400 wins for Frydenlund
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Steve Gust
steve@page1publications.com
Jay Frydenlund admits he has been very fortunate as a head basketball coach.
In his 22 years as head coach, Frydenlund has been blessed with some impressive athletes and basketball players.
“I’ve been around some good kids,” Frydenlund said. “They have been hard working and fun to be around.”
Last week, Frydenlund earned coaching win number 400 when his Green Wave boys basketball team defeated Roseau, 91-51.
The majority of Frydenlund’s wins have come in East Grand Forks. Since taking over the program 16 years ago, Frydenlund has guided the Green Wave to an overall record of 276-142.
His teams have nearly always been one of the top squads in the section.
“I am very competitive. I try to instill that quality into the kids,” Frydenlund said. “I believe in effort, work and team. My players have to believe in those three things.”
Frydenlund began his coaching career in Leeds. In his seven years at the helm for the Class B North Dakota school, Frydenlund led the team to three state tournament appearances including a runner-up finish.
Frydenlund credits a lot of others for the success he’s had in the coaching profession.
“I’ve had a lot of good assistant coaches and hard-working athletes,” he said.
Frydenlund admits it’s been difficult to coach over the years.
“It’s a tough profession,” he said. “But, it is also very rewarding. It makes the winters fly by. It has been a lot of fun.”
Frydenlund said he’d trade his 400 wins for a state title. He has yet to lead the Green Wave to the Minnesota state tourney, although he has come close on several occasions.
“Most coaches would trade their wins for state championships,” Frydenlund said. “I’d like to win the last game of the year.”
For now, Frydenlund will enjoy his current team and whatever the future holds.
“I’m going to hang with this for awhile,” Frydenlund said.
Ryan heats up
John Ryan had a stellar game for the Green Wave last week against Warroad, but that wasn’t enough to earn a victory.
Behind three starters taller than 6-foot-5 including one that was 6-foot-10, Warroad captured a 60-58 victory.
Ryan scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Green Wave.
“John had the best game of his career,” Frydenlund said. “He kept us in it.”
Ryan, a senior, hit 7 three-point baskets in the game.
“He added seven or eight assists too,” Frydenlund noted.
For the second time in two weeks, EGF lost a game decided in the final moments. Last Monday, the Green Wave lost to state-ranked Hawley at the buzzer.
“We need to find a way to win those games,” Frydenlund said. “It starts from the neck up.”
The Green Wave rebounded to beat New Rockford Saturday in the Devils Lake Shootout.
EGF had 28 turnovers in the game, but a 23-14 run in the third quarter helped the Wave earn the victory.
Derek Schmidt had 20 and Brandon Brekke 19 to lead the Green Wave.
EGF improved to 11-5 with the win.