News

       The Aitkin Gobbler football team has not just had a great season on the field, but they have been heroes off the field as well. This week they spent some time coming together to give back to the community through a "Thanksgiving in a pan" food donation project. Players and families donated 550 food items and assembled 55 Thanksgiving meal kits and delivered the completed pans to the local food shelf at First Lutheran Church. Food Shelf coordinator Pat Perrine was thankful, "It was a treat to receive the food from the team. The players and coaches and parents that helped were really great. The boys were VERY respectful and nice. What a wonderful thing they did. Many families will enjoy a great Thanksgiving dinner thanks to them." Gobbler Coach Alan Hills weighed in on the effort, "We feel like a really important part of high school sports is learning some life lessons. When you live in a smaller community you lean pretty heavily on them for support. We feel it's really important to also give back to that community. Kim Jones and our booster club spearheaded this, and our boys did a wonderful job of getting their donations. Hopefully the team understands how big a difference they made to 55 families in our community." Activities and Athletic Director Jim Henrickson also knows the importance, "One of the things I am most proud of at our school is the mandatory community service day for teams. This one was awesome. I have already forwarded it to the MSHSL. Activities and sports do make a difference. Go Gobblers!" Much of the information here was provided by the Aitkin Football Association and Kim Jones who would also like to thank Amanda and Peter Lowe for helping with the extra expenses to make this

 project happen. This project provided an opportunity for players to demonstrate teamwork, generosity and community spirit beyond the field. For the Aitkin Gobblers success isn't measured only by the scoreboard but also by the positive difference they make in their community. How did the players feel, here's a sample, "I think the team needed a team bonding day and mixed in with helping the community. After the meal project I feel like a better person and feel like we helped so many people. It was a fun and productive day"-Jack Jacobson. "It was a great thing for Aitkin football to do and give back to the community for everything they have done for us. It's just awesome for us to get to take time and do that for the people in need"-Nolan Dotzler. "I think it was a great opportunity for our team to bond but also do a great thing for the community. I think it was a good idea"-Reed Parkin. "The community does so much to support the team, and I think this was a great way for us to give the support back to the community"-Coen Olson.

      So many people put so much into this project and what a success it was. 55 families will have a happier Thanksgiving thanks to the Aitkin Gobbler football team this year. They really are heroes, on and off the field!    

      On September 12-13 the Minnesota Bass Nation High School State Championship took place on Leech Lake with teams launching out of Walker. Amont the 80 boats that had qualified for the event were two teams representing our own Aitkin Anglers. They were Lenny and Noah Hughes and Colton Weimer and Noah Moss. Boat Captain Jordan Moss picks it up from there. "Leading up to the tournament the weather and pre-fishing reports made one thing clear; the wind was going to be a major factor. To make things even more challenging a storm rolled through the day before the tournament. Temperatures were dropping and the fish were beginning their transition to their fall and eventual winter patterns. The bite had been extremely difficult throughout the week of pre-fishing. 

Day One

     Both teams headed out with winds around 20mph with gusts to mid 30's. Fortunately, both teams were able to grind out a limit for the day. When the scales closed Noah and Colton were in 4th place and Lenny and Noah were in 9th place. For the teams the goal was simple, stay focused, keep grinding and give it everything they had on day two.

Day Two

     The second day brought a little less wind, and the target was largemouth bass. They put together a small bag but knew they would have to make some significant changes if they wanted to move up the leaderboard. That's when critical decisions began to pay off. The teams started to search for warmer water in areas that had remained calm the previous day and throughout the morning. The move allowed them to make several small culls and improve their bag. The teams were able to make three more culls improving their weight and then with only minutes remaining on the clock, they caught their biggest fish of the day. No time to celebrate, they had to make the 15 minute run back to the weigh-in. Noah and Colton brought in a bag weighing 13.90 lbs., sitting them in 2nd place. while Lenny and Noah brought in 12.94 lbs. putting them in 8th place. (Boat Captain Scott Hughes) The pressure mounted since several competitors had to still make their way to the scale and the teams could only watch and wait. Both teams stayed where they were, 2nd and 8th place. After two days of brutal weather, changing water temps and many decisions, the Aitkin Anglers had done it. Second place in the State put Colton and Noah into the National Tournament next summer."

       What a finish for the Aitkin Anglers, they showed up, battled and earned their spot among the best. Congratulations to these two great teams!