alexandriacardinals

[“Tommy” Obert and Lenore Crouse in 1957, prior to Title IX.]

[Super Fans in 2010, delighted to be enjoying the fruits of Title IX.]

From Bruce Olson [June 26, 2008] on his daughter:  Here is Ahna (Alex ’06 hockey alum) at the US NCAA  D-1 Finals. They (University of Wisconsin) won this race against Michigan State, Yale, Princeton and a couple of other no name’s…………………. [Ahna is closest face to camera]

[Danielle to her mom, September 10, 2008] Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?

p.s. Attached is a picture from graffiti night…that’s Kat (DelZoppo, r.) and her roommate Mollie Carroll.

[September 12, 2008] Dear Danielle,

Just wanted to check in to see how you and Del are doing.  And to let you know that, as promised, we are doing are best to look out for the empty nest parents.  We had your folks over for pizza on Wednesday, along with a group of snowbird Superfans, to watch the state tournament games.  Everybody seemed to have a good time.  Tonight was the beginning of the Grape Stomp at the winery – your Dad was able to discover a couple of Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders there!

 All for now.  Say “hi” to Del.  You guys be good, study hard, and always listen to your mom and dad.

Love,  Ruthie & Tom

[October 14, 2008]  Cards end regular season as 7th-ranked team in the state . . .

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=395052165902099198

and by beating St. Cloud Tech tonight – 25-18, -18, -14 – ended their
conference schedule with a 12-0 record, a 22-4 overall record, their 18th
conference title in the last 21 years (including 15 in a row).  Shown is
game point in game 2, served out by Sam Dale with Sam “The Stuffer” Trumm
getting a block midcourt halfway through the point.  The Cards will be the
No. 1 seed when the sectionals begin.  The still photo is by the cub reporter covering the Echo Press covering the game.

[October 23, 2008]  Can you find Ashley [Holmes]?

She’s has two assists in the Sioux’s first 4 games.  Unbelievably, I could not find statistics on the Mankato State website, so I don’t know how Abby is doing.  Gustavus’s schedule doesn’t state until Nov. 7, so nothing to report on Danielle and Del.  [Ashley, 3^rd player from right, back row.]

[November 10, 2008]  The Cub Reporter – when news breaks, he’s always there to fix it!  Based on information from my source, Deep Doodoo, hiding somewhere within the bowels of Jefferson Senior High School, I can now report with total fear of contradiction that the hockey and basketball cheerleading squads, as well as the ever expanding danceline, have been announced for the approaching with caution season.  Photos are attached, but names have been excluded to protect those in the federal witness protection program.

[Danceline]

[Basketball Cheerleaders]

[Hockey Cheerleaders]

[November 19, 2008]  While Ruthie was spending the day trying to determine who would be the next U.S. senator from the state of Minnesota (and looking “sophisticated, intelligent, sexy, and sharp” doing so, according to a fan, who may also double as her agent), the cub reporter spent his day trying to overcome his recently diagnosed lower-back arthritis by going to his chiropractor (who informed him he also has an arthritic neck and shoulders [we’re beginning to think major hallucinogenic drugs here]) and then on to the “man’s mall” to get a Stability Ball (appropriate tool for someone who is generally unstable, as witnessed by the ever growing length of this sentence) for therapeutic purposes.  Here he performs his magic on said ball, which he was required to inflate with a little plastic thingee that came in the box.  Said inflation took several hours, with multiple stops to pop nitroglycerin pills to ward off the frequent angina attacks that occurred as a result of the inflationary efforts.  The day was saved by the arrival of our framed poster of our girls state hockey championship.  I hope you noticed that at no time during this mental rambling was Sarah Palin ever mentioned.  Thank you . . . and goodnight.

