Donald Strom – Coach

Red Wing Class of 1940

Football – Big 8 Conference Champs 1939, All State Center 1939

College – Luther College Class of 1947; Football Conference Champs 1941; University of Minnesota, Mankato State College

Coach – Hayfield High School 1947-1953 – Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball, founded Wasioja Conference; Chippewa Falls High School 1953-1954 – Football, Basketball, Track; Worthington High School 1954-1967 – Football, Basketball, Track

Don was married to Vernis Olander who taught English at Worthington Junior High School 1967-1987. They had 2 sons, David and Paul. Don enjoyed fishing and reading history. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1991.

Don Strom Award is given each year to an athlete who most exemplifies the characteristics of sincerity, warmth, enthusiasm, friendliness, cooperation, and school spirit as Don did.

Posted on Wed, April 22, 2020 by Clasine Lester

Ken Thompson – AD/Coach

St. Paul Johnson High School

College – Hamline University – National Basketball championship team; Gustavus Adolphus College

Semi-pro baseball in the old Northern League

Coach – Worthington, MN 1947 – 1982, Football, Basketball – 2 time District Champs, Baseball – 3 time High School District Champs, Baseball – High School District Champs 1947, Golf- 18 District Champs, 8 Region Champs, 25 State Participants, 1 State Champion, 1 Individual Champion; Athletic Director

Awards
*Cocky Brace Award ‘81

Ken and his wife, Helen have 2 daughters, Claudia and Anne. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1989.

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Robert Lundgren – At Large

Basketball

Track

College – Worthington Community College – Basketball

Robert coached basketball at St. Mary’s in Worthington. He was chairman, 31 years, of the High School Athletic Banquet, sponsored by the VFW from 1947-1978. For 35 years, he was the Head Timer at the Trojan Relays. Robert served as Athletic Coordinator of VFW Baseball for 25 years and District VFW Baseball director for 20 years. He was High school football and basketball official for 10 years. In 1987, he was elected to the National Sporting Goods Retailer Hall of Fame . Robert also organized two American Legion Baseball leagues each year for 25 years. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1989.

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Arnold Sanderson – At Large

Strandquist, MN 1926

College – North Star Academy, Concordia College Class of 1930, University of Minnesota Masters Degree 1944

Activities – Active member North Central Assoc. of Colleges & Secondary Schools; High School College Relations Committee; Executive Secretary District 8; Southwest Athletic Conference Chairman at its inception; Noon Hour Kiwanis Club; started Early Risers Kiwanis Club

Awards – Honored during half-time at football game in 1972; Awarded a Trojan letter with 39 stripes from the Worthington High School student body

Arnold and his wife, Bethel, had 3 children, Stan, Judy, and Dianne. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1991.

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Larry McKeever – WHS Class of 1957

Baseball – 3 time letter-winner

Football – 3 time letter-winner

Track

Wrestling – 2 time letter-winner

College – Mankato State University – Baseball, lettered 3 years; Football, lettered 3 years, All Conference Defensive Back 1960, All-time Defensive Team 1969

Coach – Fulda, Assistant Football and Wrestling; LaPorte, Indiana, Assistant Football and Wrestling;

Other – High School Wrestling Official – 4 time state tourney official, ranked #1 1987; College Wrestling Official – NCAA Division I, National Catholic, National Junior College, NCAA Division 1 & Division III Regional Qualifiers, Big Ten Official, Big Ten Dual Meet Tourney

Award – Indiana High School Coaches Hall of Fame, Wrestling 1990; LaPorte Oldtimers Baseball Hall of Fame 1979

He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1991.

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Butch Meyeraan – WHS Class of 1957

Basketball – 3 time letter-winner; 2 time Most Valuable Player. Team Captain

Football – 2 time letter-winner; All-State Honorable Mention

Golf – 4 time letter-winner; State Golf Champions 1957

College – Mankato State University – Basketball – 4 time letter-winner; Team Captain; All Conference 1959-1961; Member 1000 Point Club; NCAA Record Division II 20 for 20 Free throws made in 1 game; Golf – Letter winner 1957-1959, All Conference 1957-1959, Captain; Nominated twice for Mankato State University Hall of Fame; University of Minnesota – Masters Degree in History

Other Golf – Amateur Golf – winner of 40 plus tournament, Hole in One 4 times, Holds 5 course records

Butch has taught in the Heron Lake Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Robbinsdale Public Schools. and Moundsview Public Schools. He has received state and national recognition for developing a curriculum o teaching the Holocaust. He has enjoyed golf at Irondale for 23 years. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1991.

