Competing in sports kept Bissen, friends close

Published 5:02 pm Saturday, June 16, 2012

Scott Bissen was all about sports when he went to Pacelli High School, and he’ll now be inducted into the Pacelli Athletic Hall of Fame Friday.

Bissen, who was an anchor for two state champion relay teams and took second in the 100-meter dash at state, saw sports as a great way to stay out of trouble.

“Sports were very important,” said Bissen, a 1984 graduate. “My group of friends focused on athletics, and we didn’t drink or do drugs. Just competing in sports connected us to each other.”

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Bissen, who is now a police officer and lives in Orono, Minn., said he feels very honored to be part of the hall of fame.

“It’s really special to be chosen out of all of the athletes,” he said. “They had much bigger classes before me, and they had a lot of athletes.”

Bissen, who went on to run track at Mankato State University, was also a starting wide receiver and safety for three years for the Pacelli football team, and he was a two-year letter winner in wrestling.

Bissen is one of six Pacelli grads who will be inducted into the athletic hall of fame June 22. Look for the other grads to be featured in the Herald throughout the week.