[November 21, 2008]  Michelle Anez’s first goal and I called it!  The Cards were on a power play, so I said Michelle is going to score here.  You could feel it because she had had several good scoring chances prior to then.  Unfortunately, neither Annen nor I had our cameras rolling on Michelle’s 2nd goal – it was a jaw-dropping solo effort. She is the star of this team – a beautiful skater, with style and power – and will certainly play Division I hockey after she graduates.  I hope to capture a good example of her skating abilities in future games – plus I’m sure you enjoy my mumbling commentary in the background. Fans may recall Michelle scored the winning goal in both the state semi-final and championship games last year:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3695664662113605219

[November 21, 2008]  Beth Rindy’s goal – what are the odds that in spot shooting I was able to video 2 goals?  Beth is a junior defenseman, and here she scores on a nice slap shot.  Never mind the mumbling in the background – although Annen was proud to announce he had been videoing at the same time.  Did I mention it was real hockey weather? Below zero wind chills!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9141855567063567465

[November 24, 2008]  Another clip from the Detroit Lakes hockey game a little skating exhibition by Michelle Anez.  You can hear me saying “C’mon, Michelle” as she skates through mid ice, down the far side, and comes back out to take a backhand shot.  She is a joy to watch skate. Alexis Nielson got off a nice shot at the end, but she didn’t score.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1852951242633362872

More anon . . .

In an effort to ward off the angst of yet another washed out weekend, blog staff decided to wade into the archives – back to the early years of Superfandom. From 2008 on . . . the top photo, again, is of the seniors on the 2008 state championship hockey team – the inspiration for what ultimately became this blog.

[February 16, 2008]  The supervisor with Boog Powell at Camden Yards in Baltimore – 1992.  As I’m typing this, she is totally on her own watching the boys’ state hockey tournament.  She must be becoming a real fan!

 

[February 18, 2008]  The state champion hockey team doesn’t look quite as tough in Midwinter attire.

 

 

 

 

[February 29, 2008]  Angela Christianson’s 54-point night.

 

 

 

[Photo courtesy Monte Draper, Bemidji Pioneer: Alexandria’s Angela Christianson scored 54 points for the Cardinals in their opening round game of the Section 8AAAA playoffs, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 67-64, ending their season.]

[March 20, 2008]   A little photo (from the Echo” about why everybody loves Abby Williams.   Here she is – all-state hockey player, over 300 points in her career – a senior leading a bunch of 5th-graders in her role on the Cardinal Leadership Team.  You can see why all the little girls look to her as a hockey mentor and want to play the sport – they’re all already as big as she is!

 

[March 25, 2008]  Tonight was the annual hockey banquet, and the Super Fans were once again delighted to be invited.  The hosts of this year’s event were Kyle and Deb Hvezda, parents of 8th-grade defenseman, Heather, at the building on their property known as “The Barn.”   On our way in, we were intercepted by the cheerleading squad – and Doctor Colonel Professor Kiehne had the audacity tonight, after receiving my photo today of the first hole at the Alex Golf Club, to ask why we live in this god-forsaken place!

  

 

All-state, all-tournament, all-world goalie, Danielle “Roadblock” Justice, displays the cake with the names of the players for the state champion Cardinals.  Oh, and did I mention all seven seniors are members of the National Honor Society (GPA’s above 3.5)?

  

 

[April 15, 2008]  After much searching, checking with professional model agencies, we finally found a gal worthy to display the girls hockey state championship sweatshirt Unfortunately, we had no luck finding an appropriate guy.

 

 

[Sue Justice writing about her hammock-habitating daughter Danielle on April 17, 2008.]  I think she wants MY job! Or is she dreaming of the perfect job….?  This was taken today around 3:30 pm. It’s 56 degrees outside. Notice the completely frozen lake in the background.  

 

 

[May 2, 2008]   As coverer of Cardinal Girls Sports Beat, it is my honor to announce that freshman Rosey Erickson this week set a new school record for the long jump at 18’3″ – that is also the longest jump in the state this year!  This is not a surprise.  Rosey has been competing on the national level since she was a 7th-grader.  I believe she is undefeated this year in the 200-meter dash, and she anchors the relay teams.  Cardinal football fans may remember her brother Jason was the starting halfback on the last Cardinal team to reach the Final 4 in the Metrodome (2003?) and finished 2nd in the state in the 100 meter dash his senior year – Jason, I believe, is still a 400 meter runner for the “U.”

