Community shows interest at first game

Kenny Gunsch has sat in the front row of the Corn Palace to watch Kernel basketball games for roughly 20 years.

And again, he was there watching Mitchell in its home-opening Friday evening game against Brandon Valley.

“I’ve always liked basketball,” Gunsch said.

From the time he moved to Mitchell, players have come and gone as all high school players do, and basketball has remained the community’s bread and butter.

But the coach of the Mitchell boys has always remained the same. That is, until this year.

Tom Young took the head coaching position after Gary Munsen, who coached the varsity team for 39 years, retired last season.

With this, questions arose around town, with one in particular: How will the community react to the change?

“I can’t imagine anybody not being behind Tom Young,” Gunsch said. “He has already done so much for Mitchell Christian when he was there, and I think it’s going to be fun watching him coach the Kernels now.”

LaMoine Torgerson, of Mitchell, said the buzz he’s heard around the community has completely positive

“I know a lot of the talent has graduated from last year, but I know that Tom will get all of the mileage out of the younger boys that he has,” said Torgerson, who has lived in Mitchell for 25 years. “I’m optimistic and looking forward to a decent year.”

Even those who don’t follow the Kernel basketball tradition were in the stands Friday night.

Dave Thuringer, of Mitchell, said curiosity for the new season got the best of him.

“I haven’t followed Kernel basketball since my kids were in high school 20 years ago,” he said. “We’re very interested in seeing what is going to happen this year.”

Tags: sports, updates, kernels, basketball, mitchell