Cloquet Basketball Reunion Planned

June 18

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Long before Cloquet became a so-called hockey town, it was known as a basketball town. The Lumberjacks had a strong run to the state tournament with berth’s to the “Big Show” in 1958, 1962 and 1963. Cloquet finished second in 1963 in what has been described as the greatest state championship game in Minnesota State High School history.

Players from those teams will be holding a reunion in Cloquet the weekend of the Cloquet Invitational Golf Tournament. On Saturday, July 11th, the former players will be at the Cloquet Country Club from 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon. Things will wrap up Saturday night with a huge reunion party at the Jack Lounge on Cloquet Avenue from 6:30-11:00.

Dave ‘Mouse’ Meisner is heading up the reunion and has invited members of the general public to also come out for the event as well.

Howard Lavick’s production of the 1963 state final game between Cloquet and Marshall will be available on DVD for a reasonable price and K1 Sports of Cloquet is providing a commemorative tee-shirt for a small fee as well.

Below is a list of players who will be in attendance:

1958-Dick Millen, Andy Coathup, Larry Hunter, Bob Pollard, Joe Mackai, Harry Newby Jr., Jon Guckenberg, Bill Hoppe and Tom Sonnarborg.

1962-Dick Boyer, Gary Welton, Jay Gildermeister, Jim Macai, Jim Alstad, Bill Noreus, Dennis Breithbarth, Mike Forrest and Dave Meisner.

1963-Dick Boyer, Gary Welton, Jay Gildemeister, Bill Noreus, Dennis Breithbarth, Mike Forrest, Tom Price, Bill Bailey and Dave Meisner.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com