Fondy basketball runs deep in the Zimmerman family. Steve Zimmerman was proudly watching from the stands Tuesday night as his grandchildren Rachel and Eli suited up for the Cardinals’ girls and boys varsity basketball teams. “They do a really great job and I’ve got five (grandchildren) playing right now in the Fondy system,” Zimmerman told AM 1170s Between the Lines program. “It’s a lot of fun, my wife and I really enjoy going to the games, we make as many as we possibly can. We don’t go any place for the winter when we’re doing basketball.’ Eli and Rachel are fourth generation Zimmermans who have suited up to play Fondy basketball. Steve Zimmerman’s son, Mike played for the Cardinals in the 1990s. “When he (Mike) was there they won three conference championships,” Zimmerman said. Steve’s dad, Gale, played during the 1941-42 season before graduating in 1944. “…after that he had to go into World War 11. He already had a scholarship to play at Northwestern, but that went into the hole with the war,” Zimmerman said. “He played some semi-pro ball and actually played against a guy by the name of George Mikan.” Mikan of course became the NBA’s first superstar. Gale Zimmerman later became the high school’s athletic director and was inducted into the Fond du Lac Athletic Hall of Fame. Steve Zimmerman played basketball in the 1960s. “We were okay, we did what we could do, we were above .500. I played a lot more in my junior year, My senior year I came out in the first practice and tore up my knee and didn’t get back until the last two games.”
