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Homecoming 2008

1997-98 Men’s Basketball Team

The 1997-98 Men’s Basketball Team, which ultimately advanced to the Elite Eight in the NAIA national tournament, was memorable, not only to Comet fans, but to three conference foes in particular. The Comets thrashed Valley City 100 to 50 in the regular season; beat Minot State by 45 in the conference semi-finals; and crushed Jamestown College by 50 in the conference finals. The team has an overall record of 23-7 and a conference record of 11-1. Their season included a 17-game win streak. The team was ranked in the national polls most of the season, reaching as high as No. 3 in the nation at one point. They were among the leaders in the nation for defensive points per game at 63. Paul Grove was the head coach, and he was assisted by Tim Grove and student coaches Jay Jesperson and Aaron Fearne. The latter were outstanding players who had also played in the national tournament as Comets. Members of the team were Jason Sunde, Doug Orvik, Aaron Thompson, Jeff Walen, John Maus, Justin Turnquist, Matt Swift, Ryan Solie, Brandy George, Ben Hoff, Lance Roisum, Brady Roisum, Jeremy Macejkovic, and Chris Hong. Craig Olson was a redshirt. Lindsey (Johnsen) Kruse was the team’s student manager. Head Coach Paul Grove was named the NDCAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Senior guard Doug Orvik and sophomore guard Aaron Thompson were both named to the NDCAC All-Conference basketball team.

