University of North Dakota Athletics

  Native of Park River, N.D., Birk is considered one of the finest ball-handling and playmaking basketball forwards UND has produced. He played on Coach Clem Letich's great Sioux teams 1934-37, teams that produced 19-1, 16-2, and 15-3 records (50-6 overall) and handily won three NCC championships. He was a two-time All Conference forward. He says winning "big" from North Dakota State in 1936 and 1937 were highlights. He once scored 29 points against a South Dakota State player who had told him before the game he wouldn't score a point.