alexandriacardinals

The girls hockey team came out flying last night against their latest consortium opponent, the Sartell-St. Stephen/Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm’n Sabres (Sartell is the Sabres part, Sauk Rapids the Storm). The Cards totally dominated the first place team in the conference (their only loss was to Alex, 5-2, at their place in the third game of the season) in the first period and had a 10-3 shot advantage. The 2nd period was much of the same, and finally Shelby Iverson scored to give the Cards a 1-0 after 2 periods. Then a funny thing happened. The teams totally reversed their roles. The Cards appeared exhausted and the Storm’n Sabres took over the game. (There was no mention by the hockey parents around us, but we had to wonder whether they were feeling all right. Illness has been going the school – Claire Illies played in the Tuesday game but her parents said she felt awful, and last night only two of the five cheerleaders were there because of illness.) The Storm’n Sabres have a Division I prospect who we held totally in check in the first two periods, but Kendra Rasmussen took over the third. She is the real deal, and only a junior. She has been averaging two goals a game this season, and she scored twice in the 3rd. Her 2nd came shortly after Shelby had scored again for the Cards giving us a brief 2–1. The game went into OT, but there was little question which team was going to win – the momentum was all with the Storm’n Sabres. Shortly into OT, the Cards got a penalty, and Rasmussen scored the game winner (and a hat trick for her) almost immediately.

Super Fan attendance has been falling. Last night some of the hockey moms came over and sat with us because we looked lonely. Dusty did arrive at game time, and Karen Meuwissen came with daughter Beth Rindy (from last year’s team), who was still on holiday break from Bemidji State. We’ll keep cheering the team on, and we still like their chances come tournament time.

After a good showing at the Roseau Holiday tournament, the boys hockey team has lost two in a row. Last night at Sartell, 6-3. Their record is now 4-8.

The comeback story of the year is the boys basketball team. They started the season 0-3 and looked dead in the water. After beating St. Cloud Tech, 59-50, on the road last night, they have now won four games in a row. The girls basketball team takes their unbeaten record to Apollo tonight. They are tied with Sartell for 1st place, as Sartell just defeated Fergus, the other previously unbeaten conference team.

p.s. Shoulda known something bad was going to happen last night – forgot my camera! Another sign of onrushing senility.

Well, it is my blog, after all! Today I discovered I was a Sweat Equity winner at the “Y” for the month of December. As Woody Allen said, “90 per cent of life is just showing up.” So, I do. Six days a week, weather permitting. You can earn up to two punches a day by working out for an hour (and I do two) on an 8-punch card. So I had several cards in the box. My booty (I heard that!) was a towel, a t-shirt, and a water bottle. I was expecting a 2-week, all expenses paid, trip to the Iberian Peninsula.

Today was the semi-usual work out. Shoot hoops until I make 10 free throws in a row – that unexpectedly took a half hour today (made 11). Then 40 minutes of walking, part of the time with 10-pound dumbbells (I heard that!). Then 30 minutes on a stationary bike. Then a cool down shooting hoops again. I got home to discover that the several recent dustings actually amounted to 3” or so – so I decided to shovel the entire driveway. Another 45 minutes. It was 3 degrees outside, bright and sunny, no wind – meaning it was beautiful (of course, by afternoon it was totally overcast and looking like snow). It’s amazing how the body adapts to the season – I was perfectly comfortable with a spring weight jacket with just a t-shirt underneath.

But having done all that, I continue to be amazed that I don’t have a build like Adrian Peterson (rather than one like Oscar Peterson!).

The Willmar game photos are in. Once again, the staff photographer did an excellent job capturing the player of the game interview with KXRA’s Dave Harris and Bob Cunniff. Whitney Gesell (No. 33), 6’1” junior forward, was selected for her 8 points and rebounding off the bench. Whitney is a very valuable asset because she supplies the size and athleticism to spell Sam or Alli, who as the last line of defense can encounter foul difficulties.

I go to the gym six times a week. I know my zoftigness would seem to belie that fact. I begin each session on the basketball court – I have to make 10 free throws in a row before I move on to my workout routine, walking around and around and around and around [With each lap I pass the torture room. Hockey moms go into the torture room. That is a story for another day. In the business, that’s what we call a “teaser”]. Yesterday, I choked. I made 16 free throws in a row but shanked the next attempt, which would have tied my personal record at the “Y.” And that leads me to . . .

Wrapping up the holiday basketball tournament . . . before the staff photographer comes in with a fresh batch (oops, just noticed the Willmar photos are in). These are the fun ones, and include my favorites.

The fans:

[Destined to be an all-time classic.  The proud grandpas -Jack Trumm on the front row and Martin Haar right behind him.]

[The reporter’s vantage point – way upper right.  No wonder the staff photographer can scoop me!  I’m an alum – and a veteran, for pete’s sake!  You’d think I could get box seats on the 50-yard line?  And right in front of me are more Super Fans – Jeanne and Dave Hoyme.  The Hoymster is a retired veteran so shouldn’t have to hike up to the nose bleed section!]

[Wayne Elton.  Began his Alexandria career as principal to my senior class.  Here he is drawing from a lottery box held by Ted Haar.  Probably for some fans to win seats the Hoymster and I should have!]

The team:

[The starters gather on court prior to the opening tip apparently to encourage one another.  I found the one of the Trumm sisters laughing heartily particularly (is that like a double adverb?) delightful – and wonder if Alli had just relayed an “Ole and Lena” joke?]

[“Let’s do it!”]

The dancers:

[Well, it’s not all just about throwing a ball through a hoop.  The team did beat Moorhead under a scoring system that is totally foreign to me.  The routines do require incredible endurance.]