Emil “Buck” Bedard Emil R. “Buck” Bedard, Las Vegas, Nev., an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Mayville State, was a member of the 1961 football team that went undefeated. A wrestler as well, he consistently placed high in tournaments. He was a four-year letterman in both sports. He also participated in track in 1961-62 and in baseball in 1962. Bedard was the leading scorer in football in 1964 and was named all-conference that season. He placed third in the conference wrestling tournament in 1965. Bedard graduated from Mayville State in 1965 with a major in physical education and a minor in mathematics. He coached football and wrestling in Rolla, N.D., before attending the University of North Dakota in 1966-67 to earn a master’s degree. In 1967 he joined the Marine Corps, where after 39 years of service, he retired as a 3-star general. He currently serves on several boards involving national security and as a senior mentor has made numerous trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. He was selected to “Who’s Who in America” in 1971. Buck and his wife Linda are the parents of three children.
Glenn Gwynn Glenn Gwynn, Gilbert, Ariz., graduated from Mayville State in 1964 with a double major in physical education and elementary education. He later earned a master’s degree at Chapman College in California. He was a three-sport athlete who played football for four years, wrestled for one year, and participated in track and field for one year. An all-conference football player, Gwynn played both offense and defense and was a team co-captain. He was a third-place wrestler in the district and also placed third in the javelin at the district meet. Gwynn was an educator and school administrator in California, Minnesota, and Oregon during his career. He and his wife Judy (Radke) are now retired. They are parents of two daughters, and they also have four grandchildren.
Mark McLean Mark McLean, Hillsboro, N.D., set five Mayville State records as a wrestler. In his four-year career as a heavyweight, he tallied a record of 95 wins and 27 losses. He qualified for four and competed in three NAIA national tournaments. He was a team captain his junior and senior seasons and was named MVP his senior year. He was named all-conference as a senior. Mark was an offensive lineman for the Comets football team in 1983, and he worked as an assistant coach for the wrestling team during his fifth year at Mayville. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Mayville State in 1987, he taught school and coached wrestling, football, and track in Hazen, N.D. for six years. In 1993 he returned to his home town of Hillsboro, where for the past 15 years he has taught third grade and coached wrestling, football, and track. Mark and his wife Michelle have three children.
Char Miller Char Miller, Aberdeen, S.D., never missed a game in her four years as a Mayville State basketball player. A four-year starter (1978-82) as a guard, she averaged in double figures in scoring for her career and was Mayville State’s first-ever women’s or men's basketball 1,000-point scorer. She participated in the early days of North Dakota women’s collegiate basketball. The Comets played in the Minn-Kota Conference when she was a freshman; the NDIAW when she was a sophomore/junior; and the WACND when she was a senior. Char was named the MVP in the NDSSS Invitational Women’s Basketball tournament, and was the Comets MVP in 1981-82. In addition to being a four-year letter winner in basketball, she was a three-year letter winner in softball. Char graduated from Mayville State in 1982 with a major in business administration and minor in computer information systems. She is currently a technical support specialist for Enterprise IT-BAE Systems in Aberdeen. She continued to play softball and basketball after graduating from college and is a member of the South Dakota State and National 600 Bowling Club.
Mark Osland Mark Osland, Mayville, N.D., racked up impressive honors as a football player for the Comets from 1980-83. He earned all-conference linebacker honors three times, was named all-district linebacker once, was named the Comets’ defensive MVP twice, and was the team captain his senior year. Following his graduation in 1984, he had a free-agent tryout with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Osland was a freshman on the 1979 University of North Dakota hall of fame football team. He transferred to Mayville State, where he graduated with a major in business administration and minors in accounting and computer science. A farmer, Mark is married to the former Jody Little. They have three sons.
Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
Kenneth Fugleberg Kenneth Fugleberg, Portland, N.D., earned a bachelor’s degree in business education from Mayville State Teachers College in 1957, a master’s degree in elementary administration from the University of North Dakota in 1961, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Troy State University, Ala., in 1982. In his first career as an educator he moved from rural schools in North Dakota to Alaska and ultimately the Panama Canal Zone. In the CZ he was both a teacher and principal. He began a second career in computer science when he was with the Computer Science Corporation from 1982-1997. That work took him to the Kennedy Space Center, MacDill Air Force Base, and Scott Air Force Base. As an employee with Top Secret security clearance, he earned numerous commendations for his work in the space shuttle program. Ken’s long list of volunteerism reflects his commitments to church, family, and alma mater, as well as his personal interests. He and his wife Fern are parents of three, grandparents of six, and great-grandparents of one. Ken died on June 12, 2008.
Ila LaChapelle Ila Rae (Thompson) LaChapelle, Walhalla, N.D., graduated from Mayville State with majors in mathematics and general science in 1972, and began a 33-year career (to date) that took her to Hope, N.D., Barnesville, Minn., Central Valley (Buxton, N.D.,), and Walhalla, N.D. An exceptional educator, in 2005 she was a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, one of the nation’s highest honors for teachers. In 2007 she was named both a regional and state North Dakota Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. In 2007 she was also named the North Dakota Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year. Ila has been teacher/coordinator of River Watch, a Red River Basin citizen water quality monitoring program. She and her students produced a documentary about the Red River that aired on PBS. Ila and her husband Ray are parents of a son, Scott.
Odean Olson Odean Olson, Jamestown, N.D., graduated in 1966 with majors in mathematics and physical education. Before embarking on a successful insurance career, he was a teacher and coach in Fessenden, N.D. for five years. He became the CEO/general manager of the North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance Company in 1986. Prior to becoming the CEO, he was an insurance sales manager, district manager, and agent. In 2002 Olson was named the national FUIC’s manager of the year, an award that reflected his executive leadership skills and style. In 2008 he was awarded the American Farmer Award for efforts and involvement in the promotion and improvement of crop insurance. He has served as a member and officer of both state and national insurance organizations and earned a national sales award 22 times out of 22 attempts. He holds the professional designation of Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Insurance Counselor. He is active in Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, and athletic booster clubs. He and his wife Karen are parents of two daughters and grandparents to six.
Matthew Worner Matthew Worner, Alexandria, Va., graduated from Mayville State in 1994 with majors in mathematics, computer information systems, and business administration. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2008. He has been a federal employee for 13 years, working in the Department of Education and the Department of State, and is currently an information security auditor and inspector with the Department of Homeland Security. His work has taken him to many foreign countries. His key accomplishments include outstanding performance ratings and awards from State and Homeland Security. He is a member of the American Society of Public Administration. He is an enthusiastic supporter of Virginia Tech athletics as well as the MSU Comet Athletic Club and the former M-300 Club.