Spring sports ends, athletes of the year and more

       Well folks, after nearly 300 days the high school sports year for the Aitkin Gobblers has come to an end. It all started last August when tennis got underway with practice and ended last Friday when the baseball team lost in the State Tournament. The year was filled with so many great moments and wins and losses and athletes who put it all out there every day. I read a lot of things during the baseball teams run to State and one of them really stuck with me. It came from Kristi Kunz who watched her son play his final games in June. After the Section final win over Duluth Marshall she wrote, "My heart goes out to the mom whose son's baseball journey came to an end and I'm grateful that tonight isn't my night." That night would come a little over a week later and it wasn't any easier except for the fact that her sons journey lasted a little longer. It's a ;little different when you know that a certain day will be the last no matter what but that sudden end is tough to handle. Thanks, Kristi, for showing that you do care about others, win or lose. This was a special group of baseball players who really played for each other. They will miss the seven seniors who contributed so much to the program over the years and played so long together. The Gobblers were 39-11 the last two seasons.  

      This week we also congratulate the 2025-26 Aitkin Athletes of the Year. The awards go to Gobbler senior Haley Shereck and junior Parker Fulton. It is a rarity for an underclassmen to receive this award and I can only think of three other times it has happened. Mike Nentl was the winner in 1975-76 and again the following year, Katherine Newton in 1990 as a junior and the following year as a senior and Loren Morgan in 1991 who did not win the award as a senior, that honor went to Bob Lind in 1992. Shereck was an outstanding volleyball and softball player while Parker excelled on the football field and was also a leader on the Lightning hockey team that appeared in the State Tournament in March. Shereck will not pursue a college sports career at this time while Fulton has verbally committed to the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2027.    

     It was another successful "Rumble at the Roost" this past weekend as the community welcomed a ton of teams and their followers to town. Windy, but mostly sunny weather greeted the teams and there was lots of people around. It's a well-run tournament and I'm sure it will be a mainstay in June for years to come. Nice job everyone!      

    Although we spent a little time talking about the moms earlier, we have to salute the dads out there this week with Father's Day coming up Sunday. They may not have packed the lunches and made sure the uniforms were always clean, but they probably got the kids playing catch for the first time, (not always), so we wish them a great day this Sunday and thank them for all they do for our athletes.
    

      Well folks, that "Janzen kid" did it again. The "Leader of the Pack" has gotten his third team in the last 12 years to the Minnesota State Baseball Tournament. The Gobblers edged Duluth Marshall 1-0 Thursday behind a great pitching performance by senior Brandon Kunz after smoking the Hilltoppers 10-0 earlier in the week. Coach Jeremy Janzen has now led Gobbler teams to appearances in 2014, 2021 and 2026. As usual he takes none of the credit for his teams success but I will give him credit because he is one of the best coaches in the state. He does things in the middle of the season with his players that will prove important later on. He will pitch young players to see how they handle good teams and those results show him where he can use them best as the season progresses. He explains, "I always try to see how they will pitch in pressure situations." He will battle for his players as much as they battle for him. This is team baseball at it's highest level. When you go down the lineup every player at one point or another will have an opportunity to get a big hit, score a big run or make a big play in the field and it might be any of those players. That's the ability to put confidence in the head of every player on your roster and that "Janzen kid" is a master. Teams struggle to scout Aitkin because they have a number of fine pitchers who can throw in big games and hitters that relish the chance to be at the plate in big moments. He has all the confidence in this team, "I'm not afraid to play anybody and neither are the players, they think we can beat anybody and if we're down to the final strike like we were against Milaca, they know someone will get a big knock for us." The Gobblers were 1-2 in the first trip in 2014 and 2-1 for a 3rd place finish back in 2021. This week when the action gets started at the Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud in the first round, don't be surprised if the Gobblers do something special. After all, that's what that "Janzen kid" has taught them to do.   

      Well folks, if you are a believer you have to question whether there was some kind of "divine intervention" last Tuesday night at Woock Field when the Gobbler baseball team met Milaca Faith-Christian in the Section 7AA tournament. The final inning of that game was nothing short of something written in the stars. Let's set the stage for a wild fifteen minutes.

