Triton to Host Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony Saturday

The fifth annual Triton Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will be 6PM Saturday, September 17. Two teams and seven individuals will be honored.

It's hall of fame weekend for the Triton school district. The newest members of the athletic hall of fame will be recognized during Friday night's football game versus Winona Cotter. Saturday there will be a ceremony and social time.

The 1976 West Concord volleyball team won a Wasioja title during the first years of the sport and won the District 4 title by beating rival Kenyon.

The Triton volleyball squad of 1993 completed a 23-3 campaign and finished second in the HVL standings. The team avenged a regular-season loss to Zumbrota-Mazeppa by beating them in the playoffs. The Cobras also topped Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the postseason.

Inductee Dennis Midthun coached football, basketball and track beginning in 1972 in Dodge Center. He was the head coach in track and boys basketball. His basketball teams were district champs twice and a region runner-up to Winona Cotter.

Harold Long is entering the hall of fame as a supporter and fan. He began teaching at West Concord in 1972. Long taught agriculture for 18 years and was the FFA adviser for 21 years. He and his wife, Carolyn, supported their daughters' school activities and now follow their grandchildren's school and athletic events.

Mike Justice was named the senior outstanding athlete at Dodge Center in 1971 after playing football, basketball and baseball. He was part of an unbeaten football team in 1970. Justice went on to play football and baseball at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

Wendy (Olson) Meyer was a 1989 Dodge Center graduate and played volleyball, basketball and softball. She was named the senior female athlete of the year and also competed at Gustavus College.

Mike Doty graduated from West Concord in 1970 after competing in football, basketball, track and baseball. Doty played football at South Dakota State.

Holly Berg graduated from Triton High School in 1994. She played volleyball, basketball and softball. Her senior volleyball team won the district title. Her softball teams played in the regional tournament in her junior and senior years.

Cory Mergen is a 1997 Triton graduate and was a member of the 1994 state championship football team. He also participated in wrestling and baseball. Mergen played two seasons of baseball at St. Cloud State.

A social time will be held at the Dodge Country Club after the ceremony.

The Triton Foundation initiated the start of the Athletic Hall of Fame. The hall of fame nomination form states, "Honoring outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches and community supporters of Claremont, Dodge Center, West Concord and Triton High School."