Highlights in sports from years gone by

by John Fragodt, Sports Director
(Thirty years ago -- 1983) -- The Benson boys basketball team lost its third-straight game with a 43-42 loss to Long Prairie.  Benson trailed 42-39 with 10 seconds left in the game when Greg Peterson went to the line for a one-and-one.  He made the first, but intentionally missed the second.  However, Long Prairie got the rebound and was immediately fouled.  Long Prairie made one free-throw to go up 43-40, offsetting Eric Peterson’s basket just before the buzzer.
James Thompson led the Braves with 12 points, while Eric Peterson had 10 points and Greg Peterson, held without a basket for the final 19 minutes, had nine points and six boards, Joe Hanson had five points, and Jim Lindahl had four.
•  The Benson wrestling team beat Morris, 36-18, picking up pins by Jeff Weckwerth and Lance Bangsund.  Also winning by decisions were Stan Grossman, Tom Sullivan, Peter Spates, Shaun Pahl, and Bill Carruth, while Ken Cameron won by default, and Mike Tolifson had a draw.
Benson also placed third of 11 teams at a tournament at Morris with Peter Spates (126) and Shaun Pahl (132) winning titles, and Scott Gallagher (105) placing second.
•  The Benson girls basketball team fell to 2-2 overall with a 53-32 loss to Long Prairie.  Three players scored in double figures for the Indians, while only Vicki DeBoer scored in double figures for Benson, scoring 13 points, including 3-of-4 from the line.  Nancy Hippen added nine points and six steals, while Jackie Bodger had five points and DeBoer led the team with five rebounds.
DeBoer was the only returning starter from the team, which had qualified for Benson’s first and only state tournament berth in girls basketball the previous season.
•  The Benson gymnasts fell to Sauk Centre, 107.5-83.45 with junior Lecia Grossman leading the Braves in the all-around with a score of 24.4, and eighth-grader Bridgette Novetzke right behind with a score of 22.15.  Grossman also led the Braves in the vault (6.25), balance beam (6.55) and floor exercise (7.4), while eighth-grader Leah Madden led the team in the uneven bars (5.15).