New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

When Martin Luther College hosts a four-team high school basketball tournament this weekend for both boys and girls of Wisconsin Synod Lutheran high schools in Minnesota and Illinois, a special event will be a reunion of the 19-0 team at Dr. Martin Luther High School 50 years ago.

In 1962-63 the Rams recorded the school's second perfect season and became the only Minnesota high school team to finish it's season undefeated. Prof. Jack Gronholz of Martin Luther College here was an important part of that team which also included John and James Tjernagel of New Ulm, Jim Duehlmeier of Nicollet and Dale Walz of Fairfax.

Cataloged locations of information for that team can be found through the search mechanisms for "search archives" at the left. There is information in objects 1956 through 1961. Pictures included in these indexes will be added soon.

Players coming for the reunion will be honored at halftime Saturday during the MLC vs Dakota State game with both men and women's games sandwiched throughout the third place and championship games of the high school tournament.

The tip-off tournament starts at 4 p.m. Friday with Minnesota Valley Lutheran boys playing West Lutheran and the girls following at 5:30. St. Croix Lutheran of Minnesota plays Illinois Lutheran in girl's game at 7:15 p.m. and boys at 8:45 p.m.

Saturday finds third place games at 10 and 11:30 a.m. The championships are at 6 p.m. for girls and 7:30 p.m. for boys.