On January 28, 2023, the tenth class of the Triton High School Athletics Hall of Fame was inducted. The West Concord High School football teams of 1968/69 and 1969/70 were recognized for their achievements. These two teams won the Wasioja conference and had several All-Conference players on the teams. The teams were coached by Roger Lipelt, who was inducted into the Triton HOF this year. His widow Joanne Lipelt and daughter Heather were on hand for the ceremony.
David Miller, WCHS class of 1977 was inducted as well after his great high school athletic career. Dave went on to play football 4 years at Mankato State University.
Other inductees at the 10th annual HOF induction were Dodge Center athletes Bob Osborn, class of 1981; Tom Osborn, class of 1982; Mark Vacura, class of 1981. Jake Harmon, Triton class of 2007, was also inducted having played on the 2006 Cobra’s State Championship football team. Mr. Harmon, who played football at Winona State University, is now a teacher and coach at Byron High School.
Roger Lipelt was a favorite teacher and coach of so many students in West Concord, Worthington, Wayzata and Providence Academy in Plymouth. He was a very personable man who had a compassion for each and every student and athlete he taught or coached. I asked a few of his former players who were at the ceremony what made Mr. Lipelt such a good coach. The main response I got was that he was just as mild mannered coaching as he was in the classroom. John McMahon, who was a captain on the 1968/69 team, gave a prime example when I talked with him.
John, who was an outstanding linebacker in high school, was having a tough time trying to cover the tight end of the Hayfield Vikings. Bill Gross, who was known more for taking the Hayfield basketball team to the state tournament, came out for football his senior year. A good athlete who stood 6’7” tall was on the receiving end of several 8 to 10 yard passes right over the middle. John, who was much shorter, could not stop that kind of play. McMahon said the coach pulled him out of the game. He couldn’t understand as he never came out of a game when playing defense. John told me that Coach Lipelt simply said “John, we’re going to lose this game if you keep letting him catch those passes. Figure it out and stop him.”
McMahon told me that Lipelt didn’t give him any particular ideas how to do it. He did not yell or scream. He just told him figure it out. Well John got back in the game and once again the throw went to the big man from Hayfield. As Gross was jumping and catching the pass, John laid into him helmet first below the belt and down to the ground they went. As the kids say, ‘Nuff said!’ Gross came out of the game and that play was not used again. The Cardinals went on to win the game and the conference title.
Roger Lipelt was inducted into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He was head football coach at Wayzata High School from 1976 to 1998 with many victories and conference championships. Roger passed away in 2012 from cancer but his legacy and the influence he had on many will live on for years.
5 of the 6 Wasioja All-Conference football team members from West Concord were on hand for the Hall of Fame recognition: Larry Bachman, Mike Doty, Steve Loosbrock, John McMahon and Dan Miller. Gordy Peterson was the 6th All-Conference player who could not be in attendance. The Wasioja All-Conference players from the 1969/70 West Concord football team were: Neil Eayers, Mike Doty, Dan Miller, Dennis Erickson and Steve Frederick. Honorable mention that year included Wes Bennerotte, Bill Engvall and Bob Snaza.
If they had an All-Conference Equipment manager Mike Sorn would have been the guy. Mike was team manager throughout his high school days. Mike did the induction speech for Coach Lipelt. He said that with the help and encouragement of Coach Lipelt, he received a scholarship for 2 ½ years of his 4 years as team manager at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Mike went on to teach at Cambridge High School for 30 years.
Congratulations to all of those mentioned along with congratulations to the Triton Foundation for their support of the Triton Hall of Fame. Also a special thanks to Triton Activities Director Corey Black and the HOF committee.
