As I spoke with my daughter Lisa last Saturday, I commented about how well this year's teams are doing and that I had picked a good night to attend a girls basketball game last Monday. The girls played well, Coach Knutson had handouts about the "Thumbodies" of 1977, and how wonderful it was to see some of the young women from that team -- Terri Rasche, Lesle Leopold, Judy and Barb Mathias, Cathy and Diane Garoutte, Diane Mathias and student manager Dawn Olson. We reminisced about Betty Burns' unbelievable shot from center court in the game at Pipestone in 1975, as well as the girls basketball program at that time.
Lisa was on the '75 team but was unable to play at Pipestone because of a twisted ankle received when cheering at the boys' game. She acknowledged Coach Marlys Johnson's skill at getting girls sports going in the school, but immediately asked if anyone has ever said "thank you" to Les Knutson.
If they have not, coach, I would like to be one of the first to thank you for the memories, and to thank you for the devotion and passion you have brought to the athletic program in Heron Lake and Okabena.
