By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

When fans think of high school basketball in Minnesota, many of them find it fascinating that small towns have deep roots with family connections to their teams.

One of them is Henning native and retired Forest Lake newspaper editor Cliff Buchan who wrote a book, “Orange and Black,” about the history of Henning basketball.

When Henning High School launched its first basketball team in 1914-1915, Robert Bjorklund was a player on the team. Fifty years later, in 1965 when the Hornets fought their way through a tough District 22 and Region 6 to earn a state tournament berth, another Bjorklund, Jon, was a starting senior guard.

Henning made a second state tournament trip in 1966, and Jon’s younger brother Bob, just a freshman, had earned a roster spot for the Hornets. They were two of five Bjorklund brothers to play on Henning teams in the 1950s and 1960s. 

“They are great-nephews of the first Bjorklund to play high school ball in Henning,” Buchan says.

Fergus Falls basketball fans remember that Bob was the head coach of the Otters and led Fergus Falls to three state tournament appearances before moving on to coach and become athletic director at Bethel University.

“The Bjorklunds were far from finished for both the Henning boys and girls teams in the decades to follow,” Buchan said. “When Henning won the Class A state title in 2019, three Bjorklund brothers, Jack and twins Luke and Lee, were major contributors.”

Jack, Luke and Lee are grandsons of Denny Bjorklund, the first of the five Bjorklunds to play in the 1950s and 1960s. Denny’s daughter, Shari Bjorklund, was an excellent player for the orange and black who reached 1,000 points. 

“Shari has enjoyed watching as her kids, daughter Faith Fisher and sons

Sam and Isaac Fisher, all went over the 1,000-point mark for Henning teams,” Buchan said.

And then there is the Misegades family. Gary Misegades graduated in 1967 after his playing days for the Hornets. Three of his kids, sons Steve and Randy and daughter Beth, were all 1,000-point scorers for Henning. 

“Randy, the current Henning varsity boys coach, has watched as two of his sons, Tyson and current sophomore Kale, scored more than 1,000 points in their careers. A third son, Easton, just a seventh grader, is waiting for his chance,” Buchan said.

Steve’s daughter, Lyvia, is in the 1,000 point club. Beth Misegades Wallevand has two kids who reached 1,000 points for the Hornets: daughter Paige Wallevand and son Blake Wallevand.

“The Misegades Magic is continuing this winter,” Buchan said. “Lyvia Misegades went over the 1,000-point threshold earlier this season as did her cousin, Kale. As a sophomore and barring any extended injury, he’s on track to shatter all Henning scoring records.”

  Lyvia’s brother, Dawson, is a junior who is contributing valuable minutes as a reserve forward for the Hornets who were 21-2 as of this writing and on track to make a strong run in the Section 6 Class A playoffs. 

“Family stories like these are proud moments for small towns like Henning,” Buchan said. “They are exceedingly pleasing for grandparents Denny and Linda Bjorklund, Larry and LaVay Wallevand and Gary and Sheryl Misegades.”