1999-2000 GIRL'S BASKETBALL RECAPS

September 15, 1999  

Huskies enshrine group of five

By Ron Buckli Leader-Telegram Staff

A family that symbolizes the school that is located directly across the street.

A coach and supporter who has been involved in all but one semester of the institution's existence.

And three athletes ranked among the best in school history.

That's the second class of Eau Claire North Hall of Fame inductees, who will be honored at halftime of Friday night's football game at Carson Park between the Huskies and Hudson.

Inductees are the Maynard and Joann Faanes family, Bob Kein, Don Jordan, Mike Annis and Jill Berg.

The Faanes family

Between 1974 and 1980, it was rare when there wasn't a Faanes at quarterback for the Huskies.

All four starters, they led North to a combined 23-13 record and two Big Rivers Conference championships (1974 and 1980) in their senior years.

"I feel honored," said Maynard, 63, who bought the family residence on Mercury Avenue in 1973. "I'm proud of the boys for accomplishing what they did. We're very happy with the school and the way things turned out."

Before the family move, Mark thought he would go to Memorial.

"I grew up an Old Abe," Mark said. "But this was the first class at North where it was equal size to Memorial and it was an exciting time.

"For Jeff and I, it was a unique situation, like going to a new school. We had the size to compete and we won the school's first championships in football and baseball."

Attending North sports event became a lifestyle for the Faanes'.

"It's been most of our social life," said Joann. "It's good entertainment and not that expensive."

Although maybe not as much as in the past, the Faanes' still frequent Husky games. Maynard was one of the founders of the Husky Athletic Booster Club.

"I think it's a real nice thing for our parents," said Mark. "They've been Husky backers from Day 1, and I'm proud of them."

Mark, Jeff and Ken also took part and lettered in basketball and baseball while Greg played three years of golf.

Jeff and Ken also stayed on to serve as volunteer coaches in football after graduation.

With 10 grandchildren, the parents may have to start all over again.

Bob Kein

He had just graduated from the University of Illinois, where he played baseball, and was looking for a job.

"Harry Combs, the basketball coach, told me about an opportunity up in Wisconsin," Kein said. "They've got great basketball teams up there, he told me."

Kein went on to coach in four different sports, beginning as an assistant in track the spring of 1963.

"We've enjoyed our time in Eau Claire," Kein said. "I was going to get a couple years experience here and move on, but we liked it here."

Kein also served as an assistant in football, was in the basketball program from 1963 to 1976 and was head baseball coach from 1964-70.

He took over the head basketball job in 1968 and coached nine years. It included six winnings seasons and a 91-84 record. His number of wins ranks second in school history behind current coach Pat Hammond.

"It was fun to be there in the embryonic stage and follow it all through," he said of the Husky athletic program. "I have some great memories. I miss the big game with Memorial. We used to fill the (University) Arena and we had the place rocking."

In later years, Kein had the pleasure to watch sons Rob and Randy and daughter Joni take part in Husky sports. Kein has five grandchildren.

Don Jordan

He was a two-time state champion in the 200 individual medley; was a four-time state runnerup; held every individual record at North at one time and held the school 200 individual medley record for 31 years.

"Eau Claire was a great place to grow up," said Jordan, who now works for a portable athletic lighting company in Gainesville, Fla. "It was clean living, and you just couldn't beat the people."

Jordan, 49, was born in England and came to Eau Claire as a youth. He began his swimming career at the YMCA.

In 1967 and 1968, he swam in Senior Nationals and his time qualified him for Great Britain's Olympic Team.

"But I had to live in England for a year and I didn't want to do that," Jordan said. "Besides, the draft board wouldn't let me leave. I liked this country and didn't want to be a draft dodger."

After high school, he attended the University of Minnesota and swam three years in the Big Ten championships.

Jill Berg

Jill Berg

Berg was the first North girl to win an NCAA Division 1 basketball scholarship, attending Old Dominion University.

At North, she gained All-Northwest honors and later was a member of the 1997 Old Dominion team that was the NCAA Tournament runnerup.

In track, Berg, North's team MVP, was a state qualifier in the discus and shot and still holds the school record for the discus.

After receiving a B.S. degree in geography from Old Dominion, she returned to Eau Claire and currently is the North girls basketball sophomore team coach and is finishing her teacher training.

Mike Annis

Annis, who won seven letters in three sports, played in the 1982 Shrine Bowl All-Star game.

As a swimmer, he was a member of the 1982 district championship team and was a state meet placer in 1982.

He also placed in the state track meet in the discus and was named North's Male Athlete of the Year in 1982.

Annis attended UW-River Falls and was a four-year football standout, earning all-conference honors in 1985 and 1986. He was a second-team NAIA All-American in 1984.

Annis works for Jostens and lives in Seattle.

Charter members of the Hall of Fame, inducted last year, are Bob Barneson, Steve Blodgett, John Bowman, Brenda Dahl Erickson, Glenn Derouin, Jim DeCremer, Pat McDonald, Dave Palmer, Trina Thames Stabenow and Peter Tharp.