921; two players were mentioned - Lorene Kraft, Alice Clapp.
1921-1922: team members included Frances Clapp, Ethel Barnes, Vivian Barnes, Dorothy Harrison, Alice Clapp, Camilla Persen, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Ida Nelson, Alice Persen. Coach was Miss Anderson.
1921-1922: "Miss Anderson's cagers for the year were Ethel and Vivian Barnes, Alice and Frances Clapp, Dorothy Harrison, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Ida Nelson, Alice and Camilla Persen."
1922-1923: team members were Vivian Barnes, Alice Clapp, Francis Clapp, Dorothy Harrison, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Ruth Johnson, Lesta Lawrentz and Camilla Persen. Coach Anderson.
1923-1924: Coach Berget's roster included Lesta Lawrenz, Mabel Holtey, Vivian Barnes, Alice Clapp, Gladys Hegvold, Mabel Holtey, Alice Persen and Camilla Persen.
1924-1927: no record of girls basketball games were recorded.
1927-1928: it was reported "this is the first girls team in years." No roster was listed.
1928-1929: 20 girls came out for practice under Coach Miss K.E. Anderson. The team photo shows - Front: Mildred Nelson, Alice Shoening, Valborg Boe, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring. Back: Supt. Youngberg, Josephine Zinda, Virginia Mills, Lola Graves, Marion Maher, Coach Anderson.
Ortonville was the dominant team in the area. A report said that the Appleton girls team played Dawson as a "curtain raiser to the District boys finals."
District 11 Champions.
1929-1930: the Appleton girls team became the District 11 champions. The team photo listed - Front: Alice Schoening, Valborg Boe, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring, Mildred Bartz. Back: Supt. G.T. Rugland, Mildred Nelson, Anna Clapp, Marion Maher, Josephine Zinda, Coach Miss Anderson.
The team won games against Madison Normal, Dawson, Browns Valley and Wheaton, losing only one game against Ortonville with two players out with the flu. The report added, "Wheaton was commended for coming to Appleton in the worst blizzard of the year."
Appleton and Wheaton had the same record and met for a playoff game at Ortonville. Appleton won 19-17 and played Dawson for the District title. Appleton won 29-18 and brought home the District 11 trophy.
1930-1931: team members were - Front: Anna Clapp, Anna Zinda, Myrtle Iverson, Lois Werring, Frances Anderson, Rose Maher. Back: Supt. G.T. Rugland, Eleanor Gabrielson, Alta Nelson, Mildred Bartz, Thelma Olson, Coach Elsie Krause. Appleton lost any chance to try for a place in the District playoffs when they lost twice to Ortonville.
1931-1932: team members were - Front: Jean Meyer, Shirley Samuelson, Anna Clapp, Anna Zinda. Back: Evelyn Schreck, Rose Maher, Carolyn Passer, Jean Stotts, Coach Elsie Krause. Alta Nelson not pictured.
1932-1933: team photo included - Shirley Samuelson, Jean Meyer, Nell Werring, Nellie Veum, Jean Stotts, Evelyn Schreck, Mildred Evans, Rose Maher, Coach Elsie Krause, Helen Schoening.
1933-1934: the last Appleton girls team of the first era included - Front: Jane Hastad, Mildred Evans, Nell Werring, Dorothy Kerbs, Shirley Samuelson. Back: Helen Schoening, Evelyn Schreck, Irene Shelstad, Nellie Veum, Muriel Risch, Coach Elsie Krause.
L.B. Bredesen's report concluded, "In the spring of the year (1934), the girls organized a Girls Athletic Association and that seemed to put an end to girls basketball. No reason seemed to be given. Contact with the State High School League has been fruitless. They could not provide an answer."
Information from family archives and community publications were gathered by Barbara Zinda Schrupp, daughter of Josephine Zinda. Barbara said her mother loved sports throughout her life. When it was time for the World Series, Josephine would close up her house and notify family and friends that they were welcome after the Series was over.
Appleton 1910
Appleton 1912
Appleton 1929