Hunter Highlights Cloquet Athletic Banquet

Wes Vork-NSO

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May 23

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Sunday night was the first time in 31 years that former Cloquet star athlete Debbie Hunter had stepped back in a Lumberjack gym. Hunter, the guest speaker for the Cloquet athletic banquet, was welcomed back with a standing ovation. The banquet is held annually to honor those athletes who have received a letter for playing sports at CHS.

“Life is never what you think it will be, but it can be all that it is supposed to be,” said Hunter in front of a sold-out crowd. “To stand before you tonight is a little intimidating! I am a little nervous. It’s real!”

Hunter’s speech about the journey of life and passions captured the undivided attention of the audience from beginning to end. It was briefly interrupted by applause when she mentioned “Duluth East will always be Cake-Eaters.”

Hunter, whose jersey was retired by the Minnesota Gophers this past year, led CHS to its first state girls basketball tournament in 1978. After graduating in 1979, Hunter went on to star for the University of Minnesota where she set numerous records that are still in place today. She also helped lead the Gophers into the national tournament for the first time during her stay in Minneapolis. Hunter has gone on to coach at a number of colleges and is currently residing in Texas where she has coached basketball and is now the top woman in the athletic department.

Among the awards handed out were the Female Athlete of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year. Courtney Esse, who is headed to UWS to play hockey, won the Female Athlete of the Year Award, while RaRa Jones and Tyler Tollerud shared the boys honor.

Also, every year the school gives out the “Lumberjack Award”, which is presented annually to a person who has given their time to help promote Lumberjack sports through their volunteer efforts. CEC boys hockey coach Dave Esse introduced Stahl and brought a robust applause from the crowd when he relayed a story about the Lumberjack way of honoring the American flag during the National Anthem.

That award went to longtime WKLK sports broadcaster Randy Stahl who broadcasts CEC hockey and Cloquet football as well as numerous other sports.

The event was catered by B&B Market with a buffet style setting that included a variety of food.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com