Waukon native Ray Svendson honored at state tournament

To mark the 50th and final Iowa girls state basketball tournament at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union invited 16 of the state’s greatest girls basketball teams to be honored during the March 7-12 event.

Waukon native Ray Svendson was one of the many individuals to revisit the hardwood at Vets. The 1966 WHS graduate coached the Fort Dodge Dodgers to top three finishes in 1983, 1984, and 1985.

After taking third in ‘83 and second in ‘84, the Dodgers were primed for a championship finish in ‘85. The Dodgers were the top-rated team at the beginning of the season and averaged 97.6 points per game. They topped 100 points on 14 occasions. Their closest regular season contest was a 13-point win.

State tournament action was a little tougher, but Fort Dodge still handed Tri-Center an 87-71 loss and then edged Orient-Macksburg, 68-60 in the semifinals. In the championship game, the Dodgers downed Waterloo Columbus, 88-81, to end the season unbeaten. The ‘85 Dodgers have gone down as one of the most formidable teams in state history.

Svendson agrees that his squad was one of the best. “This was a special group of kids. Of course I’m a little prejudiced, but I’d have to agree that they’re one of the greatest teams ever. I’d put those kids against anybody.”

Svendson and the ‘85 Fort Dodge squad were honored Friday afternoon, March 11, at halftime of Class 4A’s 2:30 p.m. semifinal game.

During his 16-year coaching career, Svendson made seven trips to state. He guided Guthrie Center to the Barn in ‘80 and finished fourth in ‘82. He also scored back to back runner-up titles with Southeast Polk in ‘87 and ‘88.

After spending several decades in the education field, Svendson now works for Readers Digest. He and his wife Linda reside near Des Moines.

Svendson’s team was not the only honor squad with Waukon connections. The ‘79 Des Moines East team was honored during 4A’s other semifinal Friday. The undefeated Scarlets handed the Indians a 91-81 loss in the state semifinal before earning the state championship.