Lund's moments were magical
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Friday, August 15, 2008
Heelan's Michelle Lund puts up a shot against Cedar Rapids Xavier Feb. 26 at the Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament in Des Moines. (Journal photo by Jim Lee)
Looking back, that one magical moment in time is a wonderfully indelible imprint Michelle Lund will always have on Bishop Heelan High School athletics.
But, there's more.
Lund, today honored as the 2008 Sioux City Journal Metro Female Athlete of the Year, capped a memorable prep basketball career by scoring 16 points in Heelan's 54-51 victory March 1 over No. 1-ranked Pella in Iowa Class 3A girls state title game.
It wasn't the end of a much-decorated athletic journey, but more a heralding of future accomplishments.
"What a whole lot of people aren't aware of is how hard Michelle Lund worked, how much time and dedication she put into it, to achieve the level of excellence she's reached in basketball,'' praises Doug Moody, her hoops coach at Heelan. "You can't imagine the hours she's devoted to the sport.
"She's had a tremendous impact on where our program is right now. Michelle was the heart and soul of what we've achieved for four years.
"One of the other coaches called her 'money' and that she has been at Heelan. leading us to the state tournament two straight years.''
In the state title game, Heelan trailed by four points late in the third quarter, then Lund hit a three-pointer and two more treys early in the final stanza to give the Crusaders a 45-39 lead they never relinquished.
Michelle, the daughter of Vic and Janice Lund, made a lasting impression as a varsity freshman, scoring 34 points, her eventual career high, in a win over Hartington (Neb.) Cedar Catholic.
The Crusaders were 72-24 during her career, including a 44-6 mark the last two seasons.
The dazzling debut put her on the fast track to the all-time Sioux City career record of 1,837 points, including 503 as a senior.
She left the previous mark of 1,499 by 2003 North High grad Erin Dohrmann far behind with her total, which ranks 25th best in Iowa five-player history.
The Bradley University recruit, twice a second-team all-stater and a first-team pick as a junior and senior, has spent much of the summer in Peoria, Ill., taking classes and playing every day in the Bradley arena.
At Bradley, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the quicksilver 5-foot-7 Lund figures to earn playing time as a true freshman point guard, both skillful as a ball-handler and proficient as a long-range shooter.
The four-time All-Missouri River Activities Conference selection committed to Bradley before her senior season, a glorious 25-2 campaign culminating with the state title, Heelan's first in either boys or girls baskeball.
The state crown was the second in a row by a Sioux City school with North winning the 4A girls title in 2007, the first by a Sioux City school.
The basketball season didn't end the high school career for the 18-year-old National Honor Society student.
There was an exciting encore.
"Michelle really didn't need to participate in track to convince anyone she's a great athlete and outstanding competitor,'' says Terry Sudrla, the Heelan track coach. "But she loves athletics and felt the need to contribute in any way she could to our program.''
She capped her high school athletic career by winning three medals in the Class 3A state meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
She ran legs on a third-place 4x200 relay, fifth-place distance medley and fourth-place 4x100 baton crew. The Crusader 4x100 team set a school record of 49.95 seconds in the prelims to become only the second Sioux City school to ever run under 50 seconds in the event.
Lund was also the regional qualifying leader in the long jump with a career best of 17-0.5, but took 11th in the state meet.
"Honestly, I didn't want Michelle to long jump this year because I was concerned she might sustain an injury that might jeopardize her basketball career,'' says Sudrla. "I told her that the first time she felt even the smallest pull or anything to tell me right way.
"But, she's so determined and loyal. In the state meet she just didn't get her steps right. Really, I feel she had the potential to win a gold medal in the jump. Her contributions to our track team were enormous.''
But, there's more.
Lund, today honored as the 2008 Sioux City Journal Metro Female Athlete of the Year, capped a memorable prep basketball career by scoring 16 points in Heelan's 54-51 victory March 1 over No. 1-ranked Pella in Iowa Class 3A girls state title game.
It wasn't the end of a much-decorated athletic journey, but more a heralding of future accomplishments.
"What a whole lot of people aren't aware of is how hard Michelle Lund worked, how much time and dedication she put into it, to achieve the level of excellence she's reached in basketball,'' praises Doug Moody, her hoops coach at Heelan. "You can't imagine the hours she's devoted to the sport.
"She's had a tremendous impact on where our program is right now. Michelle was the heart and soul of what we've achieved for four years.
"One of the other coaches called her 'money' and that she has been at Heelan. leading us to the state tournament two straight years.''
In the state title game, Heelan trailed by four points late in the third quarter, then Lund hit a three-pointer and two more treys early in the final stanza to give the Crusaders a 45-39 lead they never relinquished.
Michelle, the daughter of Vic and Janice Lund, made a lasting impression as a varsity freshman, scoring 34 points, her eventual career high, in a win over Hartington (Neb.) Cedar Catholic.
The Crusaders were 72-24 during her career, including a 44-6 mark the last two seasons.
The dazzling debut put her on the fast track to the all-time Sioux City career record of 1,837 points, including 503 as a senior.
She left the previous mark of 1,499 by 2003 North High grad Erin Dohrmann far behind with her total, which ranks 25th best in Iowa five-player history.
The Bradley University recruit, twice a second-team all-stater and a first-team pick as a junior and senior, has spent much of the summer in Peoria, Ill., taking classes and playing every day in the Bradley arena.
At Bradley, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the quicksilver 5-foot-7 Lund figures to earn playing time as a true freshman point guard, both skillful as a ball-handler and proficient as a long-range shooter.
The four-time All-Missouri River Activities Conference selection committed to Bradley before her senior season, a glorious 25-2 campaign culminating with the state title, Heelan's first in either boys or girls baskeball.
The state crown was the second in a row by a Sioux City school with North winning the 4A girls title in 2007, the first by a Sioux City school.
The basketball season didn't end the high school career for the 18-year-old National Honor Society student.
There was an exciting encore.
"Michelle really didn't need to participate in track to convince anyone she's a great athlete and outstanding competitor,'' says Terry Sudrla, the Heelan track coach. "But she loves athletics and felt the need to contribute in any way she could to our program.''
She capped her high school athletic career by winning three medals in the Class 3A state meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
She ran legs on a third-place 4x200 relay, fifth-place distance medley and fourth-place 4x100 baton crew. The Crusader 4x100 team set a school record of 49.95 seconds in the prelims to become only the second Sioux City school to ever run under 50 seconds in the event.
Lund was also the regional qualifying leader in the long jump with a career best of 17-0.5, but took 11th in the state meet.
"Honestly, I didn't want Michelle to long jump this year because I was concerned she might sustain an injury that might jeopardize her basketball career,'' says Sudrla. "I told her that the first time she felt even the smallest pull or anything to tell me right way.
"But, she's so determined and loyal. In the state meet she just didn't get her steps right. Really, I feel she had the potential to win a gold medal in the jump. Her contributions to our track team were enormous.''
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