Skip to main content

Worke scores win No. 400

Worke, 400th win
Blooming Prairie principal and girls basketball head coach John Worke stands for a photo with his family after reaching the 400-in mark. Photo from Facebook
By
Johnnie Phillips, Sports Editor

Girls basketball wasn’t exactly the sport Blooming Prairie’s John Worke thought he would spend his entire coaching career mastering.

Yet, 24 seasons later, he’s found himself exactly where he belongs.

To tell me that I would do a 24-year career in girls’ varsity basketball, at the beginning I didn’t think so. As a matter of fact, there were some boys’ positions early on that just didn’t work out. But once I got into the girls’ program, there was no looking back. I really enjoy coaching girls. I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else,” said Worke.

Worke’s most recent career accomplishment was scoring his 400th win in a 62-39 game against Medford earlier this month.

The milestone was something he’s had his eye on long before this season began.

After taking over in the 1993-94 season, Worke led the Awesome Blossoms for 22 consecutive years and compiled 377 wins before being forced to take an eight-year hiatus from coaching in 2015.

At the time, our superintendent and school board weren’t going to allow administrators to be coaching. I knew that going in when I became principal, so I had to let it go. I watched from the sidelines for many years,” he said.

However, when former head coach John Bruns stepped down, Worke found himself back in the running for the job.

I went to our new superintendent and school board and asked them if they’d considered allowing administration to coach and they said, ‘Go for it,’” said Worke.

It didn’t take long for the job to be his once more – or for the wins to start piling on again.

Worke coached the Awesome Blossoms to 17 wins during his first season back in 2023-24 and needed just six more this season to reach the mark.

With the win over Medford, the mission was complete – and an interesting streak was kept alive.

Just six years into his career, Worke scored his 100th win in a 43-32 win over WEM.

The milestone victory started a trend that Worke has impressively continued for over two decades.

Once 400 hit, I went through all my books and thought, ‘When was 100, 200, and 300?’ Funny enough, I’ve hit 100 wins every six years,” said Worke with a laugh.

According to him, the return to coaching was not about wins or losses.

It seems like we’re always trying to find coaches nowadays. I told our Activities Director, Ali Mach, that I’m not going to be a one-year-and-done coach,” he said.

Worke’s dedication to his school and the program was met with appreciation by his community and shown in a celebration following the team’s next home game.

A video tribute was even put together including snippets from athletes past and present talking about the effect he has had on their lives both as a coach and a person.

It was special to see everyone again and hear what the experience meant to them. I’m grateful for this town and everyone who came out,” said Worke.

Sign up for News Alerts

Subscribe to news updates