Bio: Brunkhorst, Brian (Award - 2011)

 

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

 

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

Surnames: Brunkhorst, McGuire, Winter

 

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) Wednesday, September 28, 2011, page 17, columns 2 & 3

 

Brian Brunkhorst will be inducted into the Abbotsford Wall of Fame at halftime of the October 7 Homecoming game versus Greenwood. 

 

He grew up on Abbotsford and graduate in 1963 from what was then Dor-Abby High School. He participated in basketball, baseball, volleyball, and football. He was the senior class president for the class of 1963. 

 

At six feet, six inches tall, Brunkhorst excelled in basketball. He was one of the leading scorers in the area, garnering him all-conference and Channel 7 All-Star accolades. He was offered scholarships to continue his basketball career from legendary and Hall of Fame coaches Tex Winter, who was then coaching at Kansas State, and Al McGuire of Marquette. 

 

Fortunately for the state of Wisconsin fans, he chose Marquette. 

 

During his basketball career at Marquette, Brian played in the 1967 National Invitation Tournament, coming in second to Southern Illinois. In 1968, his Marquette team participated in the 1968 NCAA Tournament.

 

As a sophomore at Marquette, Brunkhorst averaged 10.6 points per game. As a junior, he averaged 7.8 rebounds per game and 11.8 points per game. In his senior year, Brunkhorst was named team captain, averaging 10.7 ppg. He had 554 total career rebounds. He is the fourth all time in free throw percentage at 82.6 percent and holds the record (with 121 others) of 100 percent free throws in a single game, going 10 for 10 against Marshall in 1967. 

 

Brunkhorst was a sixth round pick of the New York Knicks in the 1968 NBA draft. He was also drafted by the Los Angeles Stars in the 12th round of the 1968 ABA draft and played for them during the 1968 and 1969 season. 

 

Brunkhorst is an avid collector of classic cars. He has owned and raced several automobiles including Bugattis, Ferraris and Alfa Romeos. He worked for Badger State Tannery before his retirement. Brian and His wife, Stephanie, live in Harland. They have three children, Alexandria, Vanessa and Austin. 

 

Brunkhorst never forgot the hometown he grew up in. He has made many trips back to Abbotsford to visit friends, to hunt, and to support the Abbotsford School District. 

 

In 2006, he traveled to Madison to watch the boy’s basketball team at the state tournament. He was at the school for the return pep rally on Sunday, making a special trip to speak at the reception for the team. During his speech, he mentioned that some friends had asked him if he was going to watch Marquette play in the NCAA tournament the week of the state championships. He said no because his team was playing in Madison. 

 

 


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