Oscar Hansen Sports correspondent

As a sports correspondent for the Independent the last three years, I have had the chance to watch several state championship teams from this area. A Facebook friend of mine put together some interesting stats that reminded me of all of the Section games I have watched in various gyms in the Southwest part of Minnesota.

Some of those section games have been the most exciting basketball games I have ever watched. Section 3A has produced 13 of the last 28 state championships in basketball, which is pretty impressive.

There have been some dominant teams like Southwest Christian (1999-2002), my hometown team RTR in 2004-05, Ellsworth in 2007-08, and Dawson-Boyd teams from both the late 90s, and the last three years, with a championship last year.

Now you throw in Hills-Beaver Creek, and you know that Southwest Minnesota understands basketball.

Going back to Edgerton shocking everyone by winning the one class championship in 1960, then Marshall in 1963 and Luverne in 1964, it started a pattern of great basketball in the area.

My friend, Terry Porter, was going to meet me for lunch so I could give him some articles he didn’t have about that championship season. I was wearing my RTR state championship T-shirt, and he walked up to me and pointed at my shirt and said, “four classes.” Then pointed to himself and said, “one class”.

I got his message, since there probably haven’t been any 1A schools that could have beaten the larger 3A and 4A schools. They just don’t have the size and the depth to compete. That doesn’t take anything away from the championships that the area schools have won. They were all quite deserving.

But then I got to thinking — there has been more success than just basketball in this area. Minneota, with Haley Fruin and Chad Johnston leading the way, has won multiple championships in volleyball and football.

TMB, with Terry Culhane as the coach, winning multiple championships in both volleyball and girls basketball. Lake Benton winning the state football championships with Kim Nelson, Curt Weber and Jeff Frey. Ruthton won the state in football with the Wabeke boys, Jeff Houselog and Bob Andreason leading the way. Then Russell followed up with a state championship, with Jeff Schultz kicking the game winning field goal.

Canby has had multiple championships in wrestling and cross country. And Reese Drake leading the way, and Dan Westby guiding the teams to State Championships in both basketball and volleyball. I am sure that I have overlooked some teams, since I am doing this from memory. I apologize in advance, since my 75-year-old memory isn’t what it used to be.

When I think back to all of the outstanding athletes and coaches that I have gotten to know personally, I am so blessed to have these people in my life. Many of them have remained in touch over the years, and I always enjoy catching up with them at games or around the area.

In fact, I am now able to watch the kids, and in some cases, the grandkids, of some of those friends. That is a special treat to sit in the stands to catch up on things, and watch the next generation try to achieve the same pinnacle of success that mom and dad, or granpa and gramma had.

And covering the games for the Independent has allowed me even more exposure to expanding my friendships. I am sure that having great families with great athletes is not unique to Southwest Minnesota, but for me, traveling to all the small towns in the area has given me the opportunity to meet some terrific young ladies and gentlemen that I am able to follow in college and beyond.

I have been able to tell some great stories about my experiences (at least I think they are interesting).

This area has had some outstanding individual athletes that gave their schools tremendous success in several sports. Not all of them have resulted in a state championship, but just the chance to be very competitive has to be very rewarding.

And from what I can see from watching all of the underclassmen that are excelling in all sports, the state championships will keep rolling in.

-Oscar Hansen is a sports correspondent for the Marshall Independent