     It was getting on to 10pm Tuesday and the Wolves had a 3-1 lead late in the game. Lightning had delayed the start of this huge game in the tourney, so it was getting late and the Gobblers had been handcuffed for most of the game by a young fire-baller named Brady Ouverson. He was lifted after giving up a walk to Jack Jacobson to start the seventh and Isaiah Juetten came on to hopefully finish off the victory. He coaxed Noklan Dotzler to hit a fly ball to right for the first out and after Bo Sanford bunted and was thrown out the Gobblers were down to their final out. Cole Trotter was hit by a pitch to bring the winning run to the plate but with two strikes Brandon Kunz was hit by a pitch and now the bases were loaded, and it would only take a base hit to tie the game. Eli McNevin ran for Kunz and again with two strikes, baseball lightning struck. Kyler Rikala was at the plate and he was also down to the final strike but he was not about to make the third out, no matter what, "I was telling myself from the inning before that if I got to the plate in the seventh I was going to walk it off, and it happened". Rikala lined a shot to the gap, and it got by the outfielders and all three runners scored and the Gobblers were on their way to the next round Thursday. We all know what happened there, but this was a huge win and Bo Sanford knows it, "You know it's been four years since we have been on the unbeaten game and we finally got back." Bedlam ensued after Rikala's walk-off and as he crossed the plate Gobbler fans looked to the sky as if they were looking for something and the Wolves and their fans seemed stunned by what had just happened. Coach Jeremy Janzen never had a doubt that the Gobblers would find a way to win this one, even with two strikes on three straight hitters, "I never doubt this team, they are so gritty and durable and anybody in the lineup can come through when they have the chance. There is something special about this crew", This is a team with a ton of seniors who have played a lot of baseball, and they just don't want this season to end and when it does it will hurt. That always shows you how much players care, they know their high school careers are getting close to being over and don't want it to end. I don't know whether "divine intervention" is what happened Tuesday but as the lights closed down and the crowds dispersed people were still looking to the sky and wondering, is this a team of destiny. Time will tell!   

      Well folks, another school year is just about over and as I said back in September, every year is special because it has its own group of seniors and senior athletes and this year has been no exception. This is a group of athletes graduating this week that will be remembered for a long time because of their team and individual accomplishments. I think my question for them this year however is what has high school sports meant to you over the years. First up Madyson Burgstaler, an outstanding volleyball and softball player, "High School sports has been a huge part of my life. They have taught me so many lessons and skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I have made so many friends and memories, I am going to miss it. I am excited to continue my sports career playing volleyball next year and making even more memories with new friends." Well said Maddy, how about the most decorated basketball player to ever play at Aitkin, Isaac Asmus, "High school sports have meant so much to me. They have created who I am, lifelong friendships and taught me how to overcome struggles. I have loved being part of a team with great coaches and teammates. It is something I will always look back on fondly. It gave me opportunities I might not have had otherwise. It also gave me an opportunity to be a role model for others and encourage them." It is always interesting to learn about athletes during their high school years, and they don't really change a lot. They have their goals, but they are high school kids, and they love being a part of a team and have success when they can. Here's track start Allie Ostrowski's take on what high school sports has meant to her, "High School sports has meant so much to me, through these sports I have been able to experience just how important the people around you are. I have made life-long friendships and memories with my teammates. These are the people who push you and make you better but are also there for you when you fail. These are the people you dance around with in the locker room and the people you cry with after a tough loss. High School teaches you how to be disciplined, work hard and always have the grit, but the most important thing it taught me was that being there for people and showing up is what really matters." Brandon Kunz had a great year on the gridiron last fall and now is enjoying a great year in baseball and he knows what these experiences have meant for him over the years, "High school sports for me has been a huge part of my life while at AHS. I am very grateful for all of my teammates and coaches. It's what has shaped me to be who I am today. I am also very thankful for the career I have been able to have because of these people." I have known many of this year's seniors for quite a while now, but one young lady has always stood out for me and she is, I think a role model that future athletes can look up to. She is a bulldog and is tough as nails. Haley Shereck was a good volleyball player, but she is a great softball player. Her stats this season are unreal and so impressive but the most important thing to me is that she is a consummate team player and that is much more important than anything she does on a personal level and she knows how important high school sports have been to her, "High School sports has taught me discipline, accountability and how to push through hardships. Waking up early for intense workouts and games taught me all of these things. I learned how to handle pressure, stay committed and keep showing up even when things got tough. Sports helped me grow not just as an athlete but as a person, building confidence and resilience that I will carry with me forever. They gave me amazing friendships, unforgettable memories and lessons that go far beyond the game. Being a part of a team helped shape who I am, taught me the value of hard work and prepared me for life after graduation. I am truly grateful for the opportunity of playing with such amazing girls and coaches and I will always remember it." Tyler Boyd had a nice final year in basketball and is playing baseball this spring as well and he echoed many of the things that his classmates said about high school sports, "To me high school sports have meant everything to me. Sports have been a part of my life forever and high school sports have been so much fun. They have given me memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. They have taught me hard work and perseverance, but ultimately they have made me a better person."     This year's senior class will do great things as they go forth into the next chapter of their lives, and I have no doubt of that. They will have their ups and downs, but everybody does, that's life. They are another wonderful group of graduates from Aitkin High School. I wish them the best of luck and to remember where they came from and come back and visit when you can. We'll be happy to see you!    