(* The photo of Rosey was pilfered from the Bluebird Today website and was taken in ’06.  Hey, I can’t be everywhere!)

 

 

[May 3, 2008]   After following Brittney, the oldest Bruzek daughter, through her career as a Cardinal sports star in hockey and softball; Gracie is the next in line.  She is the point guard for the basketball team and the shortstop for the softball team.  The photo was taken today behind the dugout- the Cards were hosting a four team tournament (results by separate e-mail) on a bright sunny day, but with wind chills probably in the 20’s.  Nice serape, Bud!

  

 

[From Sue Justice on May 21, 2oo8 – Prom photo of Abby, Danielle, and Kathryn.]  As promised!  

   

 

May 26, 2008:  On behalf of all the Super Fans, we’d just like to thank you again for the Memories Book – and, of course, the Cub Reporter plaque!  Those were beautiful notes, and photos, from all of you in the Memories Book – and we were able to scan copies for all the Super Fans.  Here is a photo of Ruthie proudly showing off the Memories Book to Mom Obert over Memorial Day weekend.  And as an added bonus, we have included photos of rare solo performances at the RCC by Kristi Yamaguchi and Marian Gaborik – someday these photos could be worth thousands of . . . well, OK, a buck and a quarter.

Best wishes,  Ruthie & Tom

 p.s.  The term “super seniors” in this context does not, of course, mean that you appear to be octogenarians!

 

 And more to come . . .  

 . . . you should see, just because they were taken by moi.  [Full moon rising over beautiful Lake Darling, May 16.]

Last night at Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, the Salty Dogs (Erik Schultz on guitar, Bill Riggs on trumpet, and Tom Mulder on vocal cords) performed Hallelujah and Carrickfergus  – if you do not love these songs, you are a “poopie butt” (How’s that, Jo?)!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_QaTJBS5Hg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz-U_3QsZKM

Alexandria junior, Jamie “The Peeper” Piepenburg, winning the 1,600 (she’s the defending state champion in the event) at a tri-meet on May 17:

[Editor’s note:  All nicknames are courtesy of Super Fan, Bob “Weakie” Annen.]

At the confluence of Lakes Darling and Cowdry, the Darling side, taken last night:

Joie Warnes winning the 110 meter hurdles on May 17 (today’s Echo reports that Joie has signed a letter of intent to compete for Jamestown College in track and soccer – congrats to her!):

 

[Editor’s note: To the young ladies holding the sign above – not to worry, I recently went to Cowing-Robards and ordered more Trumms. Yesterday morning at the “Y” I rifled in 31 consecutive free throws. That is the 2nd time I have cracked the 30 barrier as an officially designated old person. And it reminded me I have a lot of catching up to do to wrap up the basketball season.]

You may recall, though it seems so long ago now, that Sam and Lauren Trumm were named to the all-tournament team at the girls’ state basketball tournament. The staff photographer, their proud father, captured the ceremony. As members of my favorite team, Sam and Lauren earned their honors in a manner they had all season – as part of the team, where every player’s role was to play defense like crazy and to share the ball. Lauren is the upfront catalyst who could often score points in bunches when the team’s defensive pressure caused turnovers. She is a great finisher. Sam is the under-sized (at 6’1”) center who throughout the tournament was facing opponents taller than her – often by several inches. But at no time during the season did she face anyone who was quicker, faster, or a better leaper than she is – and it was great fun to watch her use those abilities.

[The team at tournament’s end.]

[Pre-ceremony instructions with players from Benilde-St. Margaret’s.]

[Requisite pre-ceremony waiting.]

[Lauren gets the call.]

[Sam’s turn.]

[“Congrats, sis!”]

[The hardware.]

[“BSM, we wanna a rematch.”]

And, the post-season banquet:

And someday we’ll get around to the games . . .