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Remembering Munsen • January 2016 •
1984 1985 1986 1990 1991 1994 1996 1997 2005
1990 1992 1994
12-time state champions
Boys state champions 1984 (Class A) Munsen’s first state championship came in 1984 when Mitchell beat Sioux Falls Washington 54-48 in the state championship game. It was the Kernels’ first boys basketball state championship since 1964 and the team finished with a record of 22-1. Kyle Adams and Bart Friedrick were both named to the all-tournament team. Friedrick earned first team all-state honors, while Adams was named second team and Chad Andersen earned third team. “This is the seventh time for me as a coach in the state tournament. You’d like to win every year, but you can’t do that,� Munsen said at the time. “Sometimes you don’t get the breaks and other times you don’t really have the talent. A couple times
in past years we probably could have got to the finals but never did. What I always wanted to do was coach in a championship game. Then once I got here I wanted more. I wanted to win it.� Team members were: Gary Powers, Tim Byrd, Kelly Splitt, Kyle Adams, Chad Andersen, Bart Friedrick, Jim Heckenlaible, Jason DeLange, Scott Munsen, Travis Peters, Jon Christensen, Rich Widman, Artie Rew, Chad Dockter. 1985 (Class A) Munsen called the 1984-85 boys basketball team his best ever. The Kernels were the only boys basketball team under Munsen to finish a season undefeated at 23-0. Mitchell topped Sioux Falls Washington for the second straight year in the championship game 62-59. It was the last year high school boys basketball in South Dakota was played under a twoclass system. “We hope to be involved in the state tournament next year in Rapid City but it will take a heck of an effort because of
the three-class system,� Munsen said. “He later closed his remarks by saying, “there are only two great teams in the world: the Mitchell Kernels and the Boston Celtics.� Team members were: Pete Morgan, Bart Friedrick, Tim Byrd, Chad Andersen, Jason DeLange, Shawn Haley, Dean Jacobsen, Jeff Brooks, Jim Heckenlaible, Chad Miller, Todd Sitzmann, Jason Bickett, Steve Thompson, Jim Putnam, Wes Morgan, Mark Reynen. 1986 (Class AA) Mitchell complete a three-peat under Munsen in 1986 as the Kernels defeated Brookings 64-49 in the state championship game. Mitchell finished the season with a record of 21-2. Wes Morgan and Dean Jacobsen were named to the all-tournament team, with Jacobsen earning first team all-state honors and Morgan being named to the second team. “We were picked to finish fifth in the ESD and then we weren’t even rated at the start of the year,� Munsen said. “But
you have to give our kids a lot of credit. The accepted their roles and played strong defense all year. I’m proud of these kids.� Team members were: Brian Paulus, Scott Larson, Dean Jacobsen, Chad Miller, Bryan Mohr, Wes Morgan, Mike Sterner, Steve Thompson, Steve Andersen, Mark Reynen, Steve Andrzejewski, Allen Gunnare and Jeff Brooks. 1990 (Class AA) In thrilling fashion, Mitchell claimed its fourth boys basketball state championship under Munsen by beating Sioux Falls Lincoln 56-55 in double overtime in the state championship game. The Kernels finished the season 19-5 with Sean Stephens and Marty Jacobsen earning all-tournament team honors. Jacobsen was also named first team allstate. “Give our kids a lot of credit, especially in the first half when we got down by 11,� Munsen said. “The kids felt very comfortable at halftime when we were down See CHAMPIONS, Page 9
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We’ve lost someone who was a special part of our community.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Munsen family.
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May we all ďŹ nd comfort in each other and in all the deep concern that comes to us today.
We’ll Never Forget You Coach Munsen!
J.D. CONCRETE
1500 W 5th Ave., Mitchell, SD
352-7765
West Hwy. 14 • Huron 1417 E. Spruce Ave. • Mitchell
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996-8084
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Listed are recaps of the 12 state championship teams that Gary Munsen coached with nine boys teams and three girls teams winning titles.