     Well folks, the obvious question to 14 year old Holden Spolarich was why rodeo and the next question was why bull riding. He was quick to answer both questions; "I always wanted to try it" and then "I want to win some belt buckles". He is a kid with resolve and even though this is his first year on the school rodeo circuit I could tell, this guy is in it for the long haul. He will be finishing the spring season this weekend in Fergus Falls at JH State hoping to earn a spot at Junior Nationals later on. He is into two different events at this point, "chute dogging" and "bull riding". Chute dogging is where you stand next to the steer with one horn secured and then try to dog it to the ground after getting it past the ten-foot distance requirement. After this year he will be moved up to "steer wrestling" where you have to ride the horse out, jump off and get the steer to the ground. That is quite different obviously and he doesn't know if he will take that on or not. He has been to one three-day clinic for training and is waiting to take in another soon. He is a part of the MSHRA, the Minnesota High School Rodeo Association and he is proud of how it's going so far. He learned about the rodeo from his friends, the Pylvanen family from the McGregor area. They have been very helpful to this point according to Holden's mom Jessica Janzen, "Everyone has been so helpful, whatever he needs they are right there, the entire rodeo family has been that way. His friends always make sure he's got all his equipment, mouth guard, vest, whatever. It's a different world for sure. The bull riding event is what intrigued me about this ambitious youngster, but he knows it has it's danger as well, "About 20 minutes before I ride, I start to get a little nervous especially just before the gate opens. The last thing I think of before it opens is don't get crushed and get to the fence as quick as I can. My last ride I got stepped on by a 1,000 pound bull so I'm recovering from that but it's all part of the sport. I've ridden 8 bulls so far." There is nobody to pick you up after the bull ride, there are the rodeo clowns but it's pretty much up to you to get to the fence and away from the bull. The bulls are all different of course, but you never know what it's going to do. Holden is a real "farmer" guy as you might know and he loves cows and has for a long time, so the rodeo thing is right up his alley. Mom was asked about her thoughts and after a big sigh she said, "I know he loves it". Holdens final thought was, "I'd like to keep doing it through high school and beyond". In the bull riding world they call it "8 seconds to glory". Don't bet against this guy, he's got everything he needs to succeed, now we need the bulls to cooperate!     

       Well folks, I have to be honest with you, I was a little disappointed when I heard the news last week that the contract of Kaija Davies would not be renewed for next year. She became the head girls basketball coach in 2022 when absolutely nobody wanted the job. It took a while to find someone who would join her as the JV coach until Henry Palm stepped up and took the job. As I contemplated what to write about the subject this week I finally came to the realization that my job is to give the student-athletes at Aitkin High School the best publicity I can during their run in school. My job doesn't encompass hiring and not renewing coaches if you will. That does not mean I can't have an opinion and on this subject, I do but the bottom line is, my opinion doesn’t matter. Decisions are made every day on more important items than this but sports is pretty much my life, ask my wife, and coaching changes are also a part of my professional life. You get to know people over the course of their coaching lives, what to expect and what you know will be a little harder to get out of them. But when you really get down to it, it has to be all about the kids. It's not about the administration, the school board or the parents. We have to be all in for student-athletes all the time. I wonder if we spend enough time talking to them about what they think or what they would like to see going forward. This is not about the performance of Kaija Davies and her coaching staff, it's about the failure to work together, all of us, to make it better for the kids. There is no blame here and whoever becomes the next girls basketball coach will encounter the same types of problems that all coaches do these days, but if they know that going in, they will be much the better for it. If life has taught us anything in the month of April it is that we will never get anything done unless we are all on the same page and work together. I will miss Kaija on the sidelines next season, but I will also embrace the new coach and their staff because that's my job, to do the best thing every day for the athletes I watch and cover. They deserve that!     

