LEAH YAVAROW: MINDFUL CURLER

March 6, 2024 “I started curling like most people do—as a family sport,” says Leah Yavarow of her introduction to the sport.  Born in 2001 to parents Mike, a firefighter, and Carrie, a registered nurse, in Bemidji, Minnesota, Leah began curling at age six as part of a community education program. Always active, Leah started

Amy Peterson Peck: : EXPERIENCING JOY BOTH FROM THE URBAN LIFE OF THE EAST SIDE OF ST PAUL TO A 1,000 MILK-COW DAIRY FARM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

August 12, 2023 A five-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist, Amy Peterson Peck of St. Paul and Maplewood, is now the mother of four boys who lives on a large dairy farm in a scenic area of upstate New York called Schuylerville. Visiting the humble 2002 Olympic flag bearer recently, we were rewarded by meeting

BILL ISRAELSON: BAREFOOT 10-YEAR-OLD CADDIED FOR GEORGE MIKAN, USED $15 TIP ON BASEBALL SPIKES

“Bemidji had a great sports culture and was a great place to grow up,” says Bill Israelson before rattling off name after name of high-achieving athletes who competed for the Bemidji High School Lumberjacks which has had more state boys’ golf appearances than any other Minnesota high school (25), had several curlers on Olympic teams

Kelly Skalicky: WELCOME THE BEST COMPETITION

October 12, 2021 Born in 1963 to an active and athletic family, Kelly Skalicky of Albany, Minnesota, quickly became acquainted with better competition through her older brother, Jeff, and became prominent in state basketball and on the national golf landscape. “I gravitated to what Jeff did in sports,” says Kelly. “I tagged along with him

John Pohl: JUNIOR YEAR AT RED WING, SENIOR YEAR AT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WERE STORYBOOK SEASONS

December 6, 2022 Part of a true brotherhood, John Pohl is the oldest of four boys of a Red Wing, Minnesota teacher, hockey coach, and athletic director father, Jim, and lawyer mother, Joanne. Born in 1979, John was joined by brothers, Mark, Mike, and Tommy within the next five years. “We boys did everything together,”

JULIE GUMLIA: MINNESOTA WOMEN’S STATE AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPION AT 14, FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR PEOPLE IN HER LIFE

Julie Gumlia Marvel’s love of sports is clear in even her earliest memories. “I grew up in a close-knit family, we loved to play and watch all sports together especially golf, says Julie of her childhood in Crookston, Minnesota (located about 20 miles from the North Dakota border) and summers spent at her grandmother’s cottage in Bemidji,

BIG TEN MEDAL OF HONOR: SOME MINNESOTA NAMES

Cited as the most exclusive conference award given to only one male and one female student athlete at each of the 14 Big Ten institutions for achieving greatest proficiency in athletics and academics, the Big Ten Medal of Honor was brought to my attention as I continued research for a book on Minnesota Olympians.It’s an

Bits of Sports News; Lots of Griak

Emily Shilson (Maple Grove), daughter of Margaret and Chad Shilson, qualified in wrestling for the Youth Olympics in Argentina in October. Emily has previously qualified for the state boys’ wrestling tournament the past two years and was recently crowned Cadet World Champion at 43 kilograms. Lots of Minnesota representation: Tori Dixon (Burnsville), Hannah and Paige

Crediting Coaches

Minnesota athletes interviewed usually state a common goal: “to give back.” They appreciate the support received from family, friends, teammates, and their local community, but voice an emphasis on coaches who have helped their athletic careers. Here are a few names mentioned by those contacted. Runner Garrett Heath (who finished 5th in the 10,000-meter run