Golden Valley High School - Viking Yearbook (Golden Valley, MN)

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“THEN THE QUARTERBACK—” Minnesota Viking Football Coach, Norm Van Brocklin, instructs 1961 Valley Co-captains Tom Ylvisakcr, center, and Clint Ewald. Honor to GV Falling to five consecutive losses, the Vikings found themselves not at the top of the heap, but struggling to stay out of sixth place. Sparked by the lale-season hot shooting of All-Conference Vikings Wade Turner and Bob Bues. Valley came off the floor to send League-leading Eden Prairie reeling with a 49-36 knock-out punch, dropping the Eagles into a tie for the Conference Championship with Watertown. Entering sub-district competition. GV dropped a 53-40 decision to Mound and sadly stored away the basketballs for another year. Golden Valley received some consolation for the season, however, by earning the Valley Conference Sportsmanship trophy, won the previous year by Eden Prairie. On April 11. the Minnesota Twins, nee Washington Senators, made their American League debut and topped the American League Champion New York Yankees 6-0, beginning a new era in Upper Midwest sports. About the same time Golden Valley’s diamondmen. under Mentor Bob Ix ckwood. opened their non-conference season with a no-hit victory over Glen Lake, hurled by Steve Rosholt and Rick Carlson. Though claiming but two victories in Conference play, the Vikings enjoyed their best season in three years with an 8-8 over-all record. May 24 was a day which will go down in the annals of Golden Valley. On that date. Coach Tom Benepe’s track squad flashed to G.V.’s first Conference championship in the school’s four year history. Paced bv first place finishers Mike Flanagan, Ron Thole. Bob Socher, and Skip Hall, the Vikings rolled up 55 points to top their nearest contender, Orono, by 11 5 6 points. This ended another year of training and work for the players and cheering and hoarseness for the many fans. A A A VIKING LEAPS, stretches, and snares the baiting practice line drive. Bob Bues puts his lanky 6 2” frame to use. But even his height could not stem the tide which sent the Viking diamondmen stumbling to four consecutive Conference defeats, two by one run. 13

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RAISED POM POMS CREATE A SILHOUETTED IMAGE of Viking spirit against the soaring flames. Valley’s first bonfire, sponsored by the Senior class and the cheerleaders, raised school enthusiasm to new heights. Cheers reached a peak as an Eagle effigy was consumed by the blazing fire. Viking Athletes Bring Victory, “AND .IF YOU THINK LIKE A WINNER you'll never lose.” Coach Roger Johnson expresses his sentiments during a Viking pep fest. They came, they went,—but, they didn’t quite conquer: however, the Vikings provided an ample load of thrills and excitement for their fans along the sports trail this year. The 1060 football squad opened with a heartbreaking loss to Fridley and then were smothered by a total of 61 points in their next two outings. Bouncing right hack. GV finally halted a 12-game losing string, extending over three years, with a 20-13 triumph over Shakopee. The following week they topped Eden Prairie in the first Homecoming victory in Golden Valley history, but plunged downhill afterwards and dropped their last tljrec games. This settled the squad into a tic with Waconia for fifth place in the Minnesota Valley Conference. All through the season football fans followed closely the fortunes of the professional infants, the Dallas Cowboys, trying to gauge the chances of Minnesota’s own professional team. Coincidentally dubbed the Vikings, the team was to enter the National Football League in 1961. Norm Van Brocklin led the Philadelphia Eagles to the World Championship and soon after was named to the post of first Minnesota Viking coach. About the time Golden Valley uuietly began preparing for a new basketball season, a bombshell fell on the state in the form of an announcement that the Washington Senators of the American Baseball League were moving to Minnesota. Soon after the furor died down. Golden Valley fans found something else to excite them as the Vikings, Golden Valley style, under the tutelage of ex-University of Minnesota Basketball Captain Roger “Whitey” Johnson, streaked to six consecutive victories. Just as Vallcyites began to dream of a Valley Conference championship. Watertown rose to deal the Vikings a discouraging 42-41 defeat that seemed to take the heart out of the team. 12

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Staff Barb Anderson Doug McNeil Co-Editors Margie Hoines Gail Skyberjz Layout Editors Jay Gibbons Copy Editor Dianne Borchert Theme Editor Linda O'Dell Art Editor Sue Ostroot Avis Peterson Advertising Layout Editors Judy Volkenant Photographer Linda Schoumaker Business Manager Jack Rosholt Maury Christensen Advertising Sales Managers Sharon Kulenkamp Griff McAuliffe Circulation Managers Jerry Boschee Jean DeVilliers Cathie Finch Pat Johnson Judy Koch JanLatsha Dan McAuliffe Mike Murphy Patty Parlin Chnssy Peterson Lane Reynolds Beth Schwartz Marilyn Smith Assistants to Editors Mrs. Armi Nelson Adviser