Mark Ekren said it best on his Morris Area High School athletic director Twitter account.
“MACA schools and community want to thank Coach Torgerson for his 35 years of dedication to teaching and leading our students – on and off the court! Coach Torgerson leaves a legacy that we are all proud of! We wish him the best in his retirement and may he always say ‘Go Tigers!’
Morris Area / Chokio-Alberta boys basketball coach Mark Torgerson retired from coaching at the end of the season, which concluded in the third-place game at the Class 2A State Tournament.
Torgerson knew at the beginning of the season that it would be his last.
“I gradually told people that this would be my last year,” Torgerson said. “I didn’t want it to be a big deal because we were just really concentrating on getting this team ready for another run at the state tournament. I also figured it would be easier to turn this over next year because of all the seniors we had on this team.”
Torgerson began his head coaching career in 1987. He caps his career seven wins short of 600 at 593-311.
“We had only five losing seasons in 35 years mainly because we had a lot of really good players,” added Torgerson.
Making the final four at the state tournament this year was definitely a cherry on top of a decorated coaching career for Torgerson, which recently included back-to-back Section 3AA titles and winning the West Central Conference championship this season.
“The state tournament experience this year was tremendous. Winning the game on Tuesday night was one of the best moments of my career,” Torgerson said of the Tigers beating Minnehaha Academy that had previously won 15 straight state tournament games. “Minnehaha Academy had won the last 2 titles in Class AAA. The win meant this hard-working group of athletes that performed at such a high level, despite all the COVID issues, would get rewarded by making the state final four in Class AA.”
The COVID-style state tournament last year wasn’t anywhere near a normal experience, Torgerson added. The Tigers lost to the eventual state champion Waseca in the opening round of the state tournament last year.
“They had earned their way to the state tournament two straight years, but it wasn’t the full experience you normally get last year,” Torgerson said. “We played one game at a high school setting in front of 100 fans and then had to come home.”
This special group of seniors got to experience a somewhat back-to-normal state tournament as did Torgerson for the first time since 2004.
“That meant getting on TV and playing a top power in Minneapolis North in the semifinals. The Friday night game was what it should have been with our kids competing at another high level. We came up a little short, but from the following of our fan base to the game itself, it was a great experience,” Torgerson said.
This year was Torgerson’s fourth state tournament appearance. The Tigers finished runner-up in 1994 and lost to Braham in the opening round of the 2004 tourney.
“It was obviously rewarding getting there the last two years, but again we had to battle through some tough games to get there. The Morris Area / Chokio – Alberta program has been blessed with some tremendous athletic talent and has 14 players that have reached 1,000 career points. I had the opportunity to coach 13 of them. In addition, there were so many other terrific players that gave these communities so much to cheer for over the past 35 years.”
“The biggest reward has been seeing all these great players move on and have such successful careers in so many different walks of life,” Torgerson added.
From the seventh grade program up to varsity, the Morris/C-A basketball program is ready for sustained success over the next few years.
“Our entire program had a great season,” Torgerson said of this year’s numbers and records within the program.
The Tiger Junior Varsity went 24-0 under Joey Fragodt, and the C squad went 20 – 5 under Jacob Torgerson, Mark’s son. The seventh-grade team went undefeated and the eighth grade team had only a handful of losses.
“That is why I know the program will be in good shape for the next coach,” Torgerson said. “I imagine the school district will decide this spring who the next coach is. I know both Joey and Jacob are tremendous assistants and both would make a solid head coach if they so desire.”
Torgerson retired from teaching full-time a few years ago, but stayed on half-time. He will retire from teaching at the end of this school year as well.
“The teaching part was partially due to Mr. Ekren and I both have a half-time position and with his retirement, I would also give up my half time job, so the school could hire a new Math teacher that is full time,” Torgerson said.
Torgerson looks forward to continuing to support Tiger sports in his retirement as well as traveling to water other sporting events.
“I’m sure more golf is in the mix as well,” Torgerson concluded.