       Well folks, it's time for another edition of "Thoughts while sitting on the porch feeding Pompei (the squirrel).

1) The Twins are off to a flying start, could this be the year for a World Series run? Oh, please I know it's way too early.

2) The bowling season has just about ended at Aitkin Lanes. Perfect games were thrown this season by Jarred Burman, Isaac Collins and Jarred Bobenmoyer.

3) Jim Henrickson, Activities Director at Aitkin High School must be pulling his hair out this spring trying to schedule and reschedule Gobbler sporting events and just think we are a little over a month until the end of school.

4) The new batting cages are up at the softball complex. It truly was a community effort and will be a big help for the softball program through the years.

5) Who has the most girls tennis victories at Aitkin High School? The answer is Claire Browning with 142. Next in line Kelsey Klucas with 108 and Brianna Chatelle with 107.

6) The Gobbler baseball team was living on the high wire last week, winning one game after trailing 13-6 and the other after coming back in the seventh to win it in the 8th. The hero both times was Karson Hasskamp.

7) Five different Gobblers have hit homers for the Gobbler softball team so far. Natalie Stueven, Kate Palm, Sienna Melz, Madyson Burgstaler and Haley Shereck.

8) Isaiah Baker has been unstoppable in the long jump and triple jump events this spring for the Gobblers. (see track story)

9) No reason not to get out and enjoy home athletic events this week. There is plenty whether you're a baseball, softball or tennis fan, they are all home at some point this next few days. It’s good stuff!   

       Well folks, the cars were lining up, fans were coming through the gate bringing chairs and snacks and getting set up for a couple of hours in the sunny, chilly Friday afternoon. It is April and it should be warmer, but it seldom is and they know it. On the other side of the fence players are warming up seemingly uncaring about the nippy weather save for the gusty winds that were coming from the west. For some of the players this is their final first day on the field, but they don't think about that right now. They are tired of working out indoors for a month already and eager to get going with the season that will take them to the end of the school year. Back on the other side fans are pulling down their stocking caps and putting on their gloves. Many greet family and friends who have waited until closer to gametime to show up but they are not going to miss the events of the day. The sun provides a little warmth but for the most part it's going to be a cool day to watch their favorite players. The guy from the website shows up to take a couple headshots and waits for the players to adjust their hair against the strong breeze before getting the pics he needs. He moves over to where the Gobbler fan of our lifetime stands ready for the action to start. He already knows who is umping the baseball game at Mora and wonders why the umps for this softball game are late. He will undoubtedly know their names when they get there. Across the field at the Don Hagestuen Tennis Center another team is getting ready, and their fans are there as well. They find a good spot at one of the tables or they have brought their chairs as well. That wind is going to wreak havoc at that event too, but again nobody cares. They are there because they too are tired of being inside and are eager to play or watch the action. This is the day both teams have waited for, a chance to play in front of the home crowd for the first time. There are so many smiles to count, players, parents and fans alike. This is a chance to watch their favorite sons and daughters doing what they love to do. It's the "home opener" and it doesn't get any better. Parent's like to call it the last "first game" and as true as it might be, it's so much more. It's kids playing outside as God intended and parent's watching them. The wins and losses will come and go but the memories will remain in their hearts forever and that's what life is really all about!    

       Well folks, the weather hasn't been cooperating so far for outdoor sports activities for the area, so I guess we'll take a look this week at some of our former local athletes who are playing college ball this spring.

Ella Janzen-Mayville State Comets-having a good year as the junior has been hitting around the .300 mark. In her most recent action, she was 2-4 Friday with a pair of runs scored. She's been hanging around left field for most of the season.

Zach Ehnstrom-Concordia Cobbers-the junior catcher is hitting .310 with three runs scored and four runs batted in during recent games.

Megan Buchholz-the senior has made a move this season playing some infield and only appearing once in the circle where she spent most of her college career. She is 1-0 and gave up two earned runs in her only mound appearance but is hitting .279 while playing second base. She is a senior at Maine-Presque Isle, playing for the Owls.

Thor Dunham-The former Hill City grad and Aitkin Steam player, is a senior and playing for the Lakeland College Muskies in Plymouth, Wisconsin. He has thrown 1.2 innings in their abbreviated season so far, striking out one hitter.

Alex Palm-the junior is running track at Northwestern of St. Paul this spring but suffered a hamstring injury and is rehabbing at this point. He hopes to help the Eagles sooner than later this year.

