Lien Marso - Inducted 2023

Lien Marso graduated from Harrold High School in 1951. That same year he led Harrold to a 33-2 record and the State B basketball title. He was an all?state center known for his ferocious defense and shutting down centers much taller than himself. Harrold became the smallest high school in state history to win the state tournament. Lien led the Cardinals to a 55-5 record in his last two seasons with the team. While at Harrold, Marso ran track and was a state place winner in the 100?yard dash. He played amateur baseball for Harrold as a teenager. Marso was Harrold’s top pitcher, and his father, Charles, was the team’s catcher.

Marso played baseball and basketball at SDSU as a freshman and sophomore before being drafted into the Army. SDSU football coach, Ralph Ginn, was disappointed that he couldn’t talk Marso into coming out for football. As a freshman, Marso worked his way up to one of the Jacks’ top basketball reserves by the end of the season. One of his top highlights as a freshman was when he rallied the Jacks to a 59-54 second-half comeback over Morningside. As a sophomore, Marso became a starter for the Jacks. In baseball, Marso became the Jacks’ starting shortstop as a freshman, hit 0.455, and led the team in home runs. He was selected as team captain in his sophomore season. He was an excellent amateur baseball player and played for several years when he returned home from the Army, where he worked for John Deere for almost 50 years.