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Karen (Swanson) Bonertz – WHS Class of 1979

Tennis – SW Conference Champions ’74-78; Sub-Section Champions ’74-78; Section runner-up ‘74; SW Conference Singles Champion, 2nd Place, 3rd Place; SW Conference Runner-up; Sub-Section Singles Champion; Section Singles 3rd place; SW Conference 2nd Singles Champion; Sub-Section Doubles Champion; Section Doubles 3rd; 2 time State participant Doubles; Sub-Region Champions; State Team participant; Sub-Region Doubles Champion; Region Doubles Champion; 2 time MVP

Basketball – Conference Champions; 4 time Sub-Region Champions; Region Champions, 2 time Region Runner-up; State participant; Most Rebounds in 1 game; Most Free Throws in 1 game; 3 time All Conference; 3 time All Area 1st Team; 3 time Season Scoring Leader; 2 time Season Field Goal Percentage; 3 time Season Rebound Leader; 3 Time Most Valuable; 2 time Top Free Throw Percentage; Record for Most Rebounds in 1 Season and Longest Winning Streak

Track – Highest scorer ‘76; Record for 400X4 relay ‘79; Voted Outstanding Field Individual

Academics and Awards – National Honor Society; Top 5 in Graduating Class; Won 11 Letters; Outstanding Girl Athlete ‘79

College – Augustana, South Dakota – Tennis, Division II Flight II Doubles Champion ’79, AIAW Region 6 Division II Doubles Champion ’80, North Central Intercollegiate Conference 1st Doubles 2nd Place; St. Thomas – Masters in Business Administration

Karen is married to Terry Bonertz and an accountant for Roseount Corporation. She plays Volvo league tennis at 4.5 level and recreational volleyball and racquetball. She was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1990.

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Joseph J. Vortherms – WHS Class of 1978

Football – 2 time letter-winner; Team captain ‘77; MVP ‘77; All-Southwest Conference Offensive Back ‘77; All Area (Daily Globe) Offensive Back ‘77; Held single season rushing record; All American ’77-78

Track – Lettered 4 years; 2 time MVP ; Most points scored ’77 & 78; State track meet 4th place in 880 yd, 2nd place in 880 yd. All-American

Awards – Don Strom Award ‘78

College – Mankato State University -Graudated with Summa Cum Laude Honors, BS Degree in Accounting ‘82, BS Degree in Business Administration Finance ‘82, Track – lettered all four years, team captain, North Central Conference Champion – 500 m indoor 4 years, 800 m indoor 2 years. 800 m outdoors 4 years, 1500 m outdoor 2 years; College All-American – 3rd place National meet 800 m 2 years

Joseph earned is Certified Public Accountant License in 82. He is a member of Phi KappaPhi honor Fraternity, American Institute of CPA’s, Minnesota Society of CPA’s, and Minnesota Tax Advisory board for Utilities. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1990.

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Harry Sowles -WHS Class of 1926

Football
Basketball – All-District; All-Region
Track
Baseball -lettered freshman year

College – Heuron College, Football (halfback)

Harry and his wife, Clare have 3 children, Tom, Sue, and Mary. He enjoys golf, hunting, fishing and boating. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1990.

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Russell Rickers – WHS Class of 1949

Football ’46-49 – played for coaches Milt Osterberg and John Kirkeby
Basketball ’46-49 – played for coaches Milt Osterberg, Lem Herting, and Ken Thompson
Baseball ’46-49 – played for coaches Milt Osterberg, John Curran, and Dan Regnier

College – Worthington Junior College – Football, Basketball

Russ and his wife, Janet, have 3 children, Joe, John, and Sue all of whom participated in Worthington High School Sports. He served in the military in ’51-52. From 1953 to 1981 Russ had a local photography business He then worked for Crippled Children’s School Inc. from 1982- 1990. Russ was on the committee to organize Trojan Sports Booster Club and served as the President. He was inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame in 1990.

Posted on by Clasine Lester