Bella Dunham-the former Hill City grad is a freshman and playing softball for Minnesota North-Itasca this spring spending her time at catcher or the outfield. She's off to a good start hitting.440 with seven runs scored and three runs batted in.

     If you have a former area high school athlete playing in college this spring please let me know. I'd love to give them some press and see how they are doing.

      The news last week of a cooperative between Aitkin and C-I for girls tennis did surprise me a bit since both schools have been on their own for many years but on the other hand it will probably make the team a stronger one and perhaps give them a better chance to compete on the team level better than they have in the past. I understand that my old and good friend Jen Waldorf will continue to coach and she should. Not too many people know how much she puts into the tennis programs, both girls and boys, on a regular basis. We'll see how this plays out over the next few weeks as Activities Directors Jim Henrickson and Cley Twigg put their program into reality. 

      Most days you will find Adam Stafford in one of his bays at the Tire Barn servicing one of the many vehicles brought into his shop every day. In the month of February however you would have to travel to Alaska and look for him in Nome or Kotzebue or Fairbanks or one of many of the small villages along the way. He would be participating in the Iron Dog snowmobile race with his partner Wyatt Hooper and good luck finding him. Last week he was back in the shop, and we chatted about the race and what goes into preparing for it and the excitement about crossing the finish line, 2,318 miles later. My first question was why? "It was something I always wanted to do and although we raced last year, we didn't finish so that was enough incentive to try again this year, and we were able to finish. But it was a tough race. They don't call it the toughest race in the world for nothing. It is a challenge, it pushes you and you have to be mentally prepared as well. I'm 38 years old and Wyatt is 28 and believe me we both felt all of that by the time we crossed the finish line." This year brought a lot more snow than we had last year so that was a big problem, visibility was unbelievable, I couldn't see Wyatt in front of me, and he was only five feet out front. We had our GPS systems, but you can get off course so easily and not know where you are. Once we got off track and had to pay villagers to get out front and clear a path for us to get back on the trail. More than once we said to ourselves what are we doing out here. We had to have some extra tools flown in and the cost was enormous. Anything you need once you get started has to be flown in and it might be two or three days and you must have all your tools and extra parts on your sled when you leave the starting point. Along the way if you break down and have to call to be brought out they might tell you hunker down and stay warm, we'll see you in the morning. I mean this is real life when you are out there, anything can happen. You might encounter wolves, bear and even moose and they aren't getting off the trail for you." Adam teared up a little when he saw the finish line ahead of him, "When you get close you start to see civilization and then fireworks go off and you see the arch and then your family. People are so excited to see you and seeing my family there waiting for me was pretty special." There are some special times on the trail as well and Adam shared a couple of those moments, "We came into one of the small villages and the kids are all lined up and want you to autograph their snowmobile helmets or pictures, heck nobody ever asked for my autograph before this but it's a big deal for them and we were more than willing to accommodate them. One lady gave us a place to rest and sleep and fed us, and I guess she stayed up for 31 hours straight to help the racers when they came in. That's the kind of people you see on a race like this. It's once a year and they are out in the middle of nowhere and love to see someone come through. They always have plenty of food because they can take five caribou a day up there so there's always a few hanging ready to fix for dinner." What was the worst part for you? "I guess the worst part was coming out of Kotzebue and turning into open water. I've driven on open water before, but this was 400-500 yards from shore so all I could do is gun it and lay on the gas. I actually saw waves on the way in, but I got there and talk about a sense of relief. It's hard to believe but I made it." What about the best part, "All the warm welcomes from the villagers, they do a lot of things for us during the race and it's really unbelievable how they treat us. I can't thank them enough. This was something I wanted to say I did and now that I've felt the exhilaration of finishing this race the pressure is off. Would I do it again, not this next year but maybe, I'm not getting any younger. It's an enormous load on my family and it's very expensive so that all goes into the equation as well. We finished 12th this year and I should mention that there was even a little trash talking the final 56 miles. Some of the other racers mentioned that there wouldn't be any passing over the final 56 miles due to slim trail conditions and such, but we didn't pay a lot of attention and actually passed three teams along the way to get into 12th. It was just a little gamesmanship between racers, nothing wrong with that." 2,318 miles on snowmobile through blinding snow and violent winds, you have to love it, and I guess that's why Adam Stafford and Wyatt Hooper do it. Congratulations guys!