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Steve Howard |
THE UP-SIDE IN FLY OVER COUNTRY
By Steve Howard: USAPL Executive Committee, South Dakota State Chair
As the USAPL executive committee member living in the heart of "fly over country" I will give a report on USAPL progress in the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.
Colorado:
Ok, Colorado might not exactly be true fly over country but I am real proud of the work every one is doing there. I have just returned from Denver where I administered state referee exams congratulations and my thanks to Gary Gertner, Dan Gudreau, and Gary Kibel for completing the state referee exam. Earlier this year, (superbowl Sunday?!), I gave practical exams to three Cadets at the US Air Force Academy so the referee base in Colorado continues to grow. The meet was the Colorado State Open directed by Out going state chair and first time meet director Brent McCune. Brent did a fine job with his first meet on short notice as well as dealing with all the other challenges faced by a meet director. The state chair election was held before the meet and Steve Heyl was elected as state chair Congratulations Steve for this and future contributions. The Colorado State Open drew almost fifty lifters and was well supported by many of the regulars I have come to know over the last six years of lifting in and helping with meets in Colorado. Gary Gertner and Dan Gudreau as well as Captain Brian Freidhoff of the US Air Force Academy are other new meet directors starting to pick up the load in Colorado.
Nebraska:
Nebraska has been kept pretty well nailed down in the east over the years by the likes of Jim Hart, Ed Nellor, and Tim Anderson and many other fine people in eastern Nebraska who accept the challenges of working to propel our organization. I also want to mention Bryan Getchell the enthusiastic new USAPL state chair in Iowa. In western Nebraska we have two new shinning stars in Matt and Michelle James. Over the last two years Matt and Michelle have taken and passed the state ref exam and have directed two high quality meets in Alliance, Nebraska (yes the original home of Iron Man Magazine and powerlifting pioneers Perry and Maybelle Rader). Matt and Michelle were indispensable in the production of the highly successful 2001 USAPL men's nationals in Omaha this last year.
Matt and Michelle have also been active as competitors, helpers, and officials in meets in not only Nebraska but also South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming and are one of the many husband and wife teams active in powerlifting in our area. Be sure and look for the entry forms from Matt and Michelle for their third annual meet in Alliance in August 2002.
North Dakota:
With the departure of state chair and powerlifting great Gene Bell, Diane Siveny has been elected as state chair in North Dakota. After only starting to powerlift competitively in 1998 Diane is already a veteran of national and world competition. Diane must not be busy enough as she has already held a push pull meet, set up a ND USAPL web site, and is planning what will be the first USAPL North Dakota State meet in some time. Diane as well as Rich Edinger, and Troy Weipert have recently been involved as lifters, coaches, and officials in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
South Dakota:
Since I became the South Dakota chair in 1997 I have received great support from my hometown and surrounding area in directing the Great West PL championships in the spring and the Dakota Open in the fall. I would like to thank the meet directors that have stepped up to direct our state meets in South Dakota over this time: Greg Wagner in 1997, Steve Hilton in 1998 and 1999, Jim Adams in 2000, and Jeff Blindauer 2001.
We are planning the next Great West for Feb 23rd 2002 here in Rapid City, and Jeff Blindauer is directing the 2002 state meet in Sioux Falls. The next Dakota open will be in Oct. or Nov. 2002.
In 2003 we plan our usual meet schedule along with hosting the 2003 USAPL men's nationals July 18-20th here in Rapid City and the Black Hills. I hope everyone attending this meet will make time to see the great attractions of my area, with Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mountain, Devils Tower National Monument, Badlands National monument just to name a few it will be worth your while.
Wyoming:
Wyoming state chair Ron Erickson has had four meets take place in his state since the start of his tenure just over two years ago and has been the meet director of two of these meets. Ron and wife Shelly have meets going in two different cities in Wyoming, Gillette and Cheyenne. Thank you to Barb Cathey, Bill Collins, Mark Herrmann and Club Energize for helping to bring USAPL sanctioned meets to the city of Gillette. My thanks to Body by Design and the great crew and sponsors in Cheyenne for supporting USAPL in that city.
We have our challenges in this region mostly just with the distances that we have had to deal with as these five states have a land mass of over 422,000 square miles.
The bottom line is support despite the distances involved the USAPL members of this large area are becoming more of a team with each passing year. We can all thank our involvement with powerlifting for the friendships we have developed and continue to strengthen.
At times it becomes easy for any of us to become mired in the negative but with my trip this last weekend I was heartened by all the positives. The people I have previously mentioned are just a few of the many that have made me feel most welcome in my travels in this area.
Thanks again to everyone for your support of USAPL
Steve Howard
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