As I mentioned in my previous post, I visited Gus Young Court at Gustavus Adolphus for the 1st time last Saturday. You might also know–OK, you probably don’t–that the Warroad high school boys are now 12-0. But, wait, what does Warroad have to do with Gus Young, or Gus Young with Warroad? And, who the hell is Gus Young, anyway?
The Gus Young story begins, as far as we know, in Wadena in 1924, when Gus began his high school athletic career. He led Wadena toa 7-2 record in football over 2 seasons, and was named “captain” of the District 11 all-tournament basketball team despite the fact that Wadena lost to Crosby-Ironton in its only game.
From there, Gus went to Carleton where he was captain of what is regarded as Carleton’s best team ever, the so-called Victory Five that lost just one game in 3 years (1930, 1931 and 1932). Carleton played in the Midwest Conference at the time, against teams like Beloit, Coe, Grinnell, Ripon, etc., but their non-conference schedule included many “major” powers. Five times in 20 years (about 1913-1935), Carleton beat Big 10 powers Minnesota (twice), Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan State, all on the road.
Gus Young in Warroad
So, what does Gus Young have to do with Warroad? Well, Gus began his coaching career at Warroad in 1933. In his 1st year as a coach, Gus led Warroad to its first, last and only district basketball championship ever. They promptly lost to Thief River Falls in the regional tournament, however. Gus decided that he would play some of his younger players in the 3rd place game. Warroad led Ada after 3 periods, but in the 4th quarter Gus’ youngsters, playing in place of his older, starting players, relinquished the lead and lost the game. Meanwhile, Bemidji beat Thief for the regional title. Thief complained to the MSHSL that Bemidji had used an ineligible player, however. Upon investigating, it was determined that Bemidji had indeed played an ineligible player, but so had Thief. Both teams were disqualified from the state tournament and the 3rd place team, which coulda/shoulda/woulda been Warroad, but was not, went to state in their place. Ada lost to Chisholm 34-12 and to Brainerd 41-10. Warroad would not have fared any better, but at least it would have played in the state tournament. But, Ada, as it happens, has now played in 5 state tournaments.
Warroad, to this day, has never played in a state basketball tournament. But, of course, if Minnesota is “the state of hockey,” Warroad is the city of hockey. In fact, it goes by the title, “Hockeytown USA.” Warroad high school as played in 21 state hockey tournaments, and has won 4 of 10 championship finals. This year they are 8-3-1 and are the top-ranked team in their section. They are much more likely to make it to state than the unbeaten hoopsters. But, who knows. Maybe this is the year in which Warroad basketball beats the Gus Young curse.
More Gus Young
Gus Young went on to coach high school basketball in Buffalo, Hutchinson and Austin. He finally made it to a state tournament with Austin in 1939. Austin lost to Mountain Lake by one, and to Thief by 6, so Gus never won a state tournament game. It was in Austin that he and his wife Evelyn opened their 1st bowling alley. Later, they opened bowling alleys in Edina and Northfield.
Gus then became an assistant football (not basketball) coach at Carleton from 1939 to 1942. Gus then went to work full-time with his restaurant and bowling alley businesses through 1949, when he became head basketball coach at Gustavus Adolphus. This was at a time when Hamline and coach Joe Hutton, like Young a Carleton grad about 10 years older than Gus, dominated the MIAC, winning something like 17 league titles in 20 years. Gus finished as runner-up to Hamline 3 times but in 1954 he shocked Hutton and Hamline by winning the Gusties 1st conference title in 16 years and only their 5th overall, and then repeated in 1955 and 1956. His overall record in conference games was 82-34.
But more than just the wins, Gus was a showman. He introduced fancy warm-up drills with multi-colored basketballs. He dressed the pep band in tuxedos, and featured a 100-man chorus in half-time shows.
He went back to his restaurants and bowling alleys in 1956. It was about this time that “Gus Young brought bowling to Edina,” with the Biltmore Lanes and Southdale Lanes. They were “the most modern bowling centers in the Twin Cities” with 32 lanes and automatic pinsetters.
Gus’ wife Evelyn was also instrumental in running the family businesses. She was every bit the showman and raconteur that Gus was. While Gus was coach at Gustavus, Evelyn ran the food services on campus.
Gus was so well-known as a showman that in 1967 he was named Director of Special Promotions by the Minnesota Pipers team of the old ABA. Due to a variety of personality conflicts on the team, he unexpectedly became coach in mid-February (their 3rd coach of the season). The Pipers star player was Connie Hawkins. When Gus became coach, the Pipers were 26-19. But just as Gus took over as coach, Hawkins went down with an injury and never returned. Gus and the Pipers finished the year 10-23 and then disbanded at the end of the season. Gus died in 1977 and he is buried in St. Peter.
So this is the fellow after whom the home court at Gustavus is named. A more worthy honoree is hard to conjure. And, here is also wishing that the Warroad boys–basketball, that is–get to the state tournament so that the story of Gus Young and Warroad basketball might be recalled and retold.