The following story was written by my uncle, Paul “Bud” Hanson for The Red Raider Book compiled by the Ellendale Historical Society in 1990. It seemed appropriate to look at during this Homecoming season.
High school athletics at Ellendale High School during seven decades necessarily had high and low points just as business cycles or our personal lives.
Perhaps some of the most easily recognized names were the Christensen brothers of the early years of our high school. The twins, Don and Dan, and brother "Hap," were leaders of a very good basketball team and the twins were the pitcher and catcher of an excellent baseball team, and one recalls Don coming down to baseball practice to throw a "few pitches" and it was this writer's moment of glory to have the opportunity to be his catcher. One could only marvel at the assortment of pitches, and the great control he had - and it sure made a novice catcher look, and feel, good!
Another brother combination in baseball of that time was Milton "Pete" and Lloyd Ellingson.
Football for the first number of years was something that only a few of the big schools played because of the cost, so baseball and basketball were the two sports supported in high school. When football was proposed at Ellendale High, many were not in favor of the sport because of some of the injuries that were the result of poor equipment. Prominent names of the early years of football were Frank and Gunnar Anderson, Quentin Lawrence, Adrain Lee, Howard Langlie and others. It was naturally tough to compete with schools that had a head start in the football program and to obtain a coach who understood the game. Little did anyone realize that Ellendale High was about to enter what some called the "Golden Years." Others called them the "Glory Years," as our school was about to embark not only into some exceptional years in sports, but in many new, innovative programs in music, business courses, drama, and academics brought on in part by an influx of new teachers fresh from college who dared to be different.
The "Glory Years" started surprisingly enough with a strange quirk in tactics by the State High School League, as they allowed spring football practice on a one-time basis. It was not only an opportunity for many underclassman to try out for football, but for a comparatively unknown history-science teacher named Maynard Seimers to coach the program as the regular coach was tied up with baseball. With only four letterman back from the previous team and two of them out for baseball, the only experienced players to assist Coach Seimers were Lyle "Stonewall" Finch and James "Windy" Wayne, two stalwarts who would anchor the line in the fall at tackle. It is hard to describe how "football mania" set in, for the paper, Ellendale would field a team with no experience, no size and one that would be fortunate to win a single game, new coach and all. Yet the business community, school board, and interested people contributed to put lights on Ertel Field before the season started. Members of the football team and other citizens took turns hand digging the large holes needed for the poles, and the lights were turned on for the first time a couple of nights before the first game. With a starting team composed of four seniors, four juniors, and three sophomores, Ellendale squeaked out it's first victory with a 12-6 win over an experienced Hayfield team, followed by slender victories over Janesville and Blooming Prairie. Traveling to Grand Meadow, it seemed as though the win streak would stop at three as a combination of jitters, "hometown officiating" and a poorly marked field had the team on the ropes for the first half. The Larkers were about to make their biggest mistake, however, as one of the players belted "Stonewall" Finch in the mouth the "Stoney" promptly started to roll up the offensive line of the Larkers. The team settled down and walloped the Larkers 34-7; another squeaker win over New Richland 12-2 and the team stood at 5-0 for the year. Despite putting on a show of confidence for the team, Coach Siemers spent a sleepless night before the Freeborn game and told his wife of a few months, "This team has already gone much further than they possibly should have and now they will be up against a senior dominated team of large-sized players and it doesn't seem likely that we can once again be victorious." After a scoreless first half, the Raiders gradually pushed the larger Yeomen back and punched in two scores of a very hard earned and well played 13-0 decision. A follow up victory over Alden gave the team a 7-0 undefeated season and gave indications of some of the good years to follow.
Success breeds success. A good basketball season was followed by an undefeated baseball season and everyone looked forward to the 1940 football season, as now the team had a seasoned squad. Looking at the team pictures of 1939 and the team pictures of 1940, it is apparent that the lightweight team of 1939 had grown considerably in size and weight, with experienced players in all positions, had little trouble defeating all opponents on its way to scoring a record 353 points to opponents’ 0. The only suspense during the year was, would a fluke allow somebody to score? Many of the players remarked that the toughest games they played all year were against each other in practice as the Raiders certainly were able to field three full teams that would have gone undefeated that year. Forty two lettermen were available for Coach Seimers the following year, led by All-State halfback Lloyd Loven and All-Conference tackle Buck Goodnature, three years running. Brother combinations during those years were Harlan and Luvern Peterson, Stan and Louie Lageson and the Swearingen twins, Merlyn and Marlyn. Support also came from the Miller brothers, Leroy "Bud" and younger brother Alan, as well as a host of better than average athletes. The only thing that prevented the 1941 team from again going 7-0 was a terrible blizzard on the last night of the season that the opposing team did not want to reschedule. The 1942 team also went 7-0, and the victory string reached 27 before the bubble burst. During this string of victories with the football team there was a 95% success ratio in basketball and a couple more baseball championships. Bear in mind that in those days separate classifications were not held in different sized schools. Football players were expected to go both ways because of substitution rules. By a strange coincidence, the U of M also won National Championships during Ellendale's glory years and surprisingly enough with mostly Minnesota players. 'Twas said that University Coach Beirman drove the country until he saw a farm boy plowing with a walking plow. He would stop and ask directions, if the boy used the plow to point, he became a Golden Gopher. Because of their contributions, perhaps this era could be called the "Loven-Peterson-Miller brothers" era, but so many great athletes contributed to the string, that one hates to single out too many for fear of overlooking some valuable contributors. Most of the athletes from those teams were to play for Uncle Sam instead of a college, as their services were required in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and European theaters of World War II. Coach Siemers went on to coach at Faribault where his teams won several Big Nine Championships in football and basketball, with a state tournament winner in basketball. Those who played for "Coach" can remember his philosophy: "Play hard, but play clean. Should I ever catch you playing dirty you will be turning in your uniform." "Coach" also stressed that the athletes of Ellendale High School were role models for the younger kids. He encouraged his athletes to go out of their way to talk to the elementary kids and encouraged them to work diligently to become Ellendale Raiders. He was a perfectionist who believed in fundamentals, clean play and firm discipline. No matter that some of his teams were high scoring machines, Coach Seimers had a way of deflating some fairly large egos, both during the game and during the season, and did not hesitate to pull star players if they believed they were bigger than the team.
