Our invocation was offered by Hal Leland. John M. reported that Pete W. is back at home at this time awaiting some test results. The club social at Broadway Park on September 25th, commencing at 5:30 p.m. will see brats and burgers provided, with those attending asked to bring a dish to share. There was a Rotary Minute Plus Quiz based on the September Rotary magazine, and two of three questions were answered correctly. Our Brags and Fines followed, with Brian T. paying for leaving early. John M. put in to show his appreciation for the M State men's basketball team and to tell us that at 1:04 p.m. the prior Wednesday he became a great grandfather to a little girl named Scarlet Marie. David J. also acknowledged the M State basketball team. Others paying in were this writer, Wally C. and Tim H.
Dave Cresap, coach of the M State men's basketball team and 13 of his 19 players were our program. Prior to accepting the coaching position last year, Dave has been the boys' basketball team coach at Perham for 27 years, preceded by 11 years elsewhere. Dave has been married for 39 years and he and his wife have three children. Taking the job at M State brought back a lot of passion and Dave said that he likes to help build character more than anything and also happens to love basketball. Since arriving, Dave has signed 13 new student athletes, and their goal is to become a powerhouse and win the national tournament in New York next spring. He looks for four attributes in those he recruits: attitude, coachability, effort and self-discipline. One of the requirements for the players is to attend three study tables a week and if a student misses three of them, that player will have to sit out a game. Dave said he will have his kids' backs for the rest of their lives.
The team is allowed eight fall practices before the first official practice that will occur on September 30th. They open up at home on November 4th against Mayville State and will also have a scrimmage against Dakota State, which is ranked fourth in the nation in its division. A total of 28 games are on the schedule. Dave also still coaches' girls' tennis in Perham and the team is ranked fifth in the state. Dave said when the M-State team scrimmaged the first time last year they had 41 turnovers in ten minutes but by the end of last season they had one game where they set a school record of only four turnovers.
The students all had a chance to tell us where they are from and added a few additional comments, making it clear that the love and respect between coach and players is reciprocal.
Pictured: Yonus from Shakopee, Mitch from Seattle, Javid from Albuquerque, Kahri from Houston, Carter from Mahnomen, Braydon from Grafton, Coach Dave, Casey from Fargo, Langdon from Fargo, Nate from Minneapolis, Dayton from Wadena, Tesche from Wadena, Haydon from Fergus Falls, DuWayne from Mankato
M-State basketball players who believe LeBron James is the best basketball player of all time.
M State basketball players and Coach Dave who believe Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.