PREP FOOTBALL: Verdoes watches as Dutchmen advance

MINNEAPOLIS — The last time Dean Verdoes saw his beloved Edgerton High School represented in a state tournament, he was celebrating a state championship as a starter on the legendary 1960 basketball team that made Edgerton the smallest school ever to win the Minnesota basketball boys’ state championship.

After moving to Minneapolis, never in his 51 years since graduating had Verdoes seen his Flying Dutchmen represented in the state tournament.

Friday changed all that, as Edgerton/Ellsworth took the field to take on Ada-Borup in the state semifinals at the Metrodome with Verdoes working as a band host for the tournament. It was an experience Verdoes had been so close to experiencing.

“The last couple of years, Edgerton has been right on the border of making it to the Dome and every year I watch the score and I’m just heartbroken that they can’t quite make it,” Verdoes said. “I kept watching scores all year long, so I figured they’d have a good chance.

“It was great. I was up at 6 a.m. this morning because I wanted to get a chance to talk to the coaches and see people I knew.”

Verdoes may have left Edgerton, but Edgerton never left him.

“Edgerton will always be dear to my heart,” Verdoes said. “It was a great place to go to school.

“You live in a small town, you move away and life goes on, but it’s still always home.”

Just seeing E/E play was special to Verdoes, but the fact the Flying Dutchmen defeated Ada-Borup 48-20 wasn’t too shabby either.

“It was wonderful to see them play,” Verdoes said. “They looked great and I was as happy as can be.”

Thanks to the victory, Verdoes has another date with his favorite team at 10 a.m. Friday back at the Metrodome. Once again, he’ll be on the sidelines bright and early.

“I’ll be here next Friday at 6:30 in the morning ready to go.”

Tags: edgerton ellsworth, sports, prep, football