By Janet Larson

This Alexandria Horseshoe Club is only two years old. It has seven members. The oldest pitcher is 12 years old, yes that is correct, and the youngest pitcher is nine. This is not the Alexandria Horseshoe Club that many of you have heard of. This is the Alexandria JUNIOR Horseshoe Club and they earned a BIG award.

Jackson Fiala is eleven. He just started pitching this year with a pair of horseshoes he got from his great-grandfather. Ryan Boyer is nine and started pitching last year with a pair of horseshoes he got from Tim Bayerl. Marshal Swenson is the pro of this threesome; he is eleven but rather small in stature. He has been pitching for a number of years, but it took him awhile to get strong enough to throw from 20 feet. Marshal is quite excited that he is now better than his dad, Bruce.

Ryan finished 3rd in Cadet B, this year, his second appearance at MN State. Jackson claimed 1st in Cadet B, while Marshal is this year's Cadet Class A Champion, earning that title in a tight playoff game with Tyler Condon, where both boys pitched 34%. Tyler is from Spring Park and a member of the Rockford Club.

The efforts of these boys at MN State and the competition they shared with their club members this summer, earned them the title of MN State Horseshoe League Champions and they are now in possession of the traveling trophy that goes with this honor. Their name now joins the other Alexandria League on the trophy, which won it back in 2014.

Back row, left to right, Brayden Fiala, Austen Hegg, Abbey Hegg, Jackson Fiala, Ryan Boyer. 

 Kneeling in front:  Marshal Swenson, and Kyle Tvrdik. 

Men's State Championship Recap          By Josh Olson

 

 

Another one for the history Books Folks. The 2018 State Championship has come and gone. This year the lowest average in the Men's Championship Class was 37.5%. We had some new blood in there which is always great, we Had a First time State tournament participant, he even won his class the Saturday before, Andy Olson, Tracy Seppelt and Brian Wipper also were among the new blood for the Championship group, congrats to those guys along with Jerry Werk and Shawn Warnemunde for making the Championship class as well. Eric Dehkes, Josh Olson and Mark Smith would round out the rest of the eight competitors for the Championship group, Mark and Eric started the Contest out red hot, Mark had a 66% and Eric had a 70%, they were setting the tone that was for sure, and they both didn't let up that was for sure. Josh Olson had a slow start but came back game #2 with a nice 75%, 21 ringers of out 28 shoes, that was the High Game of the Championship Group and for the Day as well. Mark and Eric both had a couple 70% games, Mark Smith came home with the Patch and Crown once again this year making that 2 years in a row, but let me tell you, HE earned it, he battled back through some games in the middle of the day and did what he had to do against the top competitors in his group. Eric sure had a great day of pitching as well, pitching over 7% over his entry average and only losing one game to Mark Smith. Eric took home runner up, and Josh Olson was the 3rd place finisher losing to both Eric and Mark. Some other highlights from the Men's group, Shawn Warnemunde had a great day of competition, throwing over 8% over his entry average. It is always great to pitch against the top Men in the State every year, and these Guys sure did prove that they deserved to be there on Monday! I look forward to doing it all over again up in Hibbing for the next two years, we will get to play in a World Tournament Atmosphere which will bring out the best in all of us! Until next Year, congrats again to Mark Smith on the Championship Victory, and on your rightful spot into the MGSHPA Hall of Fame! See you all on the court next year!!

 

(L-R) Josh Olson, Jerry Werk, Andy Olson, Eric Dyhkes, Mark Smith,

 Shawn Warnemunde, Tracy Seppelt, and Brian Wipper