Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

I’ve really enjoyed the Hall of Fame writeups of this year’s eight inductees for the Minnewaska Area Sports Hall of Fame and I want to thank Bill Mills and Matt Pederson for all the work they’ve done in putting together the information and submitting it each week to the Pope County Tribune.

I started working at the PCT last summer and was able to help publish a few of the HOF inductees from last year’s induction class.  That helped me learn more about the school and some of the great student-athletes that have played for Glenwood, Starbuck and Minnewaska Area High Schools over the years.

Benson High School tried to do a similar thing to honor past BHS graduates in a variety of ways, but after a few years, it was discontinued for some reason.

It’s nice to see MAHS feels it’s important to highlight the great student-athletes from the past and what better way than to honor them by being named to the MAHS Hall of Fame.

Can’t wait to see the HOF inductees for next year.  Thanks again Matt and Bill.

•  As a sidenote, I also want to thank Holly Kovarik for her continued help in providing pictures for the Pope County Tribune in the sports of cross-country, wrestling and track and field. 

She is one of a handful of people that have helped me with pictures throughout the school year. 

Holly has been very helpful in helping to assist the PCT in covering away events during the school year and she is not only consistent with her pictures, but she also continually surprises me with the great pictures she does take.  Just wish I could use more.

And, thanks to head boys soccer coach David Vinje for agreeing to continue providing soccer writeups for the PCT.  When Ted Hill retired last year, I started preparing myself for writing up the soccer results myself.  Thankfully, coach Vinje stepped up and agreed to continue providing commentary for the results so that the soccer athletes are recognized the way they should.

Yes, small-town newspapers can’t do it alone and we thank all the community members who help us out every year in helping to provide pictures, information and ideas.