SPORTS WRAP
“It is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before,” declares Katie Glaser about the Women’s Barbell Classic coming to Owatonna High School for a second straight year. Organized by the Iowa-based Raise the Bar Initiative, it’s this Saturday, Oct. 18.
Glaser is a lifter and helped bring the event to town. “It’s such a cool organization. It does so much for the women and girls that do it. Let’s bring it to Minnesota… And the really cool thing about this event is that it’s not just any old sports competition. It’s a party to celebrate women, to empower women,” she said.
“Raise the Bar Initiative really started as a way to get women’s strength training into schools for girls and into programs and corporations to be able to teach women strength and empowerment and confidence through strength training,” said Glaser.
Nearly 150 girls and women ages eight to 79 from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin will assemble at OHS. The field is full, but spectators are invited to soak up the enthusiasm and cheer them on. It’s also a chance for those who may have an interest to learn more about Raise the Bar.
Dani Klinkner told Owatonna Live last year’s event made a big impact. “We’ve got about double the people coming to compete this year. Spectators and the people who competed last year had a really great experience with it. More people wanted to be involved,” said Klinkner.
She’s seen life lessons for her own daughters Charlotte and Louella, who have competed for a couple of years. “I have noticed that when things in life get hard in other areas, I’m able to refocus them. Remember when you just failed that bench press, even though the day before you could do it, and the next day you could do it again. They stop and they think about it.”
Klinkner is struck by another story. “A lady that I know who I’ve watched progress in her deadlift over the last couple of years. And I’m really hoping that she hits 400 pounds,” she said.
Glaser said awareness is getting stronger around the community, in part due to recruiting efforts that have become known as “getting Katied” as she encourages others to give it a try.
They have hosted educational sessions to teach lifting techniques. She looks forward to adding more programs in the future, connecting with OHS strength and conditioning coach Jerry Eggermont and Owatonna Parks and Recreation.
Doors open at 9 a.m. on Saturday at OHS. Admission is $10. Proceeds benefit the programs sponsored by Raise the Bar Initiative.
An Owatonna welcome
“We extend a warm welcome to every incredible woman competing,” states Glenda Smith, Director of Conventions and Tourism at the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce. “While attending the event last year it was fun to see the multigenerational women competing, and at the same time being so encouraging to each other. The atmosphere created by the event is truly powerful.
“Single-day events like this are also highly beneficial to our community. We can anticipate approximately half of the competitors and their families to stay at least one night in our community. That, in turn, provides a crucial economic boost, generating an estimated $54,000 in direct spending.”
Blades hockey
Steele County Blades junior hockey found themselves in first-period deficits in a pair of weekend games, rallying for a 7-5 win over the Outlaws on Saturday in East Bethel but falling to the Express 8-4 on Sunday at Four Seasons Centre.
Trailing 4-1 after one at the Outlaws, the Blades scored four goals in the second period and had seven players score on the night. Against the Express, Steele County was down 3-1 at first intermission and pulled within a goal in the opening minute of the second period. But the team from Spooner, Wisconsin scored the next four goals including a pair shorthanded.
The Blades are still off to a strong 4-2 start overall. Third-year defenseman Trevor Dolata (Kansas City, Kansas) was named a U.S. Premier Hockey League player of the week for games on Oct. 3-4 when he had two goals and two assists. “We’re moving the puck, just sticking to our game and that’s really doing well for us. Hard work and sticking to your own personal game and working together as a team,” said Dolata.
Goalie Patrick O’Gara (Chicago, Illinois) is one of several players, in addition to coaches Logan Wilt and Chase Crawshaw, who were part of the Dells Ducks last season. “I think it’s been going very smooth so far. We’ve got a group of great guys in my opinion. Everyone gets along super well. I think we have a great team. We have a lot of chemistry,” said O’Gara.
The Blades host games on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19, both at 7 p.m.
50th anniversary
Three members of the inaugural Owatonna High School girls’ cross-country team from 1975 came to Brooktree Golf Course for the Oct. 2 Huskies meet to honor the 50th anniversary of the program.
Becky Kirchgasler was a senior and found joy in coming back to town from her home in South Dakota. “It’s an honor, especially because it’s the Ev Berg Invitational. He was a great man and a great coach. We were the first girls’ team. And so, I don’t think we knew what we were getting into. Nor did he,” said Kirchgasler.
She admits she didn’t realize then how special the opportunity to compete in sports was. “So many life lessons. So many wonderful people that I met. Not only from my own team, and coaches, but other teams. I had a really good friend who was an Austin athlete.”
Regina McGoth was a sophomore. “I was all for getting stuff started to give women more opportunities. I think it was kind of early in Title IX which is what got us going. I wanted to do what I could to support it,” said McGoth.
Her brothers ran as well. “The camaraderie of the team was just incredible. We practiced, boys and girls together. And Ev Berg, he was not coddling us. He was not saying, ‘Oh, this is a girls team, I’m going to treat them easy.’ So many people from those teams just became really great friends over the years. There just was such strong support for each other,” added McGoth, who lives in the Twin Cities.
Both were already members of the track and gymnastics teams. Kirchgasler says Sandy Boss had a hand in getting those programs off the ground. “She taught us everything we knew about sports and the integrity of it, the skill of it.”
Andrea Johnson of Owatonna joined the team briefly as a sophomore. “They were just really cool people, especially Regina. She’s the one who encouraged me. I wanted to hang out with them,” said Johnson.
She was there for picture day and was part of the official team but didn’t run due to illness. She was in band, choir, and theater and appreciated sports becoming an option for her friends. “I think it was wonderful. It’s sad to think that it wasn’t there before then.”
Johnson found sports later. “I did start playing intramural volleyball in college. We played volleyball at our wedding instead of a dance… I did run some in college recreationally. I found out that I could do it and enjoy it. Wish I would have done it earlier.”
Bananas are coming
Banana Ball is coming to Target Field. It’s not baseball and the rules are different. “Walks” are a sprint around the bases. Bunting leads to an ejection. Foul balls caught by fans are outs. Games are on a two-hour time limit.
Dancing and trick plays add to the non-traditional aspect of this game. I’ve watched so many highlights on my social media feeds that I feel like I’m a fan of this sports entertainment genre.
The Savannah Bananas will play games in downtown Minneapolis Aug. 7-9 next year. I entered the lottery for the chance to purchase tickets at face value and avoid the secondary market markup for this wildly popular event that filled football stadiums this summer.
I spoke with people who attended Banana Ball at CHS Field this year and they had a great time. How long this phenomenon will last is anyone’s guess.