Dave Romppanen

Dave Romppanen's career at Astoria High School signaled an end of an era for Fisherman basketball. Astoria played in the state's largest classification from 1911 to 1980. Although Romppanen graduated in 1963, Astoria's "Glory Years" were winding down during the next decade. Romppanen would be Astoria's last marquee player at the "Big" school level. He was an All-State selection by both Portland newspapers, and, at the 1963 state tournament, he was picked 1st team all-tournament.Rompannen opened his career as a freshman with the junior varsity. HIs 201 points in 20 games led the team. A season high 25 points came against the Milwaukie JV's.

His first campaign with the varsity came as a sophomore. A season high 23 points against Clackamas helped him finish with a team leading 236 points in 22 appearances. Teammate George Oja, a senior, and Romppanen were selected for 2nd team All-metro League status.

A year later as a a junior, Romppanen scored 422 points in 26 games, as the Fishermen rolled to a 19-7 season record and a berth in the state tournament. His season high of 26 points came in the opening round of the state tournament, a 60-59 victory over Portland's Grant High School.

He was a 1st team All-Metro pick and a 3rd team All-State choice by the State Journal. At the State Tournament, he was named to the All-Star second unit. Romppanen's junior teammate, Jon Norgaard, was named to the first team.

Romppanen was a model of consistency as a senior. He averaged 18.3 points per game, with a high games of just 27 points. His 477 points in 26 games still ranked him 3rd all-time on the Fishermen single season list at the time of his Hall of Fame induction. Romppanen's 1,167 career points is just behind Ted Sarpola's 1,233 tallies on the all-time Astoria High chart. Sarpola and Romppanen are the only two Fishermen to surpass 1,000 points in a career. His 895 points in three Metro League seasons broke Milwaukie's Rick Whelan's old Metro mark of 805 points.

Romppanen raked in the honors at the end of his senior year. He was 1st team All-Metro, 1st team All-State Tournament and was named 1st team All-State by both Portland newspapers. His selection to the media All-State teams was by a vote of the state's coaches. In that vote, he led the All-State unit receiving 44 votes, 10 ahead of runner-up, Bill Thomas of North Eugene High School.

After graduation Romppanen entered the University of Oregon where he was a part of the Duck basketball program for four years.