My memories of Durand Panther football and boy's basketball during my high school years

As I look back at my high school days at Durand High School I remember the incredible football and boy’s basketball teams at DHS.

The Durand football team made state headlines all four years (1965-1969) that I attended school in the community of just under 2000 residents in West-Central Wisconsin.

The Panthers were coached by Pete Adler who would later be inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame (WFCA).

From 1965-69, the Panthers put together 36 consecutive wins. During that time, Adler’s teams were also ranked number one in the state among small schools in the AP and UPI state poll.  A fact that most people forget is the Panthers even received three state top ten rankings in the “large school” Associated Press state poll. I wish we would have had “social media” back in the day!

Meanwhile, Al Ormson’s Durand Panther boy’s basketball teams got better each year I was in high school. 

As a junior, the Panthers fell just short of making it to the State Tournament falling in sectional action at the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium in La Crosse.

The 1968-69 team had one goal, to be the first Durand team to advance to the state tournament in Madison since 1938.

The Panthers, led by Buzz Harmon, Tom Bauer and Mike Krisik, rolled through the regular season.  One night after beating a very good Gilmanton team, the Panthers hosted No. 1 ranked Whitehall and their superstar Ralph Rasmussen in the regional final. 

I was so nervous the day of that game that I suffered neck spasms. I remember being able to look forward, but not side to side as I watched the game.  The Panthers won and I “took one” for the team.

It was on to Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium in La Crosse for sectional play. Remember, it was still a one-class tournament back in the late ‘60s.

First up was little North Crawford, a slow down type of team that was looking to pull off the upset.  The Panthers were able to get the pace up in the second half to pull away for the sectional semifinal victory.

I still remember the feature photo in the  Eau Claire Leader of Mike Krisik launching a deep corner jump shot.  The caption to the photo read: “Durand’s bubblegum shooting guard Mike Krisik shoots Panthers to sectional final."

The following night Durand faced Onalaska who many considered the favorite in the game. Onalaska was led by Chuck Hockenberry. He was an animal on the court and would later sign a professional baseball contract with the California Angels.

The Hilltoppers also featured twins, Tom and Tim Gullikson at guard. The twins would later go on to coach Pete Sampras and become one of the top doubles teams in pro tennis.

Durand and Onalaska fought for four quarters with the Panthers victorious 84-73 to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 1938.

Coming up in my next chapter excerpt I'll remember back to Durand's 1969 Wisconsin State Tournament appearance