There would be other undefeated teams in Ellendale history, there would be other fine athletes to compete in, not only baseball, basketball, or football, but in wrestling and track as well; but the memory of the first undefeated team, the new lighted field, the fan interest and community pride in the Ellendale teams of the "Glory Years" set the standard for years to come.
Although, the war years took their toll on coaches, interim coaches on a volunteer basis still brought back some state championships in baseball. Perhaps, one of the most noted of these was Dale "Fuzzy" Haug, who as an underclassman was still good enough to pitch for the Owatonna Aces of the very tough Southern Minnesota Baseball League during the summer season. Who can forget the championship won at Carleton College when with two out, the Raiders behind 0-1, and Gil Nelson walking, followed by a ricochet hit by Don "Stretch" Whitcomb that went for an inside-the-park home run and the Raiders winning 2-1?
Football, basketball and baseball have reached many "golden moments" since then and provided hundreds of hours of enjoyment for the spectators, as fine young players passed through our school system and gave the sport of their choice their "all". Each era seemed to produce its' own star players. Ellendale went on to add wrestling, track, and cross country to it's athletic program and sent many a good athlete on to district, regional, and state competition.
One of the things that sort of got buried in the background was girls’ athletics. During the early years of Ellendale High the girls fielded an excellent basketball team led by Helen Todd. Obviously, the state high school league decided that it was unladylike for girls to participate in strenuous exercise and they should be confined to activiies such as cheerleading and home economics or something, as it was almost another forty years befere the girls once again were allowed to participate in athletics. The "Raiderettes" excelled in basketball, volleyball, and softball and brought more than their share of trophies to the showcase in the lobby.
Just out of curiosity, how many of the gold, watch-chain football, emblematic of the 27-game winning streak, could still be found? Certainly, a great keepsake for those who still have them!
— — —
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.
If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail,
P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:
Thursday, Oct. 10: Pat Goodnature, Trevin Stollard, Aarin Gray Pirsig, his 2nd; Eric Anderson, Nicole Anderson Loken, Luverne Hamor, Haley Hanson, LeRoy Ingvaldson, Nicole Lonning, Betty DeRaad, Elena Grace Spande
Friday, Oct. 11: Alisha Moody, Reed Michael Kath, Mitchell Edwards, Ebonie Mullenmaster, Earl Klinger, Mayro Leak Kubista, Melissa Otto, Jenna Swearingen, Mike Trumble, Cory McGrath, Shawna Besco, John Cyr, Alisha Moody, Lee & Jody Loverink
Saturday, October 12: Katilyn Olivia Crabtree, Les Shawback Jr., Christopher Wallace, Beth Spande, Marilyn Dobberstein, Terrie Mullenmaster, Maurice Mullenmaster, Vikki Pence, Roxann Ditlevson, Lewis Kelly, Denise Jensen Bronner, Charlie & Becky Phagan, Larry & Terry Jensen, Vera & Todd Fitterer
Sunday, Oct. 13: Hunter Stephen Knutson, his 9th; Journey Lynn Utpadel, Hunter Stephen Knutson, Courtney Ann Deml, Otto Nels Oquist, Mitchell Wallace, Jackie Flor, Rita Thompson, Suzanne Peterson, Mikkel & Jennifer Iverson
Monday, Oct. 14: Jim Lutgens; Reece Alexander, Chris Ritz, Janet Goette, Dan Hanson, Breanna & Tim Briedenbach, Delana & Daniel Routh
Tueday, Oct. 15: Barb Kuckebecker, Madison Lynn Homuth, Corbin Brocker, Colin Matthew Felt Farr, Tony Anderson, Sandy Jensen, Ed Ver Hey, Leroy & Garnet Folie, Heidi & Tim Schaefer
Wednesday, Oct. 16: Kade Schember, Jenny Shaunce, Sabrina Marie Bauers, Allie Larson, Donna & Gordon Hanson, Daniel & Regina Van Kampen, Jamie & Amber Jensen, Travis & Stacy Ingnaszewski
Thursday, Oct. 17: Lucas Bailey, Pat Wayne, Dale Strenge, David Killian, Sherrie Dahl, Dustin Wayne, Pam & Rick Cook, Sidney & David Kasper, Andy & Mary Ditlevson
Friday, Oct. 18: Gordon Jensen, Carrie Nolan Allen, Deloris Nelson, Andreas Quinn Vu, Stan & Cindy Nelson, Randy & Cindy Horan, Tait & Jennifer Ingvaldson, Carol & Larry Cox
May every day in the year ahead bring you something